MG is back in South Africa, with the local arm of the automaker releasing pricing and specifications for its ZS, HS and Cyberster model line-ups. Here’s what you can expect…
Looking for your next new and used vehicle? Search here with CARmag.
In the next few days MG Motor will officially open up shop in South Africa, with the Chinese-owned marque looking to establish itself as a ‘major’ player in South Africa. Here’s a closer look at the automaker’s local product portfolio and, notably, pricing and specifications of each model.
Sky Zhang, General Manager of MG Motor South Africa, said:
“Every single one of these models exemplifies the MG ethos to provide affordable, ultra-reliable motoring underpinned by the three pillars of the marque – ‘fun to drive’, ‘vigorous design’, and ‘hi-tech futuristic’.”
Related: Chinese-Owned MG Confident of Success With SA Comeback
MG ZS
Introduced in 2017, the first-generation version of the ZS will launch in South Africa as MG’s budget-oriented crossover/SUV offering. The ZS will exclusively be available with a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, which sends 84 kW and 150 N.m of torque to the front axle and a four-speed automatic transmission. The company claims the naturally aspirated unit sips, on average, 7.1 L/100 km. The top speed is rated at 195 km/h.
The ZS will be available in two trim grades, Comfort and Luxury. Convenience items include 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment, replete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto screen mirroring, relaying tunes via a four-speaker and six-speaker sound system in Comfort trim and Luxury level of specification, respectively. Park distance sensors are standard fitment, with models specified in Luxury spec gaining a reverse-view camera array. Cruise control is also present.
Safety items include six airbags, Isofix child-seat anchorages, electronic stability control (ESC), electronic brake assist (EBA), hill-start assist, and tyre pressure monitoring.
The company claims a boot capacity of 359 litres. However, the latter expands to 1 166 litres when folding down the rear seatbacks.
MG ZS Price in SA
- ZS 1.5 Comfort AT — R289 900
- ZS 1.5 Luxury AT — R309 900
The ZS will be sold with a service plan spanning five years or 60 000 km, a vehicle warranty of five years or 200 000 km, and a seven-year/unlimited km engine warranty.
MG HS
Priced from a hair below the R500 000 marker, the HS model range comprises a quartet of derivatives, available with the choice of two turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine options and a duo of dual-clutch transmissions. Coupled with seven- and six-speed dual-clutch gearboxes, the 1.5- and 2.0-litre units produce 125 kW/275 N.m and 170 kW/360 N.m, respectively. Power is exclusively sent to the front wheels. MG claims fuel consumption figures of 6.9 L/100 km (1.5T) and 7.3 L/100 km (2.0T).
The flagship SUV offering in MG Motor’s current local line-up, the HS is available in Comfort and Luxury trim grades. Among the standard features included in the packages are a 12.3-inch dual-screen array, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 360-degree surround-view camera setup, and a bouquet of safety systems. The latter includes seven airbags, Isofix child-seat anchorages, blind-spot monitoring, “intelligent” cruise control, lane-departure warning and prevention, and lane-keep assist. It is worth noting the HS was also awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2024.
Luxury level of specification further gains a panoramic sunroof, an eight-speaker sound system (Comfort includes a six-speaker unit), dual-zone climate control, electric adjustment and heating for the front pews, wireless smartphone charging, and front park distance sensors.
MG HS Price in SA
- HS 1.5T Comfort DCT — R499 900
- HS 1.5T Luxury DCT — R534 900
- HS 2.0T Comfort DCT — R629 900
- HS 2.0T Luxury DCT — R665 900
As standard, the HS ships with a five-year/90 000 km service plan, a vehicle warranty spanning five years or 200 000 km, and a seven-year/unlimited km engine warranty.
MG Cyberster
Spearheading MG’s local product portfolio, the Cyberster, which we first saw in the metal at the 2024 Jeddah International Motor Show, is a striking, all-electric roadster. The Cyberster is available in rear- and all-wheel-drive guises. However, it is the latter, halo model that will exclusively be available in South Africa.
Coupled with a 77 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the pinnacle Cyberster’s dual electric-motor arrangement produces 375 kW and 725 N.m of torque, allowing for a whip-crack 0-100 km/h sprint time of a claimed 3.2 seconds. The top speed is rated at 208 km/h. The all-electric driving range is a claimed 443 km.
MG Cyberster Price in SA
Included in the Cyberster’s sticker price are a five-year/100 000 km maintenance plan, a five-year/200 000 km vehicle warranty, and a seven-year/250 000 km warranty for the battery-electric powertrain.
- Cyberster 77 kWh AWD — R1 399 900
