MG ZS Pro 1.5T Luxury (2025) Living With It
We spent an extended test period with MG’s stylish ZS Pro recently, covering roughly 3 000km on all kinds of roads (including extensive gravel driving). We came away very impressed… to the point that we think consumers might be “sleeping on” one of the segment’s best-value buys.
Competing in arguably the most densely populated segment of the market (compact crossover), the MG ZS Pro arrived in October last year to add much-needed impetus to the SAIC-owned brand’s local challenge. Available in two trim levels (Comfort and Luxury) it has to face not only the top-selling Toyota Cross, but just about every other mainstream brand on the market, including other strong sellers like Haval Jolion Pro and Volkswagen T-Cross.
For our extended test period over December 2025, we took “ownership” of the top-of-the-line ZS Pro Luxury, and immediately hit the long road, fully loaded, for a festive season breakaway.
What we like about the MG ZS Pro Luxury
A focus on substance over flash
There are many (mostly Chinese) cars in this segment that rely on so-called showroom appeal for sales – glitzy features (and many of them) taking preference over, dare we say, engineering and attention to detail. The MG ZS Pro does not come across as one of those “boutique cars”. While its exterior design is neat and modern, with nice finishes (including striking 18-inch wheels and crisp LED detailing), it’s not a shouty design. This conservative approach is continued in the cabin, where it is devoid of the “screen-obsessed / ambience-lighting / funky materials” approach.
Spend more time with it, however, and you start to understand (and appreciate) MG’s approach here. The build quality is excellent, with not a rattle or a squeak evident during our test period, which took in roughly 3 000km, and a lot of that was spent on gravel. It is also worth noting that there was no dust-ingress at any point into the cabin, with the rubber seals working properly to keep the cabin (including the boot area) free of any fine dust. Speaking of the boot, load volume is just about identical to the Corolla Cross’s and there is a space-saver spare located underneath the boot floor.
Secondly, in terms of look and feel, the MG ZS Pro reminds of Mazdas and Hondas of a generation or so ago, with soft-touch materials where it matters, neat, visible stitching on the dashboard, and a cabin finished almost exclusively in black, with only satin silver accents (and the screens) to accentuate design details or features. There is a solidity and lack of play in the major controls that imbue a sense of real, underlying quality, even if the plastics themselves are, occasionally, hard-wearing rather than “premium”.
This relatively conservative approach to the ZS Pro’s design and finish may be the aspect we highlight here (because it’s counter to the trend of flashiness in the automotive industry at the moment) but that doesn’t mean it is not attractive or doesn’t offer the features that its rivals boast – far from it, in fact. The Luxury spec variant tested here costs just over R30 000 more than the Comfort version, and the extra spend certainly seems worth it. It also compared very well with the competition.
Some of the features you get additionally (over and above the Comfort variant) include the previously-mentioned 18-inch wheels, heated front seats, automatic climate control, keyless entry and push-button start, a larger info-tainment screen, 360-degree camera, panoramic sunroof, auto wipers/headlamps and, of course, a more comprehensive Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) package – including autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot detection, forward-collision warning and two additional airbags (total of 6).
A feature we particularly appreciated out on the open road was adaptive cruise control. On these trips occupants also commented favourably on the comfort of the seats (driver’s is 6-way electrically adjustable). It is worth noting that, even though the steering wheel is not reach-adjustable, this did not impact driving comfort for the car’s driver (1.8 m tall).
Impressive ride and handling
It would appear that some MG DNA, and also some of the talents for suspension tuning that the British brands have historically displayed, are still to be found on this modern compact crossover. It’s probably fair to say that some Chinese brands still struggle to get ride composure right, though it has improved markedly over the past few years for most of them.
That said, there is still a prevalence of harshness in the segment, accompanied by a rapid deterioration in comfort levels when the road surface is anything but smooth. Once again, the MG appears to be a step or two ahead of its compatriots in this regard, offering real composure as opposed to a veneer of (initial) ride comfort.
Consequently, and even on the relatively large 18-inch wheels, its ride remains absorbent and controlled on poor surfaces, and vibration and noise are also well-damped. While the steering is by no means “sporty”, there is greater precision to it than in most other cars in this segment, and also less of an artificial feel. We particularly enjoyed this aspect of the car on the poorer (including gravel/corrugated) surfaces we had to cross during our test period. It’s a car that instills confidence dynamically.
Thankfully, the suppleness over the bumps does not translate into sloppiness in the corners, with the MG ZS Pro exhibiting good body control, even when pushed, not that this is something most owners will be doing very often.
On the subject of safety, there is no current Global NCAP (relevant to South Africa) crash rating for the MG ZS Pro. Other international tests have, however, shown the ZS Pro’s structure to be robust. The latest, Australian-spec ZS Pro (with a new front-centre airbag) achieved a five-star rating in Australian NCAP crash testing late last year. Note, however, that crash test results are heavily dependent on the specification of the vehicle tested.
Performance and Economy balance
Both ZS Pro variants are powered by a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that develops 125kW and 275Nm of torque, figures that compare very favorably with, for example, the Toyota Corolla Cross (non-hybrid) and Haval Jolion Pro. The engine is mated with a CVT (continuously-variable transmission), which in practice turned out to be one of the better calibrated examples we have come across in this segment.
MG claims a 0-100kph time of 8.5 seconds, but in our own testing, we found that claim to be conservative, and achieved a sprint time of 7.73 seconds – certainly lively enough for a compact family car. There are three drivetrain modes (Eco, Sport and Normal), but no gearshift paddles.
Beyond straight-line performance, which is ultimately not that important in this category, there were two other aspects which further seemed to contribute to the perception that, when it comes to underlying engineering and fine-tuning, the MG ZS Pro appears to be ahead of its compatriots in this segment. We appreciate the refined, quiet manner in which the drivetrain goes about its business – some drone is to be expected under load as it’s typical from CVT drivetrains.
When it comes to throttle mapping, this is a Chinese offering that seems to have hit the sweet-spot – no lag off the line, and no chirping tyres due to power suddenly arriving. During our initial road test of the MG ZS Pro we reported on higher-than-expected fuel consumption. Perhaps due to having more mileage on the engine, as well as a different usage pattern (more long-distance cruising etc.), we achieved significantly better efficiency this time round, averaging around 8.0 L/100km (from a claim of 6.9 L/100km).
During the period where we really tried to drive as efficiently as possible, and used the Eco engine mode, we saw averages dip to around 7.5 L/100km. The tank size is 55L, translating to a usable range of just under 700 km.
Dislikes?
After an overwhelmingly positive test period we are left to highlight a few smaller gripes, none of which are deal breakers.
Firstly, there is a general dislike in our test team of ventilation controls being embedded in the infotainment screen, and it’s not restricted to the MG ZS Pro in this segment, but during a particularly hot summer on the Cape South Coast, we found the car’s climate control system slightly lacking in punch, which translated into having to use those controls quite often, which is fiddly on the one hand, but also frustrating because the fiddling didn’t always result in a sufficiently cooler cabin.
Another minor gripe is that while in-car connectivity options are good (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto standard) and USB-A and USB-C ports at the front (and another USB-A at the rear), there is no wireless charging pad, even though there definitely is a suitable space for one.
Finally, while it is possible to deactivate some of the car’s at-times intrusive active assistance features, you have to do so at every start-up. During our test we found that it occasionally missed changes in speed limits, leading to irritating alerts. And when this happens you have to delve into the screen’s sub-menus to find the settings to deactivate it. Compounding this issue slightly is the layout/design of the digital instrumentation, which puts an image of a MG ZS Pro at its centre, rather than useful information.
Warranty and backup
The MG ZS Pro has an impressive 5-years/150 000 km warranty as standard, but there is currently still an introductory (free) bonus of two years/50 000 km on top of that, taking the warranty to 7-years/200 000 km at the time of writing this report (but check availability of the extension when purchasing). The ZS Pro is also backed with a 5-years/60 000 km service plan. MG’s local footprint has expanded rapidly, now approaching 50 dealerships.
Verdict
MG has built a very compelling alternative to the top sellers in this segment and, to be fair, based on its merits as a product, the ZS Pro should start selling in much more impressive numbers. It clearly offers a well-sorted, solid and refined base to start from, and on top of that MG has delivered a spacious and practical (excellent rear legroom and class-competitive boot space) family crossover and equipped it to make long-term ownership pleasurable.
It is a very serious alternative to the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross/Haval Jolion Pro/Chery Tiggo Cross. It’s one of those cars that doesn’t shout at you with frilly design and features, and some of its best talents are not visible in a brochure or even when parked on the showroom floor (built quality, ride control, refinement etc.). If you’re shopping for a compact crossover at around R450 000, it needs serious consideration.
