Hottest pump-wed type sites just below least expensive, gruntier plug-in hybrid.

FULLY petrol-wed versions of MG’s ZS compact sports utility are about to arrive, to site below the already established petrol-electric types released last year.

Joining a family that until now has restricted to two plug-in hybrid models badged as ZS Hybrid Plus are three 1.5-litre petrol variants: A $29,990 Excite, $32,990 Essence and a $34,990 Essence Turbo.

That means the price gap between the most expensive ZS petrol and the least expensive PHEV, which presents in Excite trim, is just $2000. The alternate Essence PHEV is a $39,990 product.

Looking back, when the ZS petrol initially released to NZ, back in 2019, it was a $23,990 car in Excite trim.

While full specifications are not set to be shared until next month, from information share out of Australia, which takes the exact same product, it appears the base variant will carry Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation and a rear-view camera.

It’s not exactly alike to the equivalent PHEV; the petrol-only Excite version, for instance, has a smaller touchscreen and wheels (16 inch versus 17s) and lacks a 360 degree camera. The base petrol has cloth seat trims, while the higher priced examples go to a fake leather.

The normally-aspirated engine in the petrol Excite and Essence is a 1495cc four-cylinder making 81kW and 140Nm, which is 3kW and 10Nm down from the outputs from a same-capacity until in their equivalents in the previous ZS.

The Turbo is a new addition and it has a 1496cc plant, with 125kW and 275Nm. This engine is shared with the MG HS, the next size up SUV in the brand portfolio, and replaces a replacing a 1.3-litre turbo three-cylinder with 115kW/230Nm.

Respective optimal fuel economies for the new ZS engines are 6.7 litres and 6.9L per 100km.

The hybrid that marries a three-cylinder petrol 1.5 to a 1.83kWh NCM battery-powered electric motor makes maximum combined power of 158kW and maximum combined torque of 465Nm, with maker-cited economy of 4.7L/100km.

No CO2 figures for the petrol units are given. The PHEV emits 110 grams per kilometre on combined cycle.

Comment from MG New Zealand today suggested the PHEV has made a good start in the market and also expressed confidence the petrol cars will provide “exceptional value” to buyers.

Yet to show from MG is the replacement for the existing fully electric ZS.