MG ZS - Chinese Dacia Duster (ENG) - Test Drive and Review

[@dbedford1000]

The MZ and its EV sister had been out here in the UK for a number of years, so the reviews is a little late and has been covered by so many others. We have owned our MG ZS EV TLR for eight months, not the highest of quality product, but at the price a class leader, we love it ❤.

[@Trevelyan1971]

I just hope like me you didn’t buy it new and pay over £30k for it…if you did then like me you’ll have lost a lot of money.

[@AHarker100]

You get a lot for the money. For me, growing up with the Austin Maxi, this is a Rolls Royce.

[@extreme8808]

I'd love to see you do side-by-side comparison with the Dacia. Would be an interesting one as most car journalists compare only the mid to expensive stuff this way. You would be pioneer! 😊

[@MarekDrivesENG]

This one feels a bit more "premium", and I find it less annoying than the (still) current Dacia Duster. If I wanted a crossover for the city, I'd pick the ZS, but if I needed a beater to use for work (maybe light construction site or farm duty) I'd pick the Duster. Having said that, I know for many price sensitive buyers Dacia's factory installed LPG is an important factor. Also (at least in Poland) Dacia has an extensive dealer network.

[@10mbc]

Of of.... the phone will not fit with the cable plugged in. It's your cable, it's not provided with the car, just get a cable with a right angled usb-c port. I'm not saying the car is not bad, it's just not bad because of YOUR cable.

[@goncalo33]

6:15 As it should. Kudos for helping save the manual, MG.

[@jjookkaaooss]

Regarding the trims - in some markets, like Croatia, there are 3 trims and the top one is turbo only.

[@atelier81a74]

It looks like a nice car. While Duster is available with 4x4 and real offroad capabilities, this is more of a street car with slightly higher seat position, but I get your point.

[@TheDirkdams]

I got an mg zs for 2 years now here in spain 60000km no problems and its a good car ! In my second home in the Dominican Republic i got another Chinese car a jac s2 7 years old 125000 km and not one singel problem. I bet you in 5 years max 10 years they will be big players in Europ! The mg zs is the best selling ice car in Spain and mg 4 the best selling electric car

[@kevinn1158]

MG.... my friend's dad had a MG from the 70s. It's was the perfect high school car! We'd just scoot around trying to be cool at incredibly slow speeds. It felt like we were doing something illegally fast though. The other vehicle that I have found memories of is the 1972 VW van my other buddy had. His dad's vehicle to haul around his instruments. Burnt orange. Sooooo cool. I guess what I'm saying is, if you are going to make a retro car, make it really RETRO This MG makes me sad. It's just sooo terminally generic. Ok, it's auto show today!! Wish me luck!

[@goncalo33]

Look up the MG Cyberster.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

@kevinn1158 anything interesting at the CIAS?

[@kevinn1158]

@@MarekDrivesENG it’s become a pretty sad show overall after COVID. BMW, VW, Audi, Mercedes, and Mazda didn’t show up. Many cars I wanted to see weren’t there like the EX30, CX90, CX70. Strangely enough Tesla showed up with the new Model 3, and Cybertruck. I got to see the Fisker Ocean, EV9 (test drove the EV9), new Sante Fe, Toyota Crown Signia, Lexus GX 550. Porsche was being Porsche. Locked all their cars. But the classic car sector had 2 cars that stole the show. A Porsche 356 Zagato. One of 9 in the world. And a fully convertible 1950s Land Rover Defender.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

@@kevinn1158yes, the car show is pretty much dead. It's expensive, it forces carmakers to keep veils on certain premieres, which would otherwise launch already, etc. And with the internet it's easier to just do an online launch.

[@kevinn1158]

@@MarekDrivesENG a real shame because nothing replaces seeing the vehicles in person. The Rivians were there too.

[@system11yt]

It seems reasonable enough but I can't see why anyone would pick it over a similarly priced Duster. I do like seeing a real ignition key again!

[@BrateTebra123]

Because it looks more slick and everyone know Dacia is a cheap brand, unlike MG which rearly who knows how it is positioned

[@Nev860]

Marek! Please review the new Subaru Crosstrek hybrid.

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

I wonder if the MG ZS EV will be sold in Poland.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Not likely. They are offering the MG4, so enough EVs for an unknown brand.

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

@@MarekDrivesENG I won’t lie, I prefer the MG4 over the MG ZS EV.

[@olkarls5494]

I thought that in the EU - since 1998 - cars were required to have 12 years of rust protection? Not just 7 years...?

[@MarekDrivesENG]

There's rust and paint perforation. That's the latter I guess.

[@Commentator541]

Hyundai made a completely wrong move for not continuing to produce their older vehicles and sell them. This is literally picking up right where the old gen Kia Hyundai cars used to be.

[@takuan650]

Well, for that price I could also buy me a top of the line racing bicycle.

[@shroomyesc]

I had no idea they sold this with a petrol engine in Europe, I thought they only sold the grille-less EV.

[@devil5741]

With all respect to MG, but everything connected with the Chinese is an attempt to sell Chinese crap in a beautiful package. If this somehow still works with Volvo, then here... everything is obvious. What looks cheap is what it is. Thanks for the review!

[@alliejr]

Everyone said the same about the Japanese in 1968 and the Koreans in 1988. It might be kinda crappy today, but stay tuned. It’s classic market penetration strategy- first compete on price, gain marketshare and… well… we all know the rest.

[@devil5741]

@@alliejr In 1968, Japanese cars were the kind that I would still drive today if they looked the same but had modern safety systems, etc. But Korean cars in 1988...hmmm..was there an auto industry there? :)) The question is not the production date, but the approach to production. No matter what anyone says, but communism in industry...always pursues two goals: the cheaper - the better, the more production - the better. And no one ever even thinks about the quality or the design, etc. Modern Chinese production is a global flea market. Perhaps they would like to improve the quality of their trash, but for makin that possible, they need modern technology... which they don’t have, but Taiwan does... :)) Chinese trash is pointless. For any savings you always have to pay extra. Quality doesn't come cheap.

[@laupakhin]

@@devil5741 Isn't that capitalism you're describing?

[@Azureecosse]

I have to agree with you on that we have sitting in the corner of our farm a non running 2015 Volvo XC 90 Diesel with around 90k miles on the odo the car has not run since mid 2021 because the engine seized, it was not for lack of maintenance or servicing, its because the engine block seized due to a faulty water pump that allowed the engine to boil itself to death warping the block and two pistons which welded themselves to the cylinder walls the emissions system some electrical components and the Turbo, the car needs a completely new engine which will cost thousands we are not prepared to spend that on the car so it will sit their forever more as a Swedish/ Chinese hen house, it was a lovely car when we bought in new but when it went out of warranty the problems started around the 6 year point, Volvo were not interested, we will never buy another Volvo. My parents drove Volvos all through the 70s 80s and early 90s they all were extremely robust simple to repair and reliable. I would say any vehicle company that is Chinese owned is a bad idea they build their cars to a poor standard not what you would expect from Volvo but we are testament to the poor quality of the Swedish chinese collaboration.

[@devil5741]

@@laupakhin Capitalism is the reduction of production costs while maintaining or improving quality standards. For example, using a conveyor in production...or robots, or reducing the cost of energy costs. Look at Rolls Roys, Mercedes, Ferrari etc. Also, I want to remind you that the industrial revolution took place in the capitalist world. New inventions and technologies are also a by-product of capitalism. And communism in industry means initially producing a car from cardboard, betting on the fact that it can get to the car dealership and from there to the buyer’s garage, and then... buy a new one))

[@adrianbyron-parker5797]

What Honda was badged MG???

[@MarekDrivesENG]

1995-2005 MG ZS later MG5. Rover 45/Civic liftback.

[@Ambienfinity]

What comes to my mind is the self-inflicted decline of our (British) car industry, and the Chinese appropriating yet more Intellectual Property in an attempt to customise their products to European tastes by smearing them with legacy badges. That said, they're decent vehicles and more reliable than most things Austin-Rover ever made (I had three, so I unfortunately have plenty of bad memories).

[@BillyNoMates1974]

Id take the Duster instead. lol

[@craigo2656]

Not an MG, this car spits on the prestigious European heritage of MG. Fake car for fake people. Buy cars from western companies, or at least democracies. Support people with your values and way of life.

[@ShitpommfritFraz]

Of course you are also typing this on your european made phone/computer, sitting in your european made clothing and driving your car with european built electronics! :)

[@fairybuddy-angel2035]

My Nokia phone uses components from across the world and is brand owned in Europe. Many of my clothes and shoes are similar or even more European. I choose to fund countries and people's within my region and with similar priorities. MG is owned by the CCP. Enough said.

[@fairybuddy-angel2035]

My car is an excellent Peugeot 2008. Components from across the world but made in Europe by our nearest neighbour.

[@mrki412]

Companies that insult your brain cells, VW ID 3 is sold in China for 17k eur and in Germany for 40k, you call that right values?!

[@toncilozic8902]

​​@@fairybuddy-angel2035in witch universe 😂 HMD Global was formed after Microsoft relinquished its rights to the Nokia brand in 2016. Foxconn took over Microsoft’s feature phone business, and Foxconn founder Terry Gou is the main owner of HMD Global. Nokia is now just an ex. European brand owned by China, just like MG.

[@kllvturbo]

Max speed of this POS is 130kmh and you probably fall asleep before u reach that because the car is just so damn weak and slow. I had it as a rental while visiting France and it was just horrible to drive

[@andersemanuel]

Booooring 🤓

[@andyarmstrong1493]

Dacia is Renault, not MG. No connection whatsoever.