mg zst essence 2023 review

The MG ZST Essence (2023) is the showroom special: loads of kit for not a lot of coin, but it’s more comfy cruiser than back-road hero. The 1.3-litre turbo (115 kW/230 Nm), 6-speed auto, FWD combo feels punchy in the burbs and merely adequate when you ask for fireworks. Ride quality is agreeable, handling is tidy, and the driver aids can fuss a bit like a nervous chaperone.

Inside there’s a big touchscreen with CarPlay/Android Auto, a 360° camera, and enough soft-touch ambition to keep the showroom lights flattering. Real-world economy hovers around 7–8 L/100 km, and running costs are palatable if you’re not tormenting it up the range. New it sat around the mid-$30k drive-away mark in 2023; used examples now often list roughly $22k–$30k depending on kilometres and condition. Consult official documentation for exact figures.