Many people think the days of affordable cars are over – but the MG ZS Essence Turbo begs to differ.
MG seems to have arrived in the Australian market at the right time, just as several city cars were axed – reducing the number of affordable models available to buyers – and leaving the door wide open for the Chinese brand.
And the numbers suggest Australians are often choosing the MG ZS over competitors in the segment, like the GWM Haval Jolion and Toyota Corolla Cross, while a close battle wages between the ZS and the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro.
In fact, the MG ZS range has consistently found itself at the pointy end of the list of Australia’s best-selling cars – even hitting the top four spot in August 2025, sitting just behind the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Toyota HiLux, and the Ford Ranger. Overall in 2025, the ZS was the 13th most popular model on sale, outselling the likes of the Kia Sportage, Toyota Corolla, and Mitsubishi Triton.
Before you get to the hybrid variants, at the top of the petrol-only MG ZS lineup is the Essence Turbo, which – as the name suggests – adds a turbocharger to the car’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, boosting power by an impressive 54 per cent. Or an additional 135Nm.
If power is like the speed of an athlete, then torque is like the muscle, and the addition of a turbocharger has bulked the MG’s biceps by an astonishing 96 per cent.
So it’s fair to say the MG ZS Essence Turbo has plenty more speed, and way more muscle. Which is all great on paper – but what is the MG like to live with in the real world?
How much does the MG ZS cost?
The 2026 MG ZS range starts from $25,990 before on-road costs for the entry-level Excite grade, with the ZS Essence available from $28,990 before on-roads.
| Model | Price before on-road costs | Drive-away price |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 MG ZS Excite | $25,990 | $26,990 |
| 2026 MG ZS Essence | $28,990 | $29,990 |
| 2026 MG ZS Essence Turbo | $30,990 | $31,990 |
But the range-topping grade in the non-hybrid lineup is the ZS Essence Turbo – the one we’re testing here – which is priced from $30,990 before on-road costs.
It’s worth noting that MG offers drive-away pricing, adding $1000 to the recommended retail price of each variant – regardless of where you are in Australia – meaning there are no surprise fees for buyers.
If you want to see how the MG ZS compares against its rivals, be sure to check out our comparison tool
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What is the MG ZS like on the inside?
For years, I used to wonder why automakers never made more of an effort to make their affordable cars more attractive inside. After all, it costs the same to cast a cheap plastic panel, so why not make it look a bit more upmarket?
Without wanting to sound unkind, MG seems to have realised the same thing.
The interior of the MG ZS Essence Turbo looks fantastic, to my eyes at least. It’s ultra-modern, minimalist, and well laid out, while still offering enough buttons and controls to manage most things intuitively.
The steering wheel, the gear shifter, the vents, the stitched faux leather dash and faux leather seats – it all looks like it’s come from something you’d expect to see on a car costing twice as much, particularly in combination with the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and the 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster.
There is a small ‘but’, though, with the quality of the materials not exactly matching the premium looks. Which, in some ways, I respect – they’ve made it look good while keeping the price tag low – but the use of cheap plastics can leave you a little crestfallen if you’re expecting Mercedes-Benz levels of quality, as the pics may suggest.
Also a little disappointing is the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay. Maybe I’m spoiled, but it’s been a while since I encountered a car with wired CarPlay, forcing me to listen to music via Bluetooth, as I didn’t have a USB cable with me.
First-world problems? Sure.
The good news is the native satellite navigation system works well when you need it.
The reverse camera is pretty average, though, which suggests to me the infotainment system is just a little bit behind the times.
However, owners can access some vehicle features from a smartphone app, allowing you to cool or heat the vehicle before you jump in it.
The ergonomics are just okay, enabling me to get mostly comfortable, without being perfect. Then there are the seats, which feel a little firm and a little small – as if they’re just 85 per cent of a normal seat.
That said, the cabin still looks impressive, and owners won’t be embarrassed having passengers on board.
Speaking of, though, the rear seats can be quite cramped for those wanting to be chauffeured around in, with limited headroom and legroom – meaning it’s probably better to reserve the MG ZS for city errands.
Out back is 443 litres of boot space, which is pretty healthy, increasing to 1457L with the rear seat folded down.
| Dimensions | MG ZS |
|---|---|
| Length | 4430mm |
| Width | 1818mm |
| Height | 1635mm |
| Wheelbase | 2610mm |
| Boot space | 443L (second row up) 1457L (second row folded) |
If you want to see how the MG ZS compares against its rivals, be sure to check out our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
While the lower grades use a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine making 81kW of power and 140Nm of torque, the ZS Essence Turbo gets a turbocharged version of that engine – bumping performance up to 125kW and 275Nm, but requiring premium unleaded.
| Specifications | Excite, Essence | Essence Turbo |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L 4cyl petrol | 1.5L 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Power | 81kW | 125kW |
| Torque | 140Nm | 275Nm |
| Transmission | CVT automatic | CVT automatic |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight (tare) | 1266kg (Excite) 1301kg (Essence) |
1361kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.7L/100km | 6.9L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 55L | 55L |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane regular unleaded | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 157g/km | 161g/km |
| Braked towing capacity | 500kg | 500kg |
Power is sent to the front wheels through a CVT automatic, with fuel economy rated at 6.9L/100km.
If you want to see how the MG ZS compares against its rivals, be sure to check out our comparison tool
How does the MG ZS drive?
Some cars you click with immediately, whereas it can take more time with others.
For me, it took a little while to get my head around the driving dynamics of the MG ZS Essence Turbo – but once I did, I understood what it was about. Let me explain.
MG has tuned the ZS Turbo with pointy steering, yet the chassis and suspension don’t quite match the eager steering response, creating a bit of a contradiction in the car’s dynamic character. At first glance, one doesn’t gel with the other.
The car’s quick steering suggests the MG is a bit more sporty in nature — as does the Turbo badging — but on winding back roads with some enthusiastic driving, the ZS wasn’t really rising to the occasion. The more I pushed, the less comfortable it felt.
Then I got a head cold. I wouldn’t be so ungentlemanly as to name names, but our Deputy News Editor got me sick and deserves the inconvenience of having no clean teaspoons in his home, leading to me having to visit my local pharmacy while afflicted.
And suddenly, with my energy levels low, the little MG suddenly made a lot more sense – because it was providing a greater level of driving enjoyment than I was putting in.
Often, cars will only give back what you put in, but the ZS Turbo is almost the opposite. Take a step back, approach it with a more relaxed attitude, and the MG provides easy and zippy motoring around town. It’s actually a little genius from the Chinese automaker.
It never quite rises to the level of being pure, outright fun, in the same way a hot hatch or small sports car can be, but it’s definitely got a little bit of something that elevates the experience beyond mere commuting.
I suspect this asymmetry means a lot of buyers find something they didn’t expect with a small SUV, perhaps something they’ve never experienced before in a car: enjoyment from driving.
I’m not typically a fan of CVT transmissions, like the one fitted to the ZS, but it worked well with the turbocharged engine and performed better than others I’ve used – perhaps thanks to the stepped ratios that try to replicate traditional automatic gearboxes.
The engine itself is powerful and torquey, but there’s half a moment of lag before the turbocharger spools up and that performance becomes usable.
It’s not an absolute rocket ship by any means; however, for the majority of drivers, the MG delivers plenty of performance for overtaking and keeping ahead of traffic when the mood takes them.
During our time with the car, we averaged 8.1L/100km, which is a bit more than the combined 6.9L/100km figure claimed by MG.
As I mentioned, handling isn’t a particular strong suit of the ZS Turbo, but the ride works reasonably well for a car of this size and price, making it a comfortable daily commuter.
If you want to see how the MG ZS compares against its rivals, be sure to check out our comparison tool
What do you get?
Being the range-topping variant of the non-hybrids, the ZS Essence Turbo comes with a surprising amount of swag for the money – with the only disappointment being the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
2026 MG ZS Excite standard equipment highlights:
- Space-saver spare
- Electric parking brake
- Auto hold
- Automatic LED headlights
- Automatic high-beam
- 7.0-inch instrument cluster screen
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 6-speaker sound system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- 12 months of iSmart connected services access
- Remote climate control
- Remote vehicle status
- Push-button start
- One-touch up/down power windows
- Tilt-adjustable steering wheel
- 4-speaker sound system
- 60/40 split fold rear seats
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
- Keyless entry
- Panoramic sunroof
- 6-way power driver’s seat with manual lumbar
- Heated front seats
- Rear air vents
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Leatherette upholstery
- Sunglasses storage box
- Front seat map pocket
- LED front reading light
- Electronic gear lever
- Selectable drive modes
- Climate control
- 18-inch alloy wheels
The MG ZS Essence Turbo comes with a Dove White paint finish, but can be optioned with Lunar Grey, Sloane Silver, Emerald Green, Brighton Blue, Diamond Red, and Black Pearl.
Black upholstery comes as standard, though buyers can opt for a white interior.
If you want to see how the MG ZS compares against its rivals, be sure to check out our comparison tool
Is the MG ZS safe?
After a disappointing four-star result for ZS Hybrid+ vehicles in 2024, all variants built from December 4, 2025 wear a five-star ANCAP safety rating thanks to the addition of a front-centre airbag.
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| Category | MG ZS* |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 81 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 84 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 73 per cent |
| Safety assist | 79 per cent |
* from December 4, 2025 production
Standard safety equipment across the range includes:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep assist
- Emergency lane-keep assist
- Intelligent Cruise Assist
- Intelligent speed limit assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Safe exit warning
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Dual front and side airbags
- Curtain airbags
- Reversing camera
- Rear parking sensors
All variants – except for the Excite – also get a surround-view camera.
If you want to see how the MG ZS compares against its rivals, be sure to check out our comparison tool
How much does the MG ZS cost to run?
The MG ZS Essence Turbo gets a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty as standard, however, that can be extended up to 10 years – and a maximum of 250,000km – if the vehicle is serviced exclusively by MG dealerships.
| Servicing and Warranty | MG ZS |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited kilometres – Standard 10 years or 250,000km – Service activated |
| Roadside assistance | 10 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | 10 years or 150,000km |
| Average annual service cost | $653.50 |
| Total capped-price service cost | $5228 |
There’s also up to 10 years of roadside assistance included for private buyers. It’s worth noting that if you’re planning to use the vehicle for Uber or any other commercial ventures, the warranty reverts to seven years or 160,000km (whichever comes first).
The ZS Essence Turbo requires servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, with 10 years or 150,000km of capped-price services available from MG dealerships.
While services range from $313 to $1676 over that time, the average cost comes to $653.50 – with the total cost coming to $5228.
If you want to see how the MG ZS compares against its rivals, be sure to check out our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the MG ZS
It’s easy to see why the MG ZS is so popular.
Even as the range-topping petrol variant, the Essence Turbo still offers very good value for money – despite the lack of wireless smartphone mirroring. But just buy a USB cable from Kmart and you’ll be set.
Aside from the price, arguably the car’s two biggest selling points are the classy cabin design, and the somewhat unique driving experience.
Push the MG even a little bit though, and the dynamics don’t hold up, with the car tending to fall short when some enthusiasm is applied. However, keep the driving relaxed, and you’ll be rewarded.
The Essence Turbo delivers an element of fun on the road, thanks to its lively steering – even just for day-to-day driving – making it ideal for those wanting a zippy car for city and suburban duties.
For under $30,000, the MG ZS Essence Turbo is a surprisingly good package, and new-car buyers looking for a bargain with a long and headache-free warranty would be well advised to stick this one on their shortlist.
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