2024 MG ZS 1.5 Comfort CVT: Same but better

Since the MG Philippines local operations were taken-over by its Chinese parent SAIC Motor Philippines, they’ve been very busy revitalizing their lineup with new models left and right. 

One of which is the refreshed version of the popular ZS subcompact crossover which we recently got to sample during a media drive that featured the latest you can get from the Sino-British automaker such as the One compact crossover, G50 MPV, and the 3 hybrid subcompact hatchback.

Assigned to me and my carmates for the first leg of the drive was the base model MG ZS 1.5 Comfort CVT. This wasn’t a bad idea as the popular subcompact crossover was given a much needed update recently.

And to put it out there, it’s not my first time with the ZS, having tested out the pre-refresh ZS 1.5 Alpha A/T back in 2021. Well, I really did not like it, so much so that when the government decided to close Metro Manila’s borders anew thanks to the virus re-spreading at the time, I chose to leave it at home in Metro Manila for the whole month and escaped the lockdown with a Japanese subcompact sedan tester which also got stuck with me.

Watch our old review of the pre-refresh MG ZS 1.5 Alpha from 2021 below:

Anyway, back to the present. For the first part of the drive, I volunteered to be a rear passenger as I was extremely drowsy as I spent the previous night out with friends. A mistake but one that allowed me to properly test out the ZS as a passenger.

I immediately noticed that it was a bit uncomfortable with very firm seat padding, and space that was a bit too tight. At least the rear bench itself was shaped to fit my body really well. Despite that, I found my butt aching after less than an hour, especially with our convoy immediately greeted by Quezon City morning rush hour traffic.

Going back to space, at 5 feet and 7 inches tall (or small), I’m of average Filipino height. It was tight for me, but the space worked. I had to slouch to be comfy which ended with my legs pushing against the back of the front passenger seat.

On the upside, the MG ZS actually rides well with its firm but pliant ride. Our driver for the first leg also seemed to enjoy the throttle a lot and yet, the vehicle felt very stable from a passenger’s perspective even at highway speeds. 

NVH insulation is a mixed bag with low amounts of wind and outside noise coming into the cabin. Tire noise on the other hand was quite loud, but that is something you’d already expect from a budget crossover like this. 

After our second stop, it was my turn to drive the MG ZS. This meant taking a section of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), as well as a bit of downhill and flat roads within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Bataan.

Surprisingly, I was not as disappointed as before thanks in large part to the updates done to the powertrain. While it still has the same 1.5-liter Inline 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated gasoline engine that produces 115 horsepower and 150 Nm of torque, it is now mated to a CVT with eight simulated gears in manual mode—that replaces the old one’s 4-speed automatic.

Thanks to that CVT, acceleration was very smooth and power delivery has been improved. While a lot of rubber- banding was still there, and while the engine lost steam pretty quickly, it was still very responsive and mostly effortless to drive most especially at lower city speeds.

Steering was very light but returned a good amount of feedback that most buyers will appreciate. Most of these we’ll be staying inside the city which is where its light feeling will be needed.

Fuel economy-wise, I would not use the numbers we got as we did have three drivers with different driving styles. In case you want to know though, we scored an average of around 13 km/l in mixed heavy city and light highway conditions.

Once we arrived at our destination—Rali’s Restaurant in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, we took the time to have a relaxed lunch and get a closer look at the new ZS.

Let’s talk design.

The refresh given to the ZS was surely much needed especially as the pre-refresh version soldiered on for more than five years. It did age well but its competition surely got ahead.

This new one wears the same styling cues as we already saw on the ZST which was offered by the brand’s previous distributor. It receives a mix of sleeker and more elegant and aggressive design cues. In front is what the brand calls its Obsidian Matrix front grille. It also gets redesigned headlights which are now LED. These are also matched with new LED taillights at the back.

Higher variants will get new 17-inch Tomahawk design alloy wheels but since we had the base model, it contends with the pre-refresh version’s 16-inch alloys finished in plain silver.

Our assigned unit also wore a Laser Blue exterior paint job which certainly looked eye-catching considering that the overall design of this crossover just blends-in with the crowd.

Step inside and you’ll be greeted by a cabin that looks largely the same as before. Not to worry though as this has been improved with more premium materials and has also been slightly modernized with a redesigned center stack and center console.

Since this is the base model, the seats are wrapped in fabric upholstery. As mentioned earlier, they are rather firm but at least the material does feel pretty good. The pattern on them also mixes things up a little.

In the center is a new 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system which comes with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. We did not get to tinker with this that much but it’s the same system you get in other MG products. 

The MG ZS 1.5 Comfort CVT is priced at Php 918,888 which keeps it as among the most affordable you can buy in its segment. Yes, it has admittedly been left behind by newer and more bang for your buck rivals, but for those who just want a basic point A to B crossover that won’t steal too many eyes but is still injected with good comfort and a decent drive, this is a great choice.

It’s not the best, but it certainly offers pretty much everything buyers need from a daily driver. And just so you know, an all-new version may come out anytime within the next couple of years so this makes us one step closer to that.