Does the MG ZS Have Enough Power for Saudi Roads and Highways?

Saudi Arabia: For city driving, absolutely. For highway runs and confident overtaking, you want the turbocharged variant. The MG ZS offers two distinct engines, and the difference between them is significant enough to factor into your buying decision from the start.

Two Engines

This engine is a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine offered on the STD and 1.5L COM variants. This is a four-cylinder unit producing 110 to 112 hp and around 148 to 150 Nm of torque. Paired with a CVT automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, it handles Riyadh city traffic well enough. The acceleration is enough for most of our city driving conditions, and the engine is smooth and quiet at low speeds. Fuel efficiency from the brand is claimed at 16 km per liter under mixed conditions, which at Saudi petrol prices translates to a very manageable monthly fuel bill.

But some buyers may feel the limitation at highway speeds. Like, for example, merging onto the Jeddah-Makkah expressway or holding pace on the Riyadh Ring Road, where traffic moves at 120 to 130 km/h, the naturally aspirated engine works harder than you would like. It is not underpowered, but it is not relaxed either, but again, this is subjective and not across the board. You better test drive and then make a personal judgment. 

Another Engine

The second one is a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine available on 1.5T COM and 1.5T LUX variants. This is where the ZS becomes genuinely enjoyable to drive. The turbo unit produces 168 hp and 275 Nm of torque, also on a CVT and front-wheel drive. Torque arrives early and in a useful, linear way. The three drive modes, Eco, Normal, and Sport, allow you to tailor the car's character to the situation.

In Sport mode, the ZS feels noticeably alive. As one might expect, overtaking on the highway is confident, and the 0 to 100 km/h time drops meaningfully compared to the naturally aspirated version. The turbo does add a slight increase in fuel consumption, with the 1.5T LUX rated at approximately 15.9 km per liter, barely different from the naturally aspirated version given the performance gap.

How the ZS Compares on Power

Model	Engine	Power	Torque	Mileage
MG ZS 1.5T LUX	1.5L Turbo Petrol	168 hp	275 Nm	16km/l
MG ZS STD	1.5L NA Petrol	110 hp	150 Nm	16 km/l
Nissan Kicks	1.6L NA Petrol	117 hp	149 Nm	16 km/l
Renault Duster	1.3L Turbo Petrol	113 hp	262 Nm	14.3 km/l
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro	1.5L Turbo Petrol	~147 hp	230 Nm	14.5 km/l
Jetour X50	1.5L Turbo Petrol	~147 hp	230 Nm	14 km/l

The ZS 1.5T with 168 hp leads the segment on outright power, ahead of both the Renault Duster's 113 hp turbo and the Tiggo 4 Pro. It is also more fuel efficient than either on the highway, a genuine win on both counts. The Nissan Kicks, with its 117 hp naturally aspirated engine, feels noticeably slower in everyday Saudi driving conditions.

The CVT Question

Some buyers still worry about CVT transmissions, and it is a perfectly understandable question. The CVT in the ZS is tuned reasonably well. It does not have the rubber-band feel that plagued older CVTs, and the Sport mode gives it a pseudo-stepped feel that makes spirited driving more engaging. It is not as satisfying as a proper automatic, but for the daily use Saudi buyers put it through, it does the job without any major issues, which is something confident enough for buyers.

The MG ZS powertrain is rather clear and easy to pick for buyers. If the budget pushes you to the naturally aspirated engine, you will have a decent daily car for the city. But if you can stretch to the 1.5T COM or LUX, you will have a genuinely competitive crossover that holds its own on every Saudi road, from Riyadh's ring roads to the mountain roads of Taif. The turbo engine, combined with its fuel efficiency numbers, makes the case for itself very easily.

Also Read: Mitsubishi Outlander vs Nissan X-Trail and Kia Sorento: KSA's Best Midsize Family SUVs?