Review: 2025 MG ZS Hybrid+
There’s a certain satisfaction in reviewing a car like the new 2025 MG ZS Hybrid+. On the one hand, it’s an affordable, sensible family crossover. On the other, it’s trying its best to step up its game, flashing a bit of posh badge energy without straying into “dealer in finance” territory. Add a hybrid badge and the promise of better fuel efficiency, and you’ve got the makings of a proper people’s car. But is it any good once the rose-tinted showroom specs wear off and you’ve got it filled with muddy dogs, camping gear, and the detritus of real life? Let’s dive in.
On-Road Ride: Smooth as a Pint on a Friday Night?
For a crossover aiming at value-for-money buyers, the ZS Hybrid+ rides... surprisingly well. Around town, it soaks up potholes and speed bumps without knocking your fillings loose, no mean feat with our beloved British roads being what they are (i.e., slightly smoother than the surface of the moon).
It’s not soft and wallowy like an old sofa, either. MG's done a tidy job balancing comfort with enough body control that you're not seasick at every corner. At motorway speeds, it’s composed, calm, and not overly noisy, wind noise around the mirrors creeps in a bit, but unless you're hurtling up the M6 at 85mph with a roof box on, it’s hardly offensive.
B-road blasts? Well, let’s not get carried away. The steering is light and accurate enough, but there’s not much feedback. The Hybrid+ is happy to be pointed and shuffled along, but it’s not one for Sunday morning ‘spirited’ driving. It’s more “nipping to the garden centre” than “nipping the apex.”
Off-Road Capability: Mud? Puddles? Maybe
Let’s be honest: this isn’t a hardcore green-laning weapon, and MG doesn't pretend it is. The ZS Hybrid+ is front-wheel drive only (no AWD option), and the ride height is modest. That said, it’ll handle a muddy field at a festival, a rutted car park, or a bit of mildly lumpy terrain without breaking into a sweat.
Ground clearance is decent enough to avoid most underbody crunches, and the Hybrid+ doesn’t get spooked by a bit of slippery grass. Traction control steps in quickly if a wheel starts spinning, which is handy for soggy campsites.
Serious green lanes with deep ruts and fords? A polite but firm no. Stick to your SUV with proper locking diffs and a raised air intake for that.
Interior Spec and Comfort: Surprisingly Fancy, Ta Very Much
Now here’s where things get interesting. For a car that costs less than some top-spec hatchbacks, the ZS Hybrid+ feels well-equipped and, dare I say, almost premium inside.
Soft-touch materials adorn the dash and doors, there's a smattering of fake stitching (which actually looks alright), and MG have thrown in a heap of standard kit. Heated seats, a 10.1" touchscreen, a decent digital driver display, keyless entry, wireless phone charging – it’s all there even in the mid-spec models.
Seating comfort is grand, too. The front seats are supportive enough for longer jaunts, and the rear has enough room for two adults and a smaller mate or teenager without too much moaning.
It’s not Audi levels of posh, but for the price? Bloody impressive.
Practicality: Bring the Dog, the Tent, and the Tat
Boot space sits around 448 litres with the seats up, not class-leading, but definitely usable. There's a nice wide opening and a low loading lip, so heaving in a muddy dog, a soggy tent, and six bags of shopping doesn’t require a hernia belt.
The boot floor is adjustable too, handy for hiding away valuables or just flattening the load space if your dog is a particular princess about flat surfaces.
With the rear seats folded (in a 60/40 split, naturally), you get up to around 1,100 litres of space. Perfect for camping weekends, tip runs, or just lobbing all your general life tat in without needing Tetris skills.
Wipe-clean surfaces? Sort of. There’s no optional rubber boot liner from the factory (come on, MG!), but it’s not a massive job to throw in a third-party mat.
Fuel Efficiency: Thriftier Than a Yorkshireman on Holiday
MG reckons you'll see a combined 57mpg-ish from the ZS Hybrid+ – and in real-world driving, mid-50s is entirely doable if you’re not hammering it everywhere. Light-footed town driving sees it pootling around on battery power quite a lot, and even on longer journeys, the hybrid system chips in to cut fuel use.
It's not a plug-in hybrid, just a 'self-charging' one, so you don't need to faff about with cables and charge points. Just drive it like a normal car and let the clever bits do their thing. Easy.
Long-term running costs should be decent too, thanks to a decent 7-year warranty and cheaper servicing than many rivals.
Driving Feel: Easy-Going, Like Your Favourite Pub Dog
The ZS Hybrid+ is not trying to be sporty. It’s trying to be easy to live with, and it absolutely nails that brief.
The hybrid system is smooth, switching between petrol and electric power without any drama. Acceleration is... fine. Not neck-snapping, but zippy enough to dart into a gap at a roundabout.
Visibility is good, the pedals are light, and you can pilot it around tight spaces with one hand while the other wrestles a half-eaten Greggs sausage roll. Actually, don’t do that!
On rougher surfaces, it doesn’t get jittery, and the suspension sorts out most of Britain’s battered backroads nicely.
Brakes? Predictably grabby at low speeds (hybrid regen systems always are), but you get used to it.
Tech Annoyances: Turning Off Lane Departure – The Eternal Battle
Unlike some cars that have a dedicated switch for disabling these features, MG ZS relies on touchscreen menus. Boo-hiss. You swipe down, go into MG Pilot, and turn them off. Just remember this rigmormall every time you start the car.
Adaptive cruise, auto emergency braking, and all the other acronym-riddled safety systems can be adjusted in the settings too, but they don’t intrude unless you go looking for trouble.
Heater Controls
Sadly, just like the HS I reviewed last week, here’s where MG drops another couple of points. The heater controls are mainly on the touchscreen. There’s a shortcut button that brings up the climate menu fast, but yes, you’ll have to jab at a screen to adjust the fan speed.
On a cold morning with gloves on, it’s about as user-friendly as a chocolate teapot. A proper row of physical knobs and buttons would’ve made it bang-on perfect. Come on, MG, you were so close!
Verdict: Proper Good with a Few Little Niggles
The 2025 MG ZS Hybrid+ isn’t going to set your soul on fire, but it’s not trying to. It’s a practical, comfortable, surprisingly well-equipped crossover that’ll happily ferry you, your muddy mutt, and all your camping gear without complaint. It rides well, sips petrol, and doesn’t try to bamboozle you with overly fussy tech.
For the money, it’s cracking value, and in today's world, that's worth its weight in Gold.
Would I green lane it across the Peaks? No. Would I hammer it up the Kirkstone Pass for fun? Also no.
Would I recommend it for real-world folk who want a stress-free, comfy daily driver with enough room for all their ‘stuff’? Absolutely. Proper good effort, MG.
Website - MG Cars UK
Price - from £19,995