MG’s new SUVs are incredibly popular – and for good reason.
The HS and ZS are roomy, well equipped and affordable compared to their nearest rivals – and they’re backed up by MG’s seven-year warranty. So if you’re drawn in by the historically significant octagonal badge (or just the promise of a good-value car), but aren't sure which MG SUV to buy, we’ve driven both to see which you should choose.
MG HS vs ZS compared
| MG HS | MG ZS |
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Styling
Both of these cars look smart and sophisticated – they don’t look cheap. But, on the road, the ZS doesn’t really stand out at all. Even though it shares its front-end design cues with the MG3, the ZS is a little generic – take off the badge and you’d struggle to place it as an MG.
To our eyes, the HS looks like a much more premium product. Its winged, high-set headlights give a more confident appearance, while the rear lightbar is stylish, intricate and could easily be mistaken for something fitted to a VW, Audi or even Porsche.
Interior
These two cars share most of the same interior parts, albeit presented differently. The ZS’ touchscreen sits within the dashboard, underneath a pair of distinctly Lamborghini-esque air vents, whereas the HS’ screen sits right at the top. They’re both the same size at 12.3 inches, but the screen in the HS somehow looks bigger.
Both use broadly the same infotainment software. The main menus are easy to work your way around, although some controls are buried a couple of submenus deep – including ones that we’d ideally like to see on the steering wheel.
The HS has a wider range of adjustability in the steering wheel and seat, so it’ll be easier to find your ideal driving position.
Dimensions and practicality
| MG HS | MG ZS | |
| Length | 4,670mm | 4,430mm |
| Height | 1,664mm | 1,635mm |
| Width (inc mirrors) | 2,066mm | 2,087mm |
| Boot space (seats up/down) | 507/1,484 litres | 443/1,457 litres |
On paper, there’s not a vast difference between the ZS and HS in terms of practicality. However, busy families are likely to appreciate the extra 64 litres of boot space you get in the HS, which elevates it to being spacious rather than just useful.
Further forward, the ZS offers a pretty generous amount of legroom. But it’s comfortably eclipsed by the bigger HS, which has limousine-like space in the back row. The HS is a big car – it’s over 10cm longer than the Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Tiguan. Instead of trying to squeeze in a third row of seats, MG has given the HS palatial rear seats that feel genuinely luxurious.
Engines
The standard engine in both cars is a 1.5-litre petrol, with 115hp in the ZS and 169hp in the HS. That’s a big difference in power, and it’s courtesy of a turbocharger in the HS. While you couldn’t call the petrol HS quick, its 0-62mph time of under 10 seconds is perfectly respectable and the HS does feel nippy getting up to speed.
Without a turbocharger, the ZS feels wheezy in comparison, labouring from 0-62mph in an uncompetitive 12.5 seconds.
The ZS launched with a hybrid engine, and a version of it has just been introduced to the HS, too. As with the petrols, the HS hybrid gets a chunk more power than the ZS – the bigger car’s 224hp (vs 193hp in the ZS) allows a speedy 0-62mph sprint in just 7.9 seconds. The ZS isn’t far behind, and its 8.7-second time is brisk for a small SUV.
Setting the HS apart is a plug-in hybrid option, which gets a whopping 24.7kWh battery. Somehow, there’s no packaging compromise by choosing the PHEV, and the upshot is a 75-mile electric range that’ll drastically reduce your fuel costs if you can charge at home.
Value
The difference between brand-new examples of the ZS and HS is a chunky £6,000, but that’s not the end of the story. Browse our newest HS cars for sale and you’ll find plenty of 2025 cars with little more than delivery mileage for around £5,000 off list – and you don’t have to wait for them to be built. What’s more, you’re not going to get any equivalently talented family SUV for less.
MG HS video review
Which is best?
On its own, the ZS is a very strong small SUV. It’s very practical for its size, affordable, well equipped and the hybrid engine is both quick and economical. But compare it to the HS and it comes off second best, as the bigger car manages to be much more spacious while remaining cheap to buy. The HS really is stonking value for money.
Read our MG HS review for more information on MG’s largest SUV, or shop used MG HS cars for sale and used MG ZS cars for sale.
