MG ZS ZS3A — Problems & Common Faults

The third-generation MG ZS (ZS3A) has been on the German market since October 2024, succeeding the previous ZS with two fundamentally different powertrains: a simple 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine producing 85 kW/116 PS with a five-speed manual gearbox, and the Hybrid+ system with 145 kW/197 PS combined output, pairing the same four-cylinder with a powerful electric motor and a small buffer battery through a three-speed automatic transmission.

The naturally aspirated engine is technically unexciting: no turbocharger, no high-pressure direct injection with the associated particulate-filter stress, but a chain-driven camshaft instead of a belt. Being such a young model, there is naturally no solid long-term data yet, though the base design is familiar from other models in the brand's range and is considered robust.

With the Hybrid+, several independent sources show a recurring pattern: on gradients and motorways, the charge-management software frequently keeps the combustion engine spinning at high revs without the promised system output actually being delivered. A noticeable power drop when overtaking or climbing is documented, accompanied by a loud engine howl past 5,000 rpm. A software update is said to bring the charging strategy forward and make it more aggressive – which should reduce the effect but, according to press coverage, could increase fuel consumption. For a used purchase this means: insist on an extended test drive covering a gradient and a motorway stretch before committing, and ask the dealer about the current software version.

Aside from this powertrain issue, build quality, panel gaps and paint thickness consistently stand out positively. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also run without complaints in the documented cases.

The warranty is generously sized at 84 months or 150,000 kilometres on virtually all major components, which considerably cushions the risk of a used purchase – provided the full service history at an authorised workshop is documented without gaps, as the warranty otherwise lapses.

As a buying recommendation: anyone driving mostly in town and on flat terrain who values low consumption gets an efficient car with the Hybrid+, but has to live with its quirky load behaviour on hills or wait for a software fix. Anyone who regularly drives through hilly terrain or on steep roads is often better served by the simple and predictable 1.5-litre engine, even though it lacks the hybrid system's efficiency. Since both powertrains are still very young, it is worth checking the latest software version before buying and asking the dealer about any known fixes.