The new MG ZS Hybrid +
The MG ZS Hybrid + is, as per a discussion we recently had, is kind of the car that really shows how much things have changed, and for the consumer, for the better.
The MG brand has been in the country for over half a dozen years and has been pretty stable, so it isn’t really the question of “will it last” so much anymore, which it has been for a lot of the cars produced in China.
It also doesn’t seem to be a question of “will it be supported.” One of the things we mentioned before about the MG Group is that it is part of the massive SAIC organization, which means they can take advantage of huge economies of scale in everything from production to logistics. So rather than assessing vehicles that are built in China and looking at them questioningly, what we are now beginning to see is that there are advantages to their speeds and technologies. For example, these new cars are already Euro 6E compliant in terms of their emissions. This all has the potential to make things better for the consumer not just in terms of the initial purchase but also in terms of parts support and such.
A lot of the attitude we have seen for the vehicles we have seen coming from China has been something along the lines of “well, they’re so cheap we can just sell them when they start going off or write them off entirely.” But we are kind of getting past that. A lot of the cars that were bought that way are still in the same garages, still bringing the kids to school, still doing their job.
So, now we have this new MG ZS Hybrid +, and all we really need to focus on is, how do we like the car? And now is when we are going to start seeing changes. Because the car is punching above its weight (or price) class even more than before.
The new MG ZS Hybrid + car is a compact SUV from a model line that is already familiar. In the new model, it is a 1.5 L engine paired with an electric hybrid system. Four different types will be available, but what we are concentrating on is the most expensive of the lot, the ZS Hybrid +. Other models will include a ZS Sport a ZS Luxury and a ZS Comfort.
The feel behind the wheel of the ZS Hybrid + is one of, well, pleasant contentment I guess. It is a value-oriented vehicle based on the actual cost, but it is actually above that in terms of how it makes you feel. The people who used to buy the earlier MGs were buying them because of their very competitive pricing. They didn’t have a lot of history locally so those that picked them up were willing to take the chance. That has all seemed to work out, so now the decision process is more about what the car brings them while still being value-oriented.
What the MG brings them is this combination of somewhat British quirkiness combined with the efficiencies of the SAIC organization. The car is deeply technological, and sometimes you need to go deep into the system to sort things out. It is not fully screen-only, you have buttons for air conditioning and audio volume and such below the center console screen. The control of the three-speed hybrid transmission is a physical lever on the console as opposed to a knob, so that’s nice. The parking brake is a separate electric lever, and will keep in brake even if you put the lever in drive. Basically, they aren’t just throwing technology at the car but choosing how and why to do so, and this is therefore, a level of maturity up. You just have to decide if it is for you or not.
One of the things i particularly like is still having the ability to adjust the level of energy recuperation. Many cars, especially the more upscale European ones, have done away with this but I still like having that control. The level of recuperation which is somewhat similar to the feel of heavy engine braking van make things very unpleasant for passengers so I tend to keep it high for myself and low when someone is with me. This is one of those things that is deep into the menu when you wasn’t to adjust it, but you can set a programmable key on the steering wheel to make it very simple. The other programmable button I set to the 360 degree camera.
Overall, what MG has done here is make the purchase decision process very simple. The car is pretty well priced, it brings with it levels and details that didn’t used to be seen at those price levels. It has, and we really like this, its own kind of identity. It isn’t just a mode of transportation, it takes the electrification process as a way to make that journey a bit more pleasant. It is a car you could easily slide into your life and later on realize how good a choice you made.
