Launch drive: New MG ZS Pro brings some spirit to the bland compact SUV market

MG is making steady progress since returning to our shores earlier this year, with the Chinese-owned British brand breaching 500 monthly sales for the first time in September, and plans are afoot to increase the dealer count to 50 by year-end.

MG's best-seller in South Africa is the previous-generation ZS compact SUV, which is a price-leader in the range with its budget-beating sticker of R289,900, but now that model has been joined by the new-generation model, which will be known locally as the ZS Pro.

The two will continue alongside each other for the time being, with the ZS continuing to serve the entry-level market and the ZS Pro plugging the gap between that and the larger HS.

The ZS Pro, launched to local media this week, is 116mm longer than the regular ZS, with its 4,430mm length making it larger than the Chery Tiggo Cross but slightly smaller than the Haval Jolion and Toyota Corolla Cross.

These three models will be the ZS Pro’s primary competitors, and it is priced accordingly, with the 1.5T Comfort retailing at R397,600 and the 1.5T Luxury entering your garage for R431,500.

For the record, the Chery Tiggo Cross is priced from R359,900, the Haval Jolion Pro from R391,150, and the Toyota Corolla Cross starts at R414,800.

Out on the street, the ZS Pro isn’t going to turn heads, but its exterior design certainly is easy on the eye, leaning towards the sporty side of things but without polarising opinions. 

From the front, it bears a strong resemblance to the MG HS, with its wide honeycomb grille. Both models ride on striking, somewhat handsome alloy wheels, with the Comfort model receiving 17-inch ‘tele-dial’ rims and the Luxury flaunting 18-inch wheels with a turbine design. 

The good-looking and well-finished cockpit reminds me of the Lamborghini Urus, and instead of a ‘floating’ screen, which has become the norm in modern times, the MG’s touchscreen is integrated neatly into the dashboard, sitting below two shapely central air vents.

The central screen measures 10.25 inches in the Comfort and 12.3 inches in the Luxury, while a separate digital instrument cluster is positioned in front of the driver. The climate system is controlled via the central screen.

The cabin is well-appointed and spacious, while the boot boasts a volume of 443 litres with all seats in place.

In terms of standard features, the Comfort grade comes with manual air conditioning, synthetic leather seat upholstery, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multi-function steering wheel, rear parking sensors, four airbags and traction control.

The Luxury gains heated front seats, with electric adjustment for the driver, automatic climate control with rear ventilation, panoramic sunroof, auto headlights with Intelligent High Beam Control, reach-adjustable steering and a slew of ‘MG Pilot’ driver assistance systems, such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist, Auto Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

What’s the MG ZS Pro like to drive?

Power comes from a 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine, and I know what you’re thinking.. Don’t they all..? But the MG’s unit is more powerful than its rivals, with outputs of 125kW and 275Nm, which is somewhat higher than the Haval’s 105kW and Chery’s 108kW.

On the road, performance feels strong, willing and responsive, and the CVT drone only becomes apparent under full throttle, which you’re unlikely to use under most circumstances as the MG does offer strong mid-range torque.

The ride quality was also pleasantly comfortable, even over some of the pothole-riddled sections that the Gauteng launch route took us on, en route to Magaliesburg.

As an all-round package, the MG ZS Pro is competitive with its sporty looks inside and out, practicality, willing performance and ride comfort.

It’s a compelling package, but then there is a great deal of competition at this level, and as a new brand, MG will need to prove itself in terms of after-sales back-up and parts supply.

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