We join the Peakes family in Kent, as they give the MG ZS compact SUV a comprehensive two-day test

Meet the Peakes – dad Daniel, mum Maxine, and their kids, Lewis and Alfie. Like most families, they live for the weekend, mixing chores such as the big weekly food shop with time out and about in the Kent countryside.

Whether it’s a going for a bike ride, a match of tennis, a family birthday, or a trip to the cinema, they need an SUV that’s stylish and comfortable – in the front, and in the back – with plenty of room for their busy lives. All of which makes the MG ZS perfect for their needs.

In fact, there’s a lot to love about the new MG ZS, from its sleek new design, to its spacious, practical interior – with 448 litres of boot capacity – and its smooth, refined drive, which has been honed for British roads.

To find out more about the MG ZS, head to mg.co.uk/mg-zs

Dynamic, spacious design

The first thing that stands out about the MG ZS is its distinctive design. It’s a fresh face for the MG brand, with a bold grille, LED daytime running lights, and a premium finish – available in a range of metallic colours – Laser Blue, Black Pearl, Cosmic Silver, Spiced Orange and Dynamic Red. 

The quality theme continues inside, with soft-touch premium surfaces and leather style seats on the Exclusive trim. The MG ZS also has some of the most generous headroom, legroom and shoulder-room in the compact SUV class, with plenty of practical pockets and cubby holes for storage. 

In the back, you get 448 litres of load space – around 60 litres more than typical compact SUVs, and significantly more than the rival Nissan Juke, Mazda CX3 and Ford EcoSport. Split-folding 60:40 rear seats and a versatile split-level floor make using this space incredibly easy.

Perfect for British roads

Under the bonnet, you can choose from a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a five-speed manual, or an even more punchy 1.0-litre turbo with a six-speed automatic. Once you’re behind the wheel, you’ll quickly find out that the MG ZS’s ride has been honed for the wealth of British roads, while three steering modes – Urban, Normal and Dynamic – make city manoeuvring even easier, or give you a greater sense of engagement on flowing B-roads.

Up-front, there’s plenty of technology to please music-lovers, with a large 8” touchscreen and infotainment system on Excite and Exclusive trims that includes Apple CarPlay, as well as Bluetooth and USB connection. On the Exclusive trim, you even get a built-in sat-nav, for enhanced navigation.

The driver also has access to plenty of technology that makes driving easier and safer, including electric mirrors, automatic headlights, hill launch assist, rear parking sensors and a rear-facing parking camera on Exclusive trims.

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