Verdict
On paper these two are closely matched — the differences come down to equipment and taste, so check the spec rows below.
What the S5 has over the ZS
Seatbelt ReminderCup HoldersSun Shade
What the ZS has over the S5
AlarmImmobilizerSunroof
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The S5's wheelbase is 120 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom.
S5 4,476 × 1,849 × 1,621 mm · wheelbase 2,730 mmZS 4,430 × 1,818 × 1,635 mm · wheelbase 2,610 mm
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM104,468 | RM103,900✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | B-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120 | RM120 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,065/mo | RM1,060/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM2,964✓ | RM2,981 |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM1,281✓ | RM2,746 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM6.40✓ | RM13.73 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM21,823✓ | RM29,236 |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 7.0 hours | — |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 30 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 | 168 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 250 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 49 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 340 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 120 kW | — |
| V2L | 2.5 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | CVT with 8 Virtual Ratios |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.0 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | — | 6.9 L/100 km |
| Co2 | — | 161 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,476 mm | 4,430 mm |
| Width | 1,849 mm | 1,818 mm |
| Height | 1,621 mm | 1,635 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,730 mm | 2,610 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,390 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 55 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 453 litres✓ | 443 litres |
| Front Tyre | 215/60R17 | 215/50R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/60R17 | 215/50R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Turanza T005 | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 17" Black Alloys | 18" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Black Alloys | 18" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Electric Power Steering |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee Airbag) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Center Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | — | ✓ |
| 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 | Full LED | LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Fabric; Six-way Manual Driver Seat, Four-way Manual Passenger Seat | 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 | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Electric Panoramic Sunroof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 1 USB-C Rear | 1 Front 12V, 4 USB (2 Front, 1 Rear-view Mirror, 1 Rear) |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | LED Front Reading Lights, Illuminated Vanity Mirrors, Boot Light |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | — |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | — |
| Audio | 12.8" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6 Speakers | 12.3" Touchscreen, 6 Speakers, Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, FM/AM Radio |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down | Four Windows, One-touch Up/Down Driver, One-touch Down Passengers |
| Engine Start | Keyless Start (Depress Brake Pedal) | 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 | Manual | Manual Tailgate |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | Yes |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | 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 | 7 years | 7 years |
| Warranty Notes | Battery pack 8-yr/180,000 km; motor control unit 8-yr/160,000 km | 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 October 2026.
Used S5 & ZS for sale
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S5 vs ZS FAQ
How long does charging take?
The S5's 49.0 kWh battery takes about 7.0 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 30 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 120 kW peak.