The MG ZS lobbed locally late last year to stake a claim on the highly competitive small SUV segment. But has the second SUV from the now Chinese-owned brand done enough to shift public perception?
Pros Excellent road manners Spritely three-pot turbo engine Industry-leading seven-year warranty Loaded with standard features Sharp pricing
Cons Four-star ANCAP rating a blot No digital speedo Noisy air-con compressor
The MG ZS has its strengths, including its relatively classy interior, decent handling and roomy rear seats. However, a Duster Dacia is cheaper to buy, more comfortable and has a bigger boot.
Pros Rear seat space Cheaper than most rivals Seven-year warranty
Cons Poor safety rating Uneconomical engines So-so performance
A blind-spot monitor and auto-dimming exterior mirrors are now standard.Part of the first NX generation, originally introduced for 2015 as the NX 200t.
PROS Cabin is very quiet at highway speeds Supremely comfortable ride and seats Lots of standard high-tech safety features
CONS Remote Touchpad interface is frustrating to use Limited cargo volume Not much fun to drive
The 2021 Lexus NX's #7 ranking is based on its score within the Luxury Compact SUVs category. Currently the Lexus NX has a score of 7.6 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 31 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.The 2021 Lexus NX 300 ranks in the lower half of the luxury compact SUV class.
Pros Roomy seating Smooth, quiet ride Many standard safety features Great predicted reliability rating
Cons Frustrating infotainment controls Relatively small cargo area
Even though the subcompact NX is on the far side of the age curve, Lexus hasn't made any major changes to it for 2021. Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is now standard, as are power-folding exterior mirrors with an auto-dimming function. Inside, Lexus has tweaked the NX's steering wheel and tachometer designs. Opting for the upgraded Mark Levinson stereo system now includes a Mark Levinson-branded amplifier. And a new color joins the options sheet: Nori Green Pearl.
Pros Chiseled styling, proper SUV seating height, spacious interior.
Cons Fussy infotainment controller, middle-of-the-pack acceleration, starting to show its age.
