Cabin check: What's inside the MG ZS?

The updated version of the MG ZS entered the market this year. It continues its strong presence of the ZS nameplate, and it has plenty of qualities that car buyers may want from a five-seater crossover. 

For starters, it sports a sleek and sporty appearance inspired by the MG ZS T. Found on its front end, for example, are a pair of sharp-looking LED projector headlamps flanking the brand’s black-colored “Obsidian Matrix” grille. 

Its side portion, meanwhile, gets sleek character lines accentuated by black plastic claddings and a set of 17-inch two-tone tomahawk-designed wheels. Meanwhile, its rear was fitted with an angular lower rear bumper, a rear windshield wiper, and a pair of eye-catching LED taillights. 

Under the hood of the model, meanwhile, is a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-4 gasoline engine. At the maximum, the said powertrain can generate up to 112 horsepower and 150 Newton-meters of torque. 

Power is sent to its front wheels through a continuously variable transmission. Plus, it has a sports model, which is selectable through its gear shift lever, a manual mode, and a set of disc brakes. 

All of the aforementioned sounds good, but what is the interior of the MG ZS offering to prospective adopters? Let’s find out. 

Colorful cabin

Inside the ZS is a colorful cabin, which can prove to be a feast for the eye. Specifically, its interior door cards, dashboard, and center console come with soft-touch contrast color pieces that mimic the exterior body color of the car. 

The result, of course, is a very colorful cabin, which is becoming a rarity among modern-day vehicle offerings. Other than the colored bits, it also has a greyish headliner and mostly black leather surfaces. 

Other parts of the cabin likewise use textured plastics and some measure of soft fabrics. Particularly for the top-spec Luxury trim, its dash and the space surrounding its shifter are covered in a textured cloth-like material that is reminiscent of carbon fiber. 

A decent amount of driving amenities

Apart from having a very colorful cabin, the ZS also has plenty of driving amenities. 

For ease of use, the model has automatic headlamps, which are quite responsive to lighting changes. It also has a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel equipped with logically arranged buttons for the music player and digital gauge. 

Speaking of the digital gauge, the said feature is a sizable unit with a responsive and easy-to-understand layout. It has some degree of customizability and can reliably display plenty of information a driver needs. 

Additionally, looking for one’s preferred driving position aboard the ZS is easy, thanks to its electronically adjustable driver’s seat. A soft and decently sized front cabin center armrest likewise ensures comfort for long-distance trips or during slow bumper-to-bumper traffic. 

Likewise useful for parking is the vehicle’s 360-degree view monitor. The said feature will see great use in particularly tight parking lots, and so will be an invaluable component for a potential daily-driven chariot like the ZS. 

On one hand, cruising for hours on end on the highway can be a breeze, thanks to the model’s cruise control feature. It can alleviate driver fatigue, and it has the potential to drive away the humdrum of long, boring highways. 

Other notable driving-related features contributing to the ease of use of the ZS are a push-to-start button, a tire-pressure monitoring system, an electronic parking brake, a sufficient amount of cupholders, keyless entry, and plenty of cubby holes for storing knick-knacks. 

Rich with creature comforts, practicality

The coolness and comfort of the MG model’s cabin are achieved through a manual air-conditioning (AC) system. For the front cabin, it gets a pair of circular vents surrounded by contrast-colored material. 

For those who do not like to fiddle with AC controls through a touchscreen, the crossover, thankfully, comes with physical controls. Moreover, the AC itself also comes with a built-in particulate matter 2.5 filter, which is helpful in keeping the interior smelling fresh and clean. 

The rear cabin, meanwhile, also gets two individual vents positioned behind the front cabin center armrest. Additionally, the model also gets a panoramic sunroof, which can be useful for upping the mood during road trips. The said feature comes with a sliding screen as well. 

The trunk of the MG ZS, on the other hand, boasts a default space of 360 liters. For even more room, the rear seats can be folded down to stretch the said space to up to 1,166 liters. A 60:40 split-folding rear seat also offers more versatility, but if all those mentioned above were not enough, the vehicle also comes with a pair of roof rails. 

Decent amount of tech

For onboard entertainment, the MG ZS was kitted out with a sizable 10-inch infotainment display. It uses a crisp user interface, and it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Keeping devices topped up inside the MG ZS is done through several USB ports and a 12-volt accessory outlet. Sound inside the vehicle, meanwhile, is outputted by a six-piece speaker system. 

Pricing

MG ZS Luxury CVT: P1,088,888

MG ZS Comfort CVT: P918,888

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