Verdict
At RM100,000, the BYD Atto 2 undercuts the RM103,900 MG ZS by RM3,900 while bringing a 51.1-kWh battery, 345 km EV range and 82-kW DC charging. Its 174-hp, 290-Nm front motor reaches 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. The MG counters with a larger 443-litre boot, 18-inch wheels, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats and a stronger safety count: seven airbags, five-star ANCAP and blind-spot monitoring. For Malaysian buyers able to charge at home or work, the Atto 2 is the cheaper EV route; the ZS suits those needing more luggage space and petrol refuelling flexibility.
Pick the BYD Atto 2 if you can charge regularly and want 345 km of electric range, 82-kW DC charging and a RM3,900 lower entry price.
Pick the MG ZS if you need its 443-litre boot, 55-litre petrol tank, seven airbags and blind-spot monitoring.
Key differences
- Price: BYD Atto 2 RM100,000; MG ZS RM103,900.
- Powertrain: BYD Atto 2 has a 174-hp, 290-Nm electric motor; MG ZS has a 168-hp, 275-Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine.
- Energy use: BYD Atto 2 has a 51.1-kWh battery and 345 km range; MG ZS is rated at 6.9 L/100 km with a 55-litre tank.
- Boot space: BYD Atto 2 380 litres; MG ZS 443 litres.
- Safety: BYD Atto 2 has six airbags; MG ZS has seven airbags and a five-star ANCAP rating.
- Wheels: BYD Atto 2 has 17-inch alloys; MG ZS has 18-inch alloys.
Atto 2
- RM3,900 cheaper to buy.
- 345 km EV range with 82-kW DC charging.
- V2L output rated at 3.3 kW.
- 380-litre boot trails the MG ZS's 443 litres.
- Six airbags versus seven, and no blind-spot information system.
- No sunroof or rear air-con vents listed.
ZS
- 443-litre boot and 55-litre fuel tank.
- Seven airbags, blind-spot monitoring and five-star ANCAP rating.
- Panoramic sunroof and ventilated front seats.
- Costs RM3,900 more.
- Rated at 6.9 L/100 km and emits 161 g/km of CO2.
- No V2L capability listed and no front parking sensors listed.
What the Atto 2 has over the ZS
What the ZS has over the Atto 2
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
Boot space favours the ZS: 443 litres against 380.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM100,000✓ | RM103,900 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | B-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120 | RM120 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,020/mo✓ | RM1,060/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM2,848✓ | RM2,981 |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM1,316✓ | RM2,746 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM6.58✓ | RM13.73 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM21,420✓ | RM29,236 |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 7.3 hours | — |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 45 min | — |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 400V architecture | 1.5-litre Turbocharged Four-cylinder |
| Capacity | — | 1,496 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 168 hp |
| Torque | — | 275 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 174 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 290 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 51.1 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 345 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 82 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.3 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | CVT with 8 Virtual Ratios |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.9 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | — | 6.9 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 160 km/h | — |
| Co2 | — | 161 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,310 mm | 4,430 mm |
| Width | 1,830 mm | 1,818 mm |
| Height | 1,675 mm | 1,635 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,620 mm | 2,610 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,390 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 55 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 380 litres | 443 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/60R17 | 215/50R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/60R17 | 215/50R18 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Westlake SU318a | — |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 24 inch | — |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 19 inch | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 17" Alloy | 18" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Alloy | 18" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Electric Power Steering |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Center Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual For Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point, Front and Rear Outer with Pretensioners and Load Limiters |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Outer Two Rear Seats | Available on Outer Two Rear Seats, 3 Top Tethers |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | — |
| Safety Notes | — | MG Pilot ADAS 2.5: Speed Limit Recognition with Overspeed and Limit-change Warnings, Front Collision Alert, Emergency Brake Assist, Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Intelligent Headlamp Control, Direct TPMS, Auto Hold, Hill Descent Control |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED, Auto with Intelligent Headlamp Control (Auto High Beam) and Follow Me Home |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power-adjustable Front Seats | 6-way Powered Driver's Seat with Manual Lumbar, 6-way Powered Passenger Seat, Ventilated, Perforated Leatherette |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding, Adjustable Headrests |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Electric Panoramic Sunroof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front 12V, 4 USB (2 Front, 1 Rear-view Mirror, 1 Rear) |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | LED Front Reading Lights, Illuminated Vanity Mirrors, Boot Light |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | — |
| Audio | 15.6" Rotating Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto with 6-speaker Dirac Sound System | 12.3" Touchscreen, 6 Speakers, Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, FM/AM Radio |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, One-touch Up/Down Driver, One-touch Down Passengers |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation, Auto Door Lock |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control (Intelligent Cruise Assist) |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Manual Tailgate |
| Parking Sensor Front | 2 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | Yes |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360-degree HD Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | MG iSMART connected-car app, 3 drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport), electronic gear lever, heated and auto-folding door mirrors, 12V socket, rear parcel tray |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 6 years | 7 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000-km Battery Warranty, 8-year/150,000-km Electric Drive Unit Warranty | 5 years free maintenance (early-bird offer) |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used Atto 2 & ZS for sale
Our reviews & guides
Atto 2 vs ZS FAQ
Is the BYD Atto 2 or MG ZS better?
The Atto 2 is the better choice for regular charging, with 345 km range, 82-kW DC charging and a lower price. Choose the MG ZS for its 443-litre boot, seven airbags, blind-spot monitoring and petrol refuelling.
What is the price difference?
The BYD Atto 2 costs RM100,000 and the MG ZS costs RM103,900, so the MG is RM3,900 more expensive.
Which has the bigger boot, the BYD Atto 2 or MG ZS?
The MG ZS has the bigger boot at 443 litres, a 63-litre advantage over the BYD Atto 2's 380 litres.
How long does charging take?
The Atto 2's 51.1 kWh battery takes about 7.3 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 45 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 82 kW peak.
Which one is locally assembled?
The ZS is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the Atto 2 is fully imported (CBU) from China. Local assembly generally helps pricing and spare-parts supply, and CKD programmes usually signal a longer-term commitment to the model here.
Which has the better warranty?
The ZS carries a 7-year manufacturer warranty against 6 years for the Atto 2. Atto 2: 8-year/160,000-km Battery Warranty, 8-year/150,000-km Electric Drive Unit Warranty. ZS: 5 years free maintenance (early-bird offer).