MG prices its new ZS hybrid below Toyota, Renault rivals in Europe

LONDON -- MG Motor has priced its new ZS Hybrid small SUV at the same level as conventional combustion-engine rivals.

The new model will be the Chinese brand’s second full hybrid in Europe after the launch of the MG3 small car earlier this year.

The ZS Hybrid will cost from 21,995 pounds ($29,053) when it goes on sale in the U.K. in October, well below the price of rival small SUV hybrids including the Renault Captur at 24,595 pounds, Toyota Yaris Cross (25,530 pounds) and Nissan Juke (29,095 pounds).

A key rival will be the new-generation Dacia Duster hybrid, which has yet to be priced in the U.K.

The ZS Hybrid will replace the combustion engine ZS. A new non-hybrid combustion engine ZS will be launched at a later date, while the battery-electric version of the ZS will be replaced with a new model next year with a different name, MG has said.

The ZS is MG’s best-selling model in Europe. Sales of the SUV increased 45 percent to 63,342 in the first seven months, according to figures from market analyst Dataforce. The ZS was Europe’s eighth best-selling small SUV over the same period.

The ZS Hybrid uses the same hybrid technology as the new MG3.

It has a 101-hp 1.5-liter combustion engine paired with a 134-hp electric motor. A 1.83-kilowatt-hour battery captures and stores energy from braking and deceleration.

Combined power is rated at 192 hp giving the ZS a claimed 0-62 mph (100 kph) acceleration time of 8.7 seconds. Its CO2 emissions are 115 grams per km, compared with the smaller and lighter MG3’s CO2 output of 100 g/km.

The CO2 figure is higher than that of the Toyota Yaris Cross, which emits between 100 g/km and 115 g/km depending on the model.

The ZS Hybrid is exempt from the provisional tariff increases levied by the European Union on Chinese-built BEVs and extended-range EVs because it has a hybrid drivetrain. This will allow MG to price the car competitively in key markets such as France and Spain.

After its U.K. launch, the SUV will roll out in EU countries in the fourth quarter, MG said. No prices for EU markets have been announced.

MG said ZS Hybrid has received “substantial upgrades in technology, comfort and performance” compared to the outgoing model, which was launched in 2017.

Inside the car has a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that is paired with a 7-inch driver display. In the U.K., all models come with automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and rear parking sensors with camera.

Standard driver assistance technologies include adaptive cruise control. A higher spec Trophy model in the U.K. adds heated front seats and a 360-degree surround view camera.