2025 MG ZS price and specs: Cheaper turbo-petrol added to small SUV range ahead of 2026 safety update

• 2025 MG ZS pricing and specifications
• Vibe Turbo added to range, $3000 less than Essence Turbo
• Entry-level petrol grade renamed to Vibe, no specification changes
• Priced from $25,990 drive-away

The 2025 MG ZS small SUV has gained a more affordable turbocharged petrol variant, ahead of a safety update expected to arrive in Australia by the end of the year. 

On sale now, the ZS Vibe Turbo cuts the cost of entry into the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine by $3000 to $27,990 drive-away, down from $30,990 for the carryover Essence Turbo. 

In addition, the non-turbo, entry-level Excite petrol grade has been renamed to Vibe, with no specification changes, to further differentiate it from the Excite hybrid, which includes more standard equipment. 

Over the standard Vibe, the Vibe Turbo also adds 17-inch alloy wheels, an electronic gear shifter, a rear parcel tray, and automatic air-conditioning, in addition to its 115kW/230Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. 

Missing features compared to the Essence Turbo include larger 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, two more speakers, leather-look upholstery and steering wheel, and heated front seats. 

The Vibe Turbo also misses out on the Essence's LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beam and keyless entry, among other features. 

Non-hybrid versions of the new-generation MG ZS launched in Australia earlier this year, following the electrified 'Hybrid+' grades, which arrived in November 2024. 

MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao confirmed a front-centre airbag will be added "towards the end of this year", likely as a Model Year 2026 (MY26) update, after the ZS received a four-star ANCAP safety rating.

"Even ZS, towards the end of this year, before we didn’t have an airbag in the middle front, we will catch up with this," Ciao told Drive. 

"Actually, we lose our five stars just because of that … so we learn, and our attitude [is about bringing better products to market]." 

Vibe and Essence grades feature an 81kW/140Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine matched to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic, while their turbocharged equivalents have 115kW/230Nm, still with a 1.5-litre engine capacity. 

Meanwhile, the ZS Excite and Essence hybrids have a 75kW/128Nm 1.5-litre engine and a 100kW/250Nm front electric motor, for a combined power output of 158kW and 465Nm, with a three-speed automatic. 

Combined fuel consumption is rated at 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres for the 1.5-litre petrol, 6.9L/100km for the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol, and 4.7L/100km for the 1.5-litre hybrid. 

The updated 2025 MG ZS small SUV – marketed as Model Year 2025.5 (MY25.5) – is on sale now, ahead of MY26 examples expected in local showrooms by the end of the year, which will add a front-centre airbag. 

Australian new-car sales data shows 16,015 examples of the MG ZS have been reported as sold year-to-date, behind the Hyundai Kona (16,971), but ahead of the GWM Haval Jolion (14,159) and Chery Tiggo 4 (13,889).

• ZS Vibe petrol – $25,990 (renamed, previously Excite petrol)
• ZS Vibe Turbo petrol – $27,990 (new)
• ZS Essence petrol – $28,990
• ZS Essence Turbo petrol – $30,990
• ZS Excite hybrid – $32,990
• ZS Essence hybrid – $34,990

Note: All prices above are drive-away. Excludes special offers.

• 81kW/140Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
• Continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• Four-speaker audio system
• DAB+ digital radio
• Front USB charge ports
• 3.5-inch instrument cluster display with analogue gauges
• Rear-view camera
• Black fabric upholstery
• Six-way manually-adjustable driver's seat
• Four-way manually-adjustable passenger seat
• Plastic steering wheel
• Automatic halogen headlights
• LED daytime running lights
• Push-button start
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• Electric parking brake with auto-hold function
• Manual air-conditioning
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control

• 115kW/230Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Electronic gear shifter
• Rear parcel tray
• Automatic air-conditioning

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Six-speaker audio system
• MG iSmart telematics service with 12-month free trial
• 7-inch instrument cluster display with digitised gauges
• Leather-look upholstery and steering wheel
• Six-way power-adjustable driver's seat
• Heated front seats
• Rear air vents
• Rear-view mirror and rear centre console USB ports
• LED headlights
• Sunglass storage box
• Rear parcel tray
• LED front cabin lighting
• Illuminated vanity mirror
• Panoramic sunroof
• Roof rails
• Power-folding side mirrors
• 360-degree camera
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Automatic high beam
• Keyless entry

• 115kW/230Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Electronic gear shifter
• Drive mode selector
• Automatic air-conditioning

• 1.5-litre hybrid system
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Six-speaker audio system
• MG iSmart telematics service with 12-month free trial
• 7-inch instrument cluster display with digitised gauges
• Electronic gear shifter
• Drive mode selector
• Roof rails
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Rear air vents
• Rear-view mirror and rear centre console USB ports
• LED headlights
• Power-folding side mirrors
• 360-degree camera
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Automatic high beam
• Keyless entry
• Pedestrian warning sound

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Leather-look upholstery and steering wheel
• Six-way power-adjustable driver's seat
• Heated front seats
• Sunglass storage box
• LED front cabin lighting
• Illuminated vanity mirror
• Panoramic sunroof

• Dover White – no-cost
• Sloane Silver – $700 extra 
• Lunar Grey –  $700 extra 
• Emerald Green –  $700 extra 
• Brighton Blue – $700 extra 
• Diamond Red –  $700 extra 
• Black Pearl – $700 extra 

Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.

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