Seven days to test the MG ZS in 1.5 Hybrid+ pure hybrid form. By Al Suttie.

MG ZS 1.5 Hybrid+ Trophy

List price (BiK): £24,230 (28%) | CO2: 0g/km | Economy: 55.4mpg | Test efficiency: 47.0mpg

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Monday

MG is a company that feels like there is real momentum behind it right now, and the latest ZS typifies this. It might not be as flashy as the Cyberster or as sharp in its looks as the MG4, but this compact SUV is absolutely what drivers want. That was made clear to me when a couple of friends ooh-ed and aah-ed over it when they dropped by. They were even more impressed when I told them the price of this Trophy model.

Tuesday

You can get an all-electric ZS, but this one has the 1.5-litre petrol-hybrid set-up, which works well for my needs without access to a home charger. It’s much the same as found in the MG3, and I rather liked that small hatch. As a result, the ZS offers up eager performance off the line and keeps on going as it heads towards motorway speeds. The 1.5 motor isn’t the most refined, but nor is it particularly noisy.

Wednesday

On a mixture of roads today and I go to wondering about the MG’s automatic gearbox. It took a quick check of the spec sheet to confirm it has a mere three speeds, which seems outdated next to the multi-ratio offerings in most rivals. However, it’s a credit to the ZS’s engine and electric motor that you don’t feel it’s labouring or could do with an extra gear at any time.

Thursday

MG by name and, it appears, the ZS has taken the firm’s sporty heritage to heart. The handling is among the better compact SUVs – not quite as sharp as a Ford Puma’s but still way ahead of most. It does come with the caveat of a slightly firmer ride on less-than-ideal surfaces, but it’s a balance that works and is not at the expense of refinement.

Friday

The usual schlep to Friday night football training with the prodigal son, who is now reaching bean pole heights. Still, he fits into the back of the ZS without having to fold his knees up and the MG’s boot has no difficulty when bags are chucked in the back thanks to its 443-litre capacity. Up front, the MG feels roomier and more airy than a Nissan Juke and comfort is good, helped by a heated seat and steering wheel.

Saturday

I’m not a fan of the overly chunky gear selector that sits on top of the MG’s transmission tunnel, but that’s more aesthetic than practical. The rest of the dash is the now-usual compact SUV fare of digital dash and an infotainment screen to take car of almost everything else. It’s a much-improved system compared to recent MG efforts and the 12.3-inch display has simple menus and good reactivity. Just a shame it picks up too many reflections that can make it awkward to read in some lights.

Sunday

The MG ZS may not have the instant financial appeal to fleet drivers of its electric counterpart, but there will be many who will appreciate the hybrid version’s flexibility. I count myself among that group and found the average economy during my time of 47.0mpg (versus an official 55.4mpg) better than several of the MG’s notable rivals.