When MG means ‘Mega Glow-Up’
It’s always astonishing when we see someone undergo a dramatic transformation.
Perhaps the simplest example is when our friend, relative or favorite celebrity loses a lot of weight. When they drop photos of their new “beach body” or svelte evening wear, we join many others in given them “heart” or “shocked” reactions on Facebook.
Politics is also a great source of transformations – the likes of then-neophyte Senator Nancy Binay and then-neophyte Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte were subject to intense criticism for their controversial stances and questionable statements. But as they matured into the role, they both became the darlings of their respective government posts.
The Internet has a term for this phenomenon – “glow-up,” which is derived from 2010s African-American hip-hop (used as “glo up”). The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines it as an “informal term for a (perceived) dramatic positive change in someone or something’s physical appearance.”
I was never fond of the previous-generation MG ZS. It may have been competitively priced (it’s the brand’s best-selling model in the country), but I found it lackluster compared to the subcompact sedans that it was trying to outsell – indeed, I found it lackluster compared to its stellar four-door cousin, the stellar MG GT.
But after trying out the 2025 MG ZS Hybrid+, which is the flagship of the all-new ZS that was launched in July, I was simply gobsmacked by this subcompact crossover’s meteoric glow-up.
Sharper appearance
While the old ZS looked like an anonymous blob with an unnaturally low hood, this all-new model is leagues better.
The proportions are more nicely balanced, with the trademark low hoodline now getting a Lexus-esque front end thanks to sharper LED headlights and a more aggressive lower grill. The faux lower-side vents likewise give this little crossover a more ferocious appearance on the road.
The protective black cladding is tastefully done, too, complementing the two-tone, 18-inch alloy wheels with 215/50 series tires. Other notable features are the aluminum-look roof rails, the upward-swooping character line along the beltline and the silver trim at the bottom of the doors.
The latest ZS also gets an all-new rear end with a large tailgate spoiler and a steeply raked rear windscreen that includes a prominent lip. The biggest change is the position of the license plate, which has been moved up between the wider LED taillights.
It may not be as dramatic to look at as the sporty GAC GS3 Emzoom or the new Geely Coolray, but it holds its own by offering buyers a more mature appearance.
Tasteful interior
But the real glow-up of the all-new ZS is inside.
There remains good space for five passengers, as well as a generous 443-liter cargo area that increases to 1,457 liters with the rear seats folded. However, the acres upon acres of nasty, hard plastics have finally been banished into the pages of history.
Indeed, I remember some variants of the previous model having red accents that looked like melted-down action figures of “The Flash.” But this top-spec Hybrid+ is resplendent in fine leather upholstery, soft-touch materials (except for the tops of the door cards) and a clean dashboard layout.
That last item is thanks to the very clear 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – it includes clever shortcut buttons and a comprehensive home screen that allows you to access everything, including the powerful climate-control system, without digging through a thousand menus (something that plagues the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i).
And unlike the barebones BYD, the ZS Hybrid+ offers some useful toys like a 360-degree camera and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat that offers good support. But it trails its rivals from Geely and GAC Motor that come with a panoramic moonroof, air-conditioned seats, power tailgate and wireless charging pad.
Nonetheless, the MG fights back by offering the MG Pilot adaptive driver assistance system (ADAS) as standard – things like Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Emergency Braking with Pedestrian & Bicycle Detection, Lane Change Assist and Emergency Lane Keeping make long journeys much easier and much safer.
Exhilarating performance
Under the hood, the ZS Hybrid+ is akin to bringing a gun to a knife fight.
It gets a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine mated to an electric motor and a 1.83-kWh battery pack. Combined output is a stout 193 horsepower and 250 Newton-meters of torque, which are coursed through something that I haven’t heard of since the early 1990s – a 3-speed automatic.
The Dedicated Hybrid Transmission helps maximize this little MG’s electrified powerplant, resulting in a seemingly endless well of power from which this little crossover can relentlessly pursue whatever horizon it faces. Thankfully, this ZS is blessed with firm yet supple suspension, light and responsive steering and strong brakes operated by a firm pedal.
However, the transmission could do with more fine-tuning, particularly with upshifts and driving on steep inclines. The gasoline engine is also quite rough when it turns on, but compensates somewhat with its sporty exhaust note.
As expected of a full-hybrid vehicle, fuel economy is exceptional – we got 20 to 23 kilometers per liter in the city and 17 to 20 kilometers per liter on the expressway. This comes as no surprise as battery power is used more in urban driving.
BYD beater?
Priced at P1,328,888 (P1,248,888 until July 31, 2025), the 2025 MG ZS Hybrid+ significantly undercuts the P1,610,000 Toyota Yaris Cross S HEV and the P1,799,000 Honda HR-V RS e:HEV, which are both much less powerful than the Chinese upstart.
And while the P1,248,000 BYD Sealion 5 DM-i (priced as of press time at P1,198,000) has a more sophisticated plug-in-hybrid powertrain, it finally has a rival that can match or beat move per move – the BYD doesn’t even get ADAS or electric seats.
I would never have guessed that the once-dowdy and totally underwhelming MG ZS could even come close to the likes of BYD, Toyota or Honda, all while giving Geely and GAC Motor a good kicking, too.
A Mega Glow-Up, through and through.
