MG ZS Pro (2025) Launch Review

Our intrepid contributor is accustomed to exotic locales and piloting exciting vehicles; so, when we sent him to an MG dealership in Paarl to drive the new ZS Pro compact family car, we expected him to be underwhelmed. As it turned out, he wasn’t!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep bleating on until it fails to be true: you can’t throw a paper jet into traffic without hitting a Chinese small crossover akin to the MG ZS Pro. If I had to update that, it would be to say that it would hit a Chinese small crossover, ricochet off its bodywork and pong against 2 other examples.

See also: MG ZS Pro (2025) Price & Specs

One of them could be the MG ZS Pro. Unlike its fellow Chinese brands, MG has the distinction of having a century-old legacy (if you include its backstory as a fine British marque, which I suggest you should).

See also: Just how good is the MG ZS budget crossover?

ZS Pro offered in tandem with its predecessor

First impressions are great – the ZS Pro is a slippery compact family car positioned between the budget-oriented ZS, which predates it, and the larger HS medium SUV. I sampled each of the 3 models in China last year, so I was anticipating the ZS Pro’s local arrival. Driving in China was limited to MG’s Zhengzhou proving grounds, but on this occasion, we had access to some of the Western Cape’s finest roads.

See also: Is the New MG HS a Good Family Car?

Exiting the parking lot of the dealership (a multi-franchise affair shared with Mercedes-Benz), we quickly wound our way out of Paarl in the direction of Wellington. Before I go further, let’s discuss the performance statistics. No, not the ZS Pro’s, rather how MG SA has fared since its introduction in Mzansi earlier this year – specifically the fact that it has sold over 2 000 units (as reported to Naamsa).

See also: How well did the MG3 hatchback sell in its 1st full month?

MG SA making inroads into local market

We’ve touched on MG SA’s distribution plan (operating out of established multi-franchise dealerships around the country); it’s also said to enjoy few customer complaints and boasts a 97% parts fill-rate.

So, MGs are not falling apart – but if they do, offending bits can most likely be replaced immediately. This bodes well for MG SA’s portfolio, including its compact hatch (MG3) and electric sports car (Cyberster).

See also: MG3 (2025) Launch Review

Factor in the Chinese marque’s after-sales offerings of a 5-year/60 000 km service plan and a 7-year/200 000 km warranty, and you get the sense that MG is here to stay.

See also: Can the MG Cyberster BREAK the Simola Hillclimb Record?

Handsome exterior styling

The MG ZS Pro will struggle to stand out in a South African parking lot in 2025. I don’t mean that as an indictment, but rather an indication of the demand for svelte 5-seaters with a raised ground clearance.

The newcomer’s exterior styling is inoffensive, handsome even, but also curvy in all the right places. Not necessarily distinctive, but perfect in line with the rest of the MG family. If this were your dating profile, you’d be in trouble, but for a car that is meant to have widespread appeal, it’s nailed the brief.

Yours in a choice of 6 exterior finishes, but there’s a 7th hue (green) if a hybridised variant of the ZS Pro receives the err, green light for the local market. The front-end features “predator eyes” LED headlamps complemented by geometric LED taillights at the back. In each corner, you’ll find either 17-inch (Comfort derivative) or 18-inch (Lux range-topper) alloy designs covered in Linglong Grip Master C/S rubber.

Unfussy, tech-filled cabin

Clamber aboard and you’ll encounter a darkly surfaced cabin that allows plenty of light in. It’s pleasant enough, well-appointed and soft to the touch for the most part, with ergonomics that are sensible and not show-offy.

Mind you, in the top-of-the-range Lux that I drove, the dashboard is dominated by the de rigeur 12.3-inch touchscreen, flanked by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Comfort version must make do with just a 10.25-inch touchscreen (so, it’s still quite sizeable), combined with a 7-inch driver display.

If you’ve remembered to bring your smartphone’s USB cable along, you’ll be able to make a wired Android Auto or Apple CarPlay connection – there’s no wireless connectivity just yet.

Sizeable (and therefore, practical) cabin

Space is plentiful with no shortage of bins and receptacles to stow your oddments, while the load-bay capacity can be expanded from 443 to 1 457 litres with the seats down.

The ZS Pro is equipped with the MG Pilot Advance Driver Tech safety package, which includes a 360-degree surround view and 6 airbags on the Lux; the Comfort has a reverse-view camera and 4 airbags.

The Lux also gets adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-departure warning and more features.

What does the MG ZS Pro cost in South Africa?

Prices (October 2025) include a 7-year/200 000 km warranty and a 5-year/60 000 km service plan.

As for the MG ZS Pro’s pricing, it’s really competitive. In my opinion, there’s such a small gap between the derivatives, you may as well splurge on the pricier one, considering all the aforementioned features.

The R33 900 premium for the MG ZS Pro 1.5T Comfort can be easily justified when you consider the range-topper’s comprehensive list of standard features. I haven’t even mentioned the intelligent headlights, folding mirrors, electrically adjustable driver’s seat and panoramic sunroof.

Summary

What both MG ZS Pro variants do share is the same 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. This combo is good for 125kW and 275Nm, endowing the small crossover with a 0-100 kph sprint time of 8.5 sec and an average consumption of 6.9 L/100 km.

In all honesty, that blend of performance and efficiency is quite acceptable for this package. What’s more, the model’s steering feels light and pointy with a chassis that followed my commands obediently… if somewhat uninspiringly. And that’s fine. For a car that has the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross, Haval Jolion Pro and Chery Tiggo 4 Cross in its crosshairs, the MG ZS Pro is perfectly up to the task.