I made the decision to buy a used MG5 EV Estate a few months ago based on it being an EV which I wanted, the range, the fact it is an estate but most all the price. I fully expected it to be rubbish but figured I could live with it because of the price. I was shocked at how good the car is and we're talking about the old one here, the newer face lifted model is even better. Every time I get in I smile at the quality and tech I got for the money. No it's not perfect but neither was the Merc C Class I had before and the only thing I miss about it is rear wheel drive.
Pete They will sell bucket loads of this , MG have been clever , produce a quality car at a price everyone can afford , well almost everyone We have a company mg5 estate 3 years old 112k on the clock , still get 350 on a charge during the summer ,it had a battery health check recently readings came in 96% We paid 19k for it as a ex demo it’s a trophy model spec . Cheap as chips to run Unfortunately people slag them off , but you normally find they have never owned or driven one Just good value for money , the price they sell them for your expectations are low , but once you drive one you are pleasantly surprised
if i had to drive from lands end to john o groats, i would, hands down...100% pick a 'chinese' MG over ANY old British MG, and lets face it folks, the more cars that arrive at this kind of price....the more the big brands are gonna have to recalculate their pricing
My brother has a 66 plate MG3 which has done 120k and has only required servicing and tyres. Still on original clutch exhaust etc and still drives like new. Paintwork is also exceptional considering it doesn’t get much cosmetic tlc just washed. 3 family members also have MG ZSs and they are fantastic value and extremely well equipped and with a 7 year warranty whats the worry. Yes they are Chinese but so are many others, Polestar and Volvo and the parts in many others are built in China as is everything else we buy so I don’t see a problem.
Fab video. I've just checked Auto Trader. 2022 BMW X1 2.0l X line with 24,000 miles advertised at £25k. Based on your video i think I'd take your new MG.
It strikes me that MG are having the same badge snobbery issues that Skoda had. Give it another 5-10 years and they’ll be more accepted. That said, the latest reliability survey won’t help much, even if it is the previous model, mud sticks!
Test drove an HS last year - it was absolutely fine. Probably would've bought one were it not for its silly boot. Silly as in curiously small, although some boots are silly for other reasons. In the 1980s there were pixie boots; now they *were* silly. Yet the ladies loved 'em. A bit like Kajagoogoo.
What’s wrong with the Badge- MG is absolutely fine if you ask me at least it’s a iconic brand ok under Chinese ownership but that just is embarrassing that we had to run the ruin before it’s comeback.
I'm in my 70s driving 12year old reo diesel great car .like a lot of people I've haven't got deep pockets so I was looking at used hybrid then MG brings the MG 3 hybrid out which I could by new But it has one down side no split seats no good if there's 3 going on holiday ,so the zs looks to tick the boxes it is much bigger than I was thinking of But with all the safety tec especially for us older ones ,and still a great price so it's of to give them a test drive ,and thanks again for a great sensible review.
Really good review.I think the early cars were not that great, but they really seem to have stepped up in all areas.This review makes me think that if I was changing my car just now,I would have to take a look at it.
I really think this is a very smart looking car, and with all that tech on board and the price of it, what's not to like. It certainly ticks all the boxes for me. Another great review, PP. 👍
This car is one of those that will kill the European car industry. It's a bit plasticy but for that price it's astonishing. Like the practicality. For me its very Mazda, not BMW.
EU car industry is killing itself, they are too greedy, charge too much and hot really sloppy. In 10 years there won't be a EU car industry, maybe not even the EU as we know it
You only have to look at the number of these on the roads to see there is a big demand from those who can't or won't spend stupid money on an every day family car. Manufacturers like MG and Dacia deserve to do really well. Really good, fair test Ped. Looking forward to your test of a Cyberster as I'm thinking about getting one of them once they're a year or so old and have depreciated a bit.
I thought this was supposed to be a road test? A lot of ignorant people have chosen to politicise it and bang on about the fact it's Chinese and the problems with buying Chinese goods. I don't see this when other Chinese manufactured cars are road tested like the BMWiX3, Volvo EX30, Smart#1, Polestars and Teslas yet MG get hammered! We all own Chinese phones,game consoles, TVs, furniture etc. etc. etc. We have 2 MG cars and they have been brilliant yet people who haven't had or driven a new Chinese car have these strong opinions on them. After the war nobody wanted rubbish German and Japanese cars either, now look at it! This was a great, honest road test. If you don't want one or have a problem with it being Chinese don't buy one. But don't lecture us with your ignorance and bias.
The materials are decent for vinyl but it is not tricking anyone into thinking it is leather. You can also tell instantly by the smell. No decent car journo should be make this mistake.
@@davidpickard9393 pleather = synthetic =Vegan Leather= petrochemicaly made polymers. At least leather is renewable and sustainable and ethically sourced as byproduct of meat supply. Goat skin makes a fantastic soft hide for leather goods. Byproduct from Salami making. Yum
I agree. I was always a volkswagen group owner. I've recently brought a kia sportage, only had it a week and blown away, by the car and the tech in it. These Korean and Chinese brands are really out doing the major players
Very very interesting. If I hadn’t watched this video and listened to Peter’s enthusiastic assessment I would have dismissed this new MG as another underwhelming cheap Chinese car sitting on an old platform with rather dated tech. I guess the exceedingly low price sets a perception as to the standard expected, rather like the early South Korean imports or going back the pretty pitiful vehicles from the old Eastern Bloc. Not a car to interest me as the styling is still very much an anonymous me too crossover copy and it is bigger than I need but if you were a previous generation Qashqai owner you would have to question the value you would get for the new generation at £10k more than the ZS. Is MG now on the climb to a Kia like aspirational brand?
I drove an original MG XS as a rental car in the UK last year. I was impressed by the fit and finish, as well as the quality of the interior. As a rental, it had the base 1.5L petrol engine and a 5 speed manual transmission. The engine was "adequate", but not thrilling. The gearbox was an antique, but it was a pleasant drive around southern England for two weeks. I had no idea of the price point at that time. For the price, it is a STEAL. A great car for a family on a budget.
Yes MG is owned by a Chinese company but you know what the person that owns this company must of liked and known MG to buy the name so I really dont mind them talking about the history of MG. To me this car is putting companies like VW to shame , better interiors esp the screen that blends into the dash rather then a fisher price tablet bolted on the dash, or the cheap looking seats of the VW iD3 etc. Someone mentioned this is like Kia from its days and I think he means the price point for the quality you get ( Kia seem to of gone up in price now ) so welldone MG
Reason why they are cheap is that the Chinese government heavily subsidise their car manufacturers, production costs are lower and working conditions poorer than European/ Japanese and Korean manufacturers.
So it's clearly a very impressive car, great quality and fantastic VFM, the question I have is how do they do it for the price? Is it massively subsidised by the Chinese government? If this isn't the case then why can't all manufacturers be more competitive with the price point?
Really enjoyed this review mate. I’ve seen these about and wondered what are they really like and I respect your opinion. At that price point I have to agree what a bargain.
Hello Peter! A very fair and revealing review of a car which is delivering exactly what an EV should be doing. If EV is the way forward and in this case is using a Hybrid system then at that price, sales are going to be easy. Personally I think it looks a bit of an old BMW X3 copy with a Peugeot styled face and is not a car for those who like driving but for simple family transport on a budget then it delivers. I have reservations about this Chinese invasion but it is unstoppable….so goodbye to 120+ years of history and development by the European manufacturers plus the USA….this is taking over. That dismays me Peter but there is no going back. It is never going to be a car for me because my life has been filled with motoring interest since I was born…I like EV’s and I like progress…but remember our history and the engineers who made it all happen.🤔🙂🙂🙂🙂Richard.
We bought the facelift HS PHEV, not the new one out and we are delighted with it. It’s the same red as your ZS you’re driving but it has the red interior option and it looks so upmarket. I’d not hesitate in buying another because as you say the value for money is amazing
My only hope is that this will force the European manufacturers to rethink their pricing policy, because otherwise their days are numbered. Personally I am loath to buy Chinese but realistically these are going to fly out of the showrooms on price alone. For me a better option is the second hand market where for the same money you can buy a low mileage European brand car that will probably hold it’s value far better but that’s a personal choice.
Reason why they are cheap is that the Chinese government heavily subsidise their car manufacturers, production costs are lower and working conditions poorer than European/ Japanese and Korean manufacturers.
Road noise sounded throughout the video although you never mentioned it. Was this more a side effect of your audio system for recording or is it as obvious as it sounds? It’s a bit of a bugbear with me as more and more manufacturers seem to think low profile (hard) tyres are more important than a quiet drive. Road noise in particular is one of the most tiring aspects of driving long distances and should hold a more important place in design in my opinion. Great video as always.
If the stereo is anything like the one in the MG5 Exclusive, spend a bit of time playing with the settings and you can significantly improve the sound quality 👍
Well I'm still going to say that my 2008 Astra Estate is the best value car I've purchased so far. £1700 3+ years ago. Just passed it's 4th MOT within my ownership, 1.9 diesel, giving 50mpg a lot of the time. Quite lively at 9 seconds to 60, (worse mpg then) and only lost about £150 value since I bought it.
@@bondjamesbond9041This is more about buying a new Car value, a classic mini is more value than his Astra 😂 people want comfort, modern safety that a 2008 Astra doesn’t have Sat nav and creature comforts and a seven year warranty so no unexpected breakdown costs or major service costs. So don’t really get the well said, especially when it’s a pointless comparison. Really my old car out of warranty is the best value car I’ve had - good for you so it’s better value to I’m over every car.
Conundrum, by buying these are we supporting Chinese industry and economy over our own (European) or are they supporting us by providing cheap mobility? I don't think us consumers not supporting "our own" will ever end well in the long run!!!
What are the choices left for anyone wanting to support a UK manufacturer though? I reckon the only current family car made here is the Astra. And if you opt for something else with, say, a Stellantis badge and accept it has at least been built within the EU, you are still supporting Chinese manufacturers as many of the components will inevitably originated from there.
@@HawkMillFarm Geopolitical issues aside, the global supply chain is saturated by goods and components that are sourced from China. Even your European car makers and motorcycle manufacturers source components made in China. Same goes for 70% of all small frame electric motors found in most electric appliances that are assembled in Europe. No way around it.
Ci stanno fornendo auto a prezzi più realistici in base ai nostri stipendi, sperando che sia uno spunto di riflessione per le nostre industrie automobilistiche per abbassare i prezzi, completamente fuori realtà.
Spot on with your comments about MG Pete. They are remarkably good value for money, badge snobbery has cost me thousands over the years. I have just traded in a BMW I3s (lost 20k in 28 months) for a new 74 plate MG5 Trophy EV. Cost £21490 (list 34k) and a 7 year warranty, well equipped, comfortable and drves really well.
I’ve just returned from a 9 day/1700 mile trip of the NC500 and probably saw more MG ZS than any other vehicle. At one point in a car park of 20 cars, there were seven ZS. At this price and the current economic environment MGs market share will continue to grow exponentially. Meanwhile, badge snobs will continue to pay over the odds and still look down on the common (sense) people!
I currently drive a Toyota Corolla hybrid and love it after having run two Golf GTIs. Think I’ll be looking at one of these when my PCP ends as Toyota can’t manage the value for money of MG.
great value for money great video petrol ped we have a MG HS Plug in Hybrid as a family car been great just shy of 300bhp goes well dont mind the look of the new MG ZS Hybrid looks cool
I'm three months short of owning my MG5 for four years & I'm a 78 year old pensioner, to my mind MG cars are great, ignore what you read or watch get out there & test drive an MG. My MG5 puts a smile on my face every time I drive it, we're now a two EV household as my wife aquired a Seat mii electric, long live MG & the EV revolution.😂😅
Have had a MG ZS ev for 4 years 34000 only one problem sorted under warranty a faulty switch. Very pleased with it running costs really low have solar panels & large battery only needed to use public chargers less than 10 times in the 4 years
Great car and review Pete - there’s no compromise at all - you just need to buy a Carlinkit box to convert the CarPlay to wireless - job done! Best Clive
Totally agreed with your thougts and driving experience you had. I have driven recently an MG3 Hybrid+ and it was so nice, powerfull, and silent during city drive that I good not imagine a such affordable priced medium car could even exist. (Cheap is way out of the discussion here). Thanks for the excellent video outcome!
The compromises you speak of is actually due to the countries of the OTHER automakers choosing not to subsidize their automakers to produce efficient and value for money cars. Germany, USA don't subsidize production of their cars so as consumers we pay full price for it. It's the lack of forward thinking like this that is the reason why Volksvagen and Tesla are in the state they are in now.
I believe in MG. All their new offerings are hard to resist - MG3 Hybrid plus, MG HS and this MG ZS. I have a MG3 hybrid plus myselft. But it was ranked as least reliable by in a survey by whatcar?
My head turns, presently an EV owner of 6 years, do want to stay EV but all these silly prices….no way..! Hence something like the MG ZS H+ maybe an option, I’d after drive one. Because EV’s are all on inflated prices tags this is said to be cheap which can only encourage car makers to keep uping EV prices… and after watching another UA-camr the dealerships have to use the wording “discount” and allegedly massive discounts to sell EV’s …. but hey yes great car …! I’m also an Engineer and get puzzled about all hybrids, all that technology and extra gear underneath and in the engine bay to achieve 50mpg….. an old Austin 7 will return 40mpg and my last car a 4WD Diesel did 60+ mpg , so what is all that technically advanced wizardry about… can’t help think…? 😊
I appreciate the point you are making, that if you want a new car that is just to get you from A to B this is a great option. But, if I had £22k to £25k to spend on a car I would be picking something with style and something that would make me smile. Love your reviews Ped, keep up the great work matey 😊
We have a older MG ZS and it has been superb 100% reliable and relatively cheap to run. This new model sounds great, especially at this price level and given it is a hybrid setup easy for all to use.
Having bought and owned everything from a minis to range rovers. I sold my ice mg hs earlier this year Having owned it for three years from new . I never experienced one problem with it and I can honestly say it was one of the best cars I've ever had . the only reason I didn't buy another was I didn't like the look of the face lift and decided to buy a different brand which I won't mention after five months I've sold it because it keeps throwing up faults
Any ideas why MG has gone from near top of reliability for EVs to near bottom in a few years? While we haven't had any issues with ours, the dealer experience has left a lot to be desired.
Nice review. Great to see the mix of cars on your channel . One thing I couldn’t stop looking at …. where’s the drivers grab handle 🤣. There’s a hole for it , surely not an option 😮
Another enjoyable video. I actually reserved it's 'big brother' HS, then read up all the reliability concerns (yes, I should have done that first), and it put me off. Bought a Kia Niro instead. So, I hope MG has sorted the reliability concerns now, because this car seems a bit of a bargain..
@@tomtams8584remember when everyone was saying Korean cars were rubbish, now look at Kia and Hyundai , another 18 months and they will be in the same league as them , maybe 2025 will be the year . Every motoring journalist that has tested this mew ZS and HS hybrid are raving about them
Other than the price this seems very like my Honda HRV Hybrid, even the paint colour is similar. There appears to be some differences in the infotainment system but everything else, including the drive chain appears to be similar. Currently I am getting about 57mpg from the Honda but I did pay about 34k for it! MG is certainly impressive at that price.
There is no doubt this car offers strong value for money, and for many, that's a powerful sales tool. It's not a bad looking car either, and certainly an improvement over the outgoing version. I'm not sure I'd put my money into one just yet though, given MG's lack-lustre performance in reliability surveys. I'd pay a bit more and go Kia or Hyundai....
@@davidgirvan6007 Although I have to say that my Hyundai i30, which I owned for 3 years, did have an issue with the rear screen heater suddenly ceasing to work. It was replaced promptly under warranty. This isn't the sort of experience I've heard about from MG owners. Some of the MG dealers seem to be at the root of many of the their issues, which certainly wasn't my experience with the Hyundai dealer I used.
@@davidgirvan6007 Certainly I've seen MG owners on forums complain about the response from MG themselves, once they've contacted them regarding ongoing issues. Reluctance to act, or admit there is an issue etc. Which is why I personally would be unwilling to buy one. I've owned 5 Skoda's and the Hyundai I mentioned earlier, over the last 25 odd years, and I've had good service - including the dealers - from them all.
I'm motability customer presently with a Hyundai Ioniq but due to change, want something more comfortable so going to go for the HS plug in even though I would have to rely on public charging as battery has 75 Mile range I'm sure I could squeeze 55mpg out of it
Just still looks odd to me. The proportions don't work but TBF they don't on most SUV's. You'd have to take a PCP as buying it with the most recent reliability survey is going cripple when you come to sell it
That's not quite the MG ZS 2.5l V6 I used to own but there is more luxury and tech than I had. I have had four JLR cars in recent years and although they are still my favourite marque I will not buy another and now that I am in my later years brand snobery is not a thing so much. That is a car I would consider in the future once it had taken it's hit in depreciation.
Sorry Pete According to "What Car" M G was the worst performing make according to satisfaction survey 2024. 33% of respondents had issues that took the car off the road for more than a week. And the failures cost owners money as not covered by warranty. Additionally the Euro NCAP shows moderate protection for driver and only adequate protection for passenger in a 60 kph frontal collision. Not one of the safest and by What Car survey was poor for reliability. They might look good but so does lipstick on a pig.
This man has done his research and I won't be buying one. To get it all the way from China to here and then retail it for £24k means something has to give, you just haven't fount it yet.
@@richardstamper5630we have a three year old MG5 estate as a business car , it’s done 112k no issues , no rattles , still get close to 380 on a charge , had bc a battery health check recently still at 96% As a company vehicle it’s cost the company peanuts , we bought it as a demo with 4 k paid 19k We shall run it until it dies Not found anything wrong with it in three years yet
My Mg HS has a five star NCAP rating and fully working, ADAS, BLIS etc, so the idea newer MGs are not safe is ridiculous. You can even watch the NCAP videos and see the collision avoidance systems at work. I will be interested to delve deeper in to the What Car reliability data to see where the rating comes from as mine has been 100% reliable after 2.5 years. I was talking to someone in the motor trade recently who had been to the SAIC factory in China and I asked what it was like and he said absolutely state of the art.
@@RobertPerry-e4r I hope for your sake you never have a serious accident in your car. Giving 5 stars these days is clouding the crash performance because of the driver assist and warning bells for lane departure. Look at the actual and report not the star rating. All is available on the NCAP site. And What Car youtube just dropped last week the survey results from some 1995 survey respondents. Actual owners that took the time to participate.
I certainly agree I hope I don’t have a major crash, before buying my MG I was concerned about safety, but read the reports and watched the videos MG HS Safety Tests Euro NCAP | December 2019 Rating and believe it’s a good as any equivalent cars and much safer that the older car it was replacing. Current MGs are not poorly built or use inferior materials, the reality is the vast amount of components used in all car brands are made in China and these days the Chinese do make cars to European standards. This doesn’t apply to the early GS though they were terrible.
MGs today are incredible value for sure. Had similar appreciation when I test drove the same engine on the new MG3 Hybrid +. By the way Pete, lovely to see Banbury where I’m from, as well as the Cotswolds. Cheers, Tom
I had to have a double look when the car appeared - I honestly thought it was a Ford Kuga! Its technology is right up there with the best & as you said once or twice🤭 the price will appeal to everyone! MG are now the new Skoda/Kia/Hyundai name wise & if they keep producing this standard of vehicle they will become just as accepted in the mkt! Good honest review Pete - got the feeling you liked it lol
Great value but let’s not be naive. To what extent is the low price explained by subsidies from the Chinese Govt, which would be considered illegal dumping elsewhere?
Subsidies are used by American and European carmakers too. Products we use on daily basis which as electronics, appliances, refrigerators, washing machines, laptops are all made in China, they have cheap energy from Russia, lower wages than west, vertically integrated supply chains from raw materials, refining to end products, and economies of scale , all these reasons make them the world's biggest manufacturer
@@ciybersal3499 I accept that’s partly correct, however, state subsidies in EU (and UK) are prohibited under competition law, as “illegal state subsidies which restrict or distort competition”, which is strictly enforced to ensure a level playing field among producers. We simply don’t know the scale of the Chinese state subsidies, however, its likely to be substantial, hence the “mystery” of why these cars are so cheap and amazing value and why domestic manufactures struggle to compete.
I made the decision to buy a used MG5 EV Estate a few months ago based on it being an EV which I wanted, the range, the fact it is an estate but most all the price. I fully expected it to be rubbish but figured I could live with it because of the price. I was shocked at how good the car is and we're talking about the old one here, the newer face lifted model is even better. Every time I get in I smile at the quality and tech I got for the money.
No it's not perfect but neither was the Merc C Class I had before and the only thing I miss about it is rear wheel drive.
Great to hear 👍
Pete
They will sell bucket loads of this , MG have been clever , produce a quality car at a price everyone can afford , well almost everyone
We have a company mg5 estate 3 years old 112k on the clock , still get 350 on a charge during the summer ,it had a battery health check recently readings came in 96%
We paid 19k for it as a ex demo it’s a trophy model spec . Cheap as chips to run
Unfortunately people slag them off , but you normally find they have never owned or driven one
Just good value for money , the price they sell them for your expectations are low , but once you drive one you are pleasantly surprised
Great to hear 👍
if i had to drive from lands end to john o groats, i would, hands down...100% pick a 'chinese' MG over ANY old British MG, and lets face it folks, the more cars that arrive at this kind of price....the more the big brands are gonna have to recalculate their pricing
My brother has a 66 plate MG3 which has done 120k and has only required servicing and tyres. Still on original clutch exhaust etc and still drives like new. Paintwork is also exceptional considering it doesn’t get much cosmetic tlc just washed. 3 family members also have MG ZSs and they are fantastic value and extremely well equipped and with a 7 year warranty whats the worry. Yes they are Chinese but so are many others, Polestar and Volvo and the parts in many others are built in China as is everything else we buy so I don’t see a problem.
The mg cyberster looks great
Fab video. I've just checked Auto Trader. 2022 BMW X1 2.0l X line with 24,000 miles advertised at £25k. Based on your video i think I'd take your new MG.
It strikes me that MG are having the same badge snobbery issues that Skoda had. Give it another 5-10 years and they’ll be more accepted.
That said, the latest reliability survey won’t help much, even if it is the previous model, mud sticks!
Test drove an HS last year - it was absolutely fine. Probably would've bought one were it not for its silly boot. Silly as in curiously small, although some boots are silly for other reasons. In the 1980s there were pixie boots; now they *were* silly. Yet the ladies loved 'em. A bit like Kajagoogoo.
What’s wrong with the Badge- MG is absolutely fine if you ask me at least it’s a iconic brand ok under Chinese ownership but that just is embarrassing that we had to run the ruin before it’s comeback.
I'm in my 70s driving 12year old reo diesel great car .like a lot of people I've haven't got deep pockets so I was looking at used hybrid then MG brings the MG 3 hybrid out which I could by new
But it has one down side no split seats no good if there's 3 going on holiday ,so the zs looks to tick the boxes it is much bigger than I was thinking of
But with all the safety tec especially for us older ones ,and still a great price so it's of to give them a test drive ,and thanks again for a great sensible review.
Glad you enjoyed it 👍
Really good review.I think the early cars were not that great, but they really seem to have stepped up in all areas.This review makes me think that if I was changing my car just now,I would have to take a look at it.
I really think this is a very smart looking car, and with all that tech on board and the price of it, what's not to like. It certainly ticks all the boxes for me. Another great review, PP. 👍
The current MG vehicles are far superior to the original British heaps of crap with MG branding. 😊
😂😂😂
This car is one of those that will kill the European car industry. It's a bit plasticy but for that price it's astonishing. Like the practicality. For me its very Mazda, not BMW.
EU car industry is killing itself, they are too greedy, charge too much and hot really sloppy. In 10 years there won't be a EU car industry, maybe not even the EU as we know it
You only have to look at the number of these on the roads to see there is a big demand from those who can't or won't spend stupid money on an every day family car. Manufacturers like MG and Dacia deserve to do really well. Really good, fair test Ped. Looking forward to your test of a Cyberster as I'm thinking about getting one of them once they're a year or so old and have depreciated a bit.
Cheers John 👍
I thought this was supposed to be a road test? A lot of ignorant people have chosen to politicise it and bang on about the fact it's Chinese and the problems with buying Chinese goods. I don't see this when other Chinese manufactured cars are road tested like the BMWiX3, Volvo EX30, Smart#1, Polestars and Teslas yet MG get hammered! We all own Chinese phones,game consoles, TVs, furniture etc. etc. etc. We have 2 MG cars and they have been brilliant yet people who haven't had or driven a new Chinese car have these strong opinions on them. After the war nobody wanted rubbish German and Japanese cars either, now look at it! This was a great, honest road test. If you don't want one or have a problem with it being Chinese don't buy one. But don't lecture us with your ignorance and bias.
These are PLEATHER seats please. No cows harmed when building a MG.
The materials are decent for vinyl but it is not tricking anyone into thinking it is leather. You can also tell instantly by the smell. No decent car journo should be make this mistake.
@@davidpickard9393 pleather = synthetic =Vegan Leather= petrochemicaly made polymers.
At least leather is renewable and sustainable and ethically sourced as byproduct of meat supply. Goat skin makes a fantastic soft hide for leather goods.
Byproduct from Salami making. Yum
Kia, Hyundai non leather and Mercedes majority non leather seats as well.
@@davidpickard9393 Apparently it improves the companies carbon footprint! Don’t know how.
Let's not forget all new Tesla 3s for the UK as well as Volvo electrics are made in China and are not sold for MG prices and no-one calls them Out!
I think MG are where Kia were a few years ago . My uncles got an mg3 and he’s not a car guy but he just wants a to b transport and it’s fine .
I agree. I was always a volkswagen group owner. I've recently brought a kia sportage, only had it a week and blown away, by the car and the tech in it. These Korean and Chinese brands are really out doing the major players
Exactly 👍
Shame about the stereo because if that's wind/road noise we are hearing then a decent stereo might have helped drown it out.
The mic always make that sound a little worse 👎
Very very interesting. If I hadn’t watched this video and listened to Peter’s enthusiastic assessment I would have dismissed this new MG as another underwhelming cheap Chinese car sitting on an old platform with rather dated tech. I guess the exceedingly low price sets a perception as to the standard expected, rather like the early South Korean imports or going back the pretty pitiful vehicles from the old Eastern Bloc. Not a car to interest me as the styling is still very much an anonymous me too crossover copy and it is bigger than I need but if you were a previous generation Qashqai owner you would have to question the value you would get for the new generation at £10k more than the ZS. Is MG now on the climb to a Kia like aspirational brand?
I drove an original MG XS as a rental car in the UK last year. I was impressed by the fit and finish, as well as the quality of the interior. As a rental, it had the base 1.5L petrol engine and a 5 speed manual transmission. The engine was "adequate", but not thrilling. The gearbox was an antique, but it was a pleasant drive around southern England for two weeks. I had no idea of the price point at that time. For the price, it is a STEAL. A great car for a family on a budget.
Great Review Pete! Badge snobbery is ingrained in HM punters who will quite happily, and stupidly, pay double for a lesser motor! 😂
It's a subjective thing. They feel it's better, you seemingly don't. Everyone's different...
Yes MG is owned by a Chinese company but you know what the person that owns this company must of liked and known MG to buy the name so I really dont mind them talking about the history of MG. To me this car is putting companies like VW to shame , better interiors esp the screen that blends into the dash rather then a fisher price tablet bolted on the dash, or the cheap looking seats of the VW iD3 etc. Someone mentioned this is like Kia from its days and I think he means the price point for the quality you get ( Kia seem to of gone up in price now ) so welldone MG
Reason why they are cheap is that the Chinese government heavily subsidise their car manufacturers, production costs are lower and working conditions poorer than European/ Japanese and Korean manufacturers.
Even Audi have fake exhaust tailpipes!
Yep and I criticised them too 😜
So it's clearly a very impressive car, great quality and fantastic VFM, the question I have is how do they do it for the price? Is it massively subsidised by the Chinese government? If this isn't the case then why can't all manufacturers be more competitive with the price point?
I have mentioned your point also in my comment.
Really enjoyed this review mate. I’ve seen these about and wondered what are they really like and I respect your opinion. At that price point I have to agree what a bargain.
Glad you enjoyed it 👍
Hello Peter! A very fair and revealing review of a car which is delivering exactly what an EV should be doing. If EV is the way forward and in this case is using a Hybrid system then at that price, sales are going to be easy. Personally I think it looks a bit of an old BMW X3 copy with a Peugeot styled face and is not a car for those who like driving but for simple family transport on a budget then it delivers. I have reservations about this Chinese invasion but it is unstoppable….so goodbye to 120+ years of history and development by the European manufacturers plus the USA….this is taking over. That dismays me Peter but there is no going back. It is never going to be a car for me because my life has been filled with motoring interest since I was born…I like EV’s and I like progress…but remember our history and the engineers who made it all happen.🤔🙂🙂🙂🙂Richard.
👍
We bought the facelift HS PHEV, not the new one out and we are delighted with it. It’s the same red as your ZS you’re driving but it has the red interior option and it looks so upmarket. I’d not hesitate in buying another because as you say the value for money is amazing
Great to hear 👍
My only hope is that this will force the European manufacturers to rethink their pricing policy, because otherwise their days are numbered. Personally I am loath to buy Chinese but realistically these are going to fly out of the showrooms on price alone. For me a better option is the second hand market where for the same money you can buy a low mileage European brand car that will probably hold it’s value far better but that’s a personal choice.
Reason why they are cheap is that the Chinese government heavily subsidise their car manufacturers, production costs are lower and working conditions poorer than European/ Japanese and Korean manufacturers.
Hi the MG it not bad for $25,000 car 👍
I like it,and waiting for a road test,can't wait!
Road noise sounded throughout the video although you never mentioned it. Was this more a side effect of your audio system for recording or is it as obvious as it sounds? It’s a bit of a bugbear with me as more and more manufacturers seem to think low profile (hard) tyres are more important than a quiet drive. Road noise in particular is one of the most tiring aspects of driving long distances and should hold a more important place in design in my opinion. Great video as always.
Yes. The mic always makes it sound worse than it is 👍
If the stereo is anything like the one in the MG5 Exclusive, spend a bit of time playing with the settings and you can significantly improve the sound quality 👍
Good to know 👍
Well I'm still going to say that my 2008 Astra Estate is the best value car I've purchased so far. £1700 3+ years ago. Just passed it's 4th MOT within my ownership, 1.9 diesel, giving 50mpg a lot of the time. Quite lively at 9 seconds to 60, (worse mpg then) and only lost about £150 value since I bought it.
Well said
@@bondjamesbond9041This is more about buying a new Car value, a classic mini is more value than his Astra 😂 people want comfort, modern safety that a 2008 Astra doesn’t have Sat nav and creature comforts and a seven year warranty so no unexpected breakdown costs or major service costs.
So don’t really get the well said, especially when it’s a pointless comparison. Really my old car out of warranty is the best value car I’ve had - good for you so it’s better value to I’m over every car.
Conundrum, by buying these are we supporting Chinese industry and economy over our own (European) or are they supporting us by providing cheap mobility? I don't think us consumers not supporting "our own" will ever end well in the long run!!!
What are the choices left for anyone wanting to support a UK manufacturer though? I reckon the only current family car made here is the Astra.
And if you opt for something else with, say, a Stellantis badge and accept it has at least been built within the EU, you are still supporting Chinese manufacturers as many of the components will inevitably originated from there.
@@HawkMillFarm Geopolitical issues aside, the global supply chain is saturated by goods and components that are sourced from China. Even your European car makers and motorcycle manufacturers source components made in China. Same goes for 70% of all small frame electric motors found in most electric appliances that are assembled in Europe.
No way around it.
des parts de Marché avec la chine BYD pour ne citer que celui ci;
Ci stanno fornendo auto a prezzi più realistici in base ai nostri stipendi, sperando che sia uno spunto di riflessione per le nostre industrie automobilistiche per abbassare i prezzi, completamente fuori realtà.
Try the MG HS hybrid
It was better built than VW
Pour reliability on several recent surveys. Its got a seven year warranty so that might help but if you can't get it fixed by mg it's a problem
Surveys mmmmm
@@pstanyer1 What, like Audi, Mercedes Benz and Land Rover? People still buying them though and they are vastly over rated and insanely overpriced!
Spot on with your comments about MG Pete. They are remarkably good value for money, badge snobbery has cost me thousands over the years. I have just traded in a BMW I3s (lost 20k in 28 months) for a new 74 plate MG5 Trophy EV. Cost £21490 (list 34k) and a 7 year warranty, well equipped, comfortable and drves really well.
Nice 👌
I’ve just returned from a 9 day/1700 mile trip of the NC500 and probably saw more MG ZS than any other vehicle. At one point in a car park of 20 cars, there were seven ZS. At this price and the current economic environment MGs market share will continue to grow exponentially. Meanwhile, badge snobs will continue to pay over the odds and still look down on the common (sense) people!
I currently drive a Toyota Corolla hybrid and love it after having run two Golf GTIs. Think I’ll be looking at one of these when my PCP ends as Toyota can’t manage the value for money of MG.
SIAC/MG manufacture VAG under licence, and it shows
In what way?
@@davidgirvan6007 Poor reliability, fit and finish not what it used to be.
great value for money great video petrol ped we have a MG HS Plug in Hybrid as a family car been great just shy of 300bhp goes well
dont mind the look of the new MG ZS Hybrid looks cool
I'm three months short of owning my MG5 for four years & I'm a 78 year old pensioner, to my mind MG cars are great, ignore what you read or watch get out there & test drive an MG. My MG5 puts a smile on my face every time I drive it, we're now a two EV household as my wife aquired a Seat mii electric, long live MG & the EV revolution.😂😅
Have had a MG ZS ev for 4 years 34000 only one problem sorted under warranty a faulty switch. Very pleased with it running costs really low have solar panels & large battery only needed to use public chargers less than 10 times in the 4 years
Great car and review Pete - there’s no compromise at all - you just need to buy a Carlinkit box to convert the CarPlay to wireless - job done! Best Clive
Thanks for the info!
Totally agreed with your thougts and driving experience you had. I have driven recently an MG3 Hybrid+ and it was so nice, powerfull, and silent during city drive that I good not imagine a such affordable priced medium car could even exist. (Cheap is way out of the discussion here). Thanks for the excellent video outcome!
MG have just came 1st in top ten most unreliable car's/manufacturer..😂😂😂😂
Nice to see you around Oxfordshire, car looks good for the money
My mg dealer is 5mins away from me , I might call in ???
The compromises you speak of is actually due to the countries of the OTHER automakers choosing not to subsidize their automakers to produce efficient and value for money cars. Germany, USA don't subsidize production of their cars so as consumers we pay full price for it. It's the lack of forward thinking like this that is the reason why Volksvagen and Tesla are in the state they are in now.
I believe in MG. All their new offerings are hard to resist - MG3 Hybrid plus, MG HS and this MG ZS. I have a MG3 hybrid plus myselft. But it was ranked as least reliable by in a survey by whatcar?
My head turns, presently an EV owner of 6 years, do want to stay EV but all these silly prices….no way..!
Hence something like the MG ZS H+ maybe an option, I’d after drive one. Because EV’s are all on inflated prices tags this is said to be cheap which can only encourage car makers to keep uping EV prices… and after watching another UA-camr the dealerships have to use the wording “discount” and allegedly massive discounts to sell EV’s …. but hey yes great car …!
I’m also an Engineer and get puzzled about all hybrids, all that technology and extra gear underneath and in the engine bay to achieve 50mpg….. an old Austin 7 will return 40mpg and my last car a 4WD Diesel did 60+ mpg , so what is all that technically advanced wizardry about… can’t help think…? 😊
Much rather buy Korean for a bit more.
Yes but the equivalent Tucson hybrid is quite a lot more expensive. Yes a better car/SUV without a doubt, but a third more expensive.
@@gavjlewis Although it would probably hold it's value better than an MG.
@@rchatte100 You mean a lot more!
I appreciate the point you are making, that if you want a new car that is just to get you from A to B this is a great option. But, if I had £22k to £25k to spend on a car I would be picking something with style and something that would make me smile. Love your reviews Ped, keep up the great work matey 😊
That’s what happens when the government of a country subsidises the car company
kay, I’ve always scratched my head about the obsession around the kislux book totes and their practicality, but this one is adorable!! Congratulations
We have a older MG ZS and it has been superb 100% reliable and relatively cheap to run.
This new model sounds great, especially at this price level and given it is a hybrid setup easy for all to use.
Not for me but I’d definitely look at one for my daughter who simply wants safe reliable transport. With a warranty you can’t really go wrong.
It looks great!! Mg are up and coming, similar to where Kia and Hyundai were 10 years ago.
I had the mg hs never had any problems I've changed it for a kuga the mg hs blows it out of the water I much prefer the hs and better equiped.
Having bought and owned everything from a minis to range rovers. I sold my ice mg hs earlier this year Having owned it for three years from new . I never experienced one problem with it and I can honestly say it was one of the best cars I've ever had . the only reason I didn't buy another was I didn't like the look of the face lift and decided to buy a different brand which I won't mention after five months I've sold it because it keeps throwing up faults
crap cars daughter has a 24 plate and nothing but bother with it and mg not interested so beware
Dacia Duster is too expensive for what it offers well, it's something in common with all European car manufacturers
Very interesting. Thanks ☺️
You’re welcome 😊
Any ideas why MG has gone from near top of reliability for EVs to near bottom in a few years?
While we haven't had any issues with ours, the dealer experience has left a lot to be desired.
I particularly like the Red Paint Color and I also like the Interior, however like you I don't like fake Exhausts
I thought that straight away, every angle except the front, it looks BMW X3 ish
Not just me then 👍😂
Read some reviews about the tyre noise on these and can hear it on your video. Crap tyres fitted
Considering its price point that’s a very impressive hybrid car
Be interesting to know how much a lease is for one of these. Really like the look of them.
I also think the side pods on the front grill are very BMW
Petrol ped, Petrol ped, Petrol ped, And his black and white cat
Nice review. Great to see the mix of cars on your channel . One thing I couldn’t stop looking at …. where’s the drivers grab handle 🤣. There’s a hole for it , surely not an option 😮
Good question!
I expect the lease prices will be £100/month less.
If it's as good and its reliable? It's a yes from me .
Another enjoyable video. I actually reserved it's 'big brother' HS, then read up all the reliability concerns (yes, I should have done that first), and it put me off. Bought a Kia Niro instead. So, I hope MG has sorted the reliability concerns now, because this car seems a bit of a bargain..
We have a company MG5 estate with 112k in the clock utterly reliable, don’t believe everything you read
No issues with my HS, I can’t say that for the VAG products I’ve had.
@@RobertMackenzie-yn8ig I have the same just swapped it to the face lift version by far the most reliable car I have had.
@@tomtams8584remember when everyone was saying Korean cars were rubbish, now look at Kia and Hyundai , another 18 months and they will be in the same league as them , maybe 2025 will be the year . Every motoring journalist that has tested this mew ZS and HS hybrid are raving about them
Niro is a great car. Currently have one as a long termer 👍
Other than the price this seems very like my Honda HRV Hybrid, even the paint colour is similar. There appears to be some differences in the infotainment system but everything else, including the drive chain appears to be similar. Currently I am getting about 57mpg from the Honda but I did pay about 34k for it! MG is certainly impressive at that price.
Interesting!
Looks a decent car for the money - for £25k you can’t complain. The options on my iX come close to that!
Indeed 😬
Nice reasonably priced car, i'd like to see how much the EV version is. Can't wait to see the MG Cyberster either
👍
😊. Nice colour
Yep 👍
I had one of these in the previous model. Suspension and gearbox was shocking. Mpg lower than a plane.
It was the petrol. Lol
"Car Dealer Magazine" have MG down as the most unreliable car......
VW not much higher, and VW are cutting their dealer network substantially
Do not forget the badge but forget the styling.
Sadly in the video the seats looked like vinyl not leather.
On my iPhone.
Synthetic leather a.k.a. pleather.....
I assume the hoodie you are wearing is to show the connection between a vintage MG and a Chinese so called MG ?
No. It’s a Michelin hoodie. I’m a Brand Ambassador 👍
Nice looking car for the price, will look forward to a cyberster car review
You and me both!
No.
MG have just come last in a reliability survey (car dealer magazine )......
yes a used car one, which does not reflect the improvement in the latest products!
@@jamesnicholl8016 You’re money, your choice ,your risk , I’m going no where near this brand …
@@jamesnicholl8016 Your Money ,your choice, your risk, I'm going no where near this brand .....
There is no doubt this car offers strong value for money, and for many, that's a powerful sales tool. It's not a bad looking car either, and certainly an improvement over the outgoing version. I'm not sure I'd put my money into one just yet though, given MG's lack-lustre performance in reliability surveys. I'd pay a bit more and go Kia or Hyundai....
Which have their fair share of issues!
@@davidgirvan6007 Although I have to say that my Hyundai i30, which I owned for 3 years, did have an issue with the rear screen heater suddenly ceasing to work. It was replaced promptly under warranty. This isn't the sort of experience I've heard about from MG owners. Some of the MG dealers seem to be at the root of many of the their issues, which certainly wasn't my experience with the Hyundai dealer I used.
@@Brian-om2hh Difficult to know if it’s the UK franchised dealer being difficult or the manufacturer
@@davidgirvan6007 Certainly I've seen MG owners on forums complain about the response from MG themselves, once they've contacted them regarding ongoing issues. Reluctance to act, or admit there is an issue etc. Which is why I personally would be unwilling to buy one. I've owned 5 Skoda's and the Hyundai I mentioned earlier, over the last 25 odd years, and I've had good service - including the dealers - from them all.
I'm motability customer presently with a Hyundai Ioniq but due to change, want something more comfortable so going to go for the HS plug in even though I would have to rely on public charging as battery has 75 Mile range I'm sure I could squeeze 55mpg out of it
Just still looks odd to me. The proportions don't work but TBF they don't on most SUV's. You'd have to take a PCP as buying it with the most recent reliability survey is going cripple when you come to sell it
That's not quite the MG ZS 2.5l V6 I used to own but there is more luxury and tech than I had. I have had four JLR cars in recent years and although they are still my favourite marque I will not buy another and now that I am in my later years brand snobery is not a thing so much. That is a car I would consider in the future once it had taken it's hit in depreciation.
Excellent review as always 👏. Love the car, definitely be looking at the trophy version next year 👍🏻👍🏻
would be nice with a different colour interior!
Indeed it would. A nice mid-grey interior or this red car would look nicer, and give an even airier feel....
Definitely!
Sorry Pete
According to "What Car" M G was the worst performing make according to satisfaction survey 2024.
33% of respondents had issues that took the car off the road for more than a week.
And the failures cost owners money as not covered by warranty.
Additionally the Euro NCAP shows moderate protection for driver and only adequate protection for passenger in a 60 kph frontal collision.
Not one of the safest and by What Car survey was poor for reliability.
They might look good but so does lipstick on a pig.
This man has done his research and I won't be buying one. To get it all the way from China to here and then retail it for £24k means something has to give, you just haven't fount it yet.
@@richardstamper5630we have a three year old MG5 estate as a business car , it’s done 112k no issues , no rattles , still get close to 380 on a charge , had bc a battery health check recently still at 96%
As a company vehicle it’s cost the company peanuts , we bought it as a demo with 4 k paid 19k
We shall run it until it dies
Not found anything wrong with it in three years yet
My Mg HS has a five star NCAP rating and fully working, ADAS, BLIS etc, so the idea newer MGs are not safe is ridiculous. You can even watch the NCAP videos and see the collision avoidance systems at work. I will be interested to delve deeper in to the What Car reliability data to see where the rating comes from as mine has been 100% reliable after 2.5 years. I was talking to someone in the motor trade recently who had been to the SAIC factory in China and I asked what it was like and he said absolutely state of the art.
@@RobertPerry-e4r I hope for your sake you never have a serious accident in your car.
Giving 5 stars these days is clouding the crash performance because of the driver assist and warning bells for lane departure.
Look at the actual and report not the star rating. All is available on the NCAP site. And What Car youtube just dropped last week the survey results from some 1995 survey respondents. Actual owners that took the time to participate.
I certainly agree I hope I don’t have a major crash, before buying my MG I was concerned about safety, but read the reports and watched the videos MG HS Safety Tests Euro NCAP | December 2019 Rating and believe it’s a good as any equivalent cars and much safer that the older car it was replacing. Current MGs are not poorly built or use inferior materials, the reality is the vast amount of components used in all car brands are made in China and these days the Chinese do make cars to European standards. This doesn’t apply to the early GS though they were terrible.
MGs today are incredible value for sure. Had similar appreciation when I test drove the same engine on the new MG3 Hybrid +. By the way Pete, lovely to see Banbury where I’m from, as well as the Cotswolds.
Cheers, Tom
Ah nice 👌
I had to have a double look when the car appeared - I honestly thought it was a Ford Kuga! Its technology is right up there with the best & as you said once or twice🤭 the price will appeal to everyone! MG are now the new Skoda/Kia/Hyundai name wise & if they keep producing this standard of vehicle they will become just as accepted in the mkt! Good honest review Pete - got the feeling you liked it lol
I did 👍
Great video,very even handed as usual. Price has to be an encouraging sign,if only all manufacturers took the hint!
Agreed!
Great value but let’s not be naive. To what extent is the low price explained by subsidies from the Chinese Govt, which would be considered illegal dumping elsewhere?
Subsidies are used by American and European carmakers too. Products we use on daily basis which as electronics, appliances, refrigerators, washing machines, laptops are all made in China, they have cheap energy from Russia, lower wages than west, vertically integrated supply chains from raw materials, refining to end products, and economies of scale , all these reasons make them the world's biggest manufacturer
@@ciybersal3499 I accept that’s partly correct, however, state subsidies in EU (and UK) are prohibited under competition law, as “illegal state subsidies which restrict or distort competition”, which is strictly enforced to ensure a level playing field among producers. We simply don’t know the scale of the Chinese state subsidies, however, its likely to be substantial, hence the “mystery” of why these cars are so cheap and amazing value and why domestic manufactures struggle to compete.