2024 MG ZST review: 0-100 & engine sound

2024 MG ZST review: 0-100 & engine sound. Our written review will be up on our website soon. See our MG ZS Excite base model review in the meantime: drivingenthusiast.com.au/2023...
2024 MG ZST Essence specifications:
1815kW (156PS) / 230Nm, 1.3-litre turbo 3-cylinder
6-speed auto transmission with front-wheel drive
Claimed 0-100km/h: N/A
Official average fuel consumption: 7.1L/100km
Tare weight: 1295kg
Boot space: 359L/1187L
Price: AU$33,990 (not including on-road costs, at time of upload)
For all of our Vbox performance test results, see the full data table here: drivingenthusiast.com.au/perf...
For all of our latest car reviews: drivingenthusiast.com.au/cate...
And our latest car news: drivingenthusiast.com.au/cate...
Follow us on social media for extra insights and updates.
DE on Facebook: / drivingenthusiast
DE on Instagram: / drivingenthusiastaustr...

[@davetaylor4741]

For those of us not made of money. And not wishing to land themselves in heaps of debt. There really isn't anything left to buy that is cheap. Hyundai used to sell base end models. We had several of the Getz models. Kia had entry level. And there were other cheap price new cars. Even cheaper as demonstrators or end of line. Now with crash ratings and emission ratings. There are no base models. Even the Chinese and Korean cars start at telephone numbers. What happened to utilitarian transport. The Model T. VW Beetle. 2CV. Cars made in mass numbers. No frills. To get the working man mobile. At a price that they could afford. There was a period in my life when I bought many new cars. No HP. Walk in with cash. Drive out. I wasn't earning megabucks. The cars just weren't that expensive comparative to earnings. Now the cost is like a second mortgage. Combined with Rego cost. Insurance. And running expenses. Very much a luxury item these days. No longer just convenient transport.

[@joytech23]

There are still a couple of base models available, like the Kia Picanto and MG3. Unfortunately you are mostly right, there are no more bare bones options available unless you look at motorcycles which fit every budget.

[@user-pd1ww3nk1g]

Very true and couldn't have said it better myself.

[@kareembaba7498]

This has 1kW more than my car

[@dingus2218]

MG is hard to ignore these days. Personally, i'd go something Korean or Japanese but maybe I'm becoming that old man shouting at the clouds about not going Chinese. With a big enough timeframe on sale we should have a clearer picture on reliability and common issues. I just wonder how all the underpinnings go in a salty coastal region as a cheap alternative usually becomes damn obvious after a while

[@jimmyp1433]

I was expecting more from nearly 2500 Horsepower ;)

[@alexi21san]

In sport mode it probably would have been a second quicker to 100kmhr

[@drivingenthusiastaustralia]

Incorrect. I tried all modes during the Vbox testing. It made no difference. Sport mode doesn’t add power.

[@alexi21san]

All the videos in the testing show it in drive mode only it should have a S on the dash if it’s in sport .My wife owns this car and I find when I drive it in sport it’s got more power.

[@drivingenthusiastaustralia]

@@alexi21san The videos are not timed runs. Vbox testing is done separately as we do a lot more tests to try out different take off methods etc. Sport mode does not add power. The engine produces a maximum of 115kW, regardless of the mode. Sport mode only increases throttle sensitivity and the auto kicks down earlier. Hope that helps.

[@ytyndale3643]

Not fast enough for today's turbo SUV market.

[@lxlmx98]

At least under 10.

[@ytyndale3643]

@@lxlmx98 exactly, 8 to 9 secs is where it's at for a modern SUV.

[@lxlmx98]

@@ytyndale3643 It is under 10. 9 is not slow compared to the utes, which most are over 10.