The MG ZS will be exclusively offered with turbocharged or hybrid engines for 2026, with its non-turbo powertrain set to be axed.
Australian details for the 2026 MG ZS small SUV have been announced ahead of local showroom arrivals at a later date.
MG Motor Australia has confirmed that the ZS line-up will be reduced for 2026, with the most affordable non-turbo variants – the Vibe and Essence – set to be discontinued.
The brand has not confirmed why the 81kW/140Nm 1.5-litre non-turbo engine has been axed, but its closest rivals from China and India all offer turbocharged petrol power as standard.
Price rises are likely to account for the newly-standard engine, with the existing ZS Vibe non-turbo recently offered for $23,990 drive-away, compared to $25,990 for its 125kW/275Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged equivalent.
MG has also confirmed it is adding telescopic steering wheel adjustment to the ZS for Model Year 2026 (MY26), in addition to the existing tilt adjustment.
A front-centre airbag is also expected to be added to the MG ZS in the near future, but it is not mentioned in the brand's media release for the imminent MY26 upgrade, suggesting it could be added at a later date or as a running production change.
Hybrid versions of the ZS also receive software updates to its powertrain for a "smoother, thriftier, quieter, and higher-performing driving experience across both urban and highway conditions".
Revisions include a softer pedal map for smoother low-speed acceleration, increased regenerative braking, lower engine speeds "especially on longer intercity trips", and stronger high-speed performance "for cleaner overtakes and on-ramps [acceleration]".
Pricing for the wider 2026 MG ZS line-up is yet to be confirmed, but the brand has confirmed the Vibe Turbo – added for the current Model Year 2025.5 (MY25.5) – will be offered for $25,888 drive-away, $102 less than its current price.
MG claims the ZS is "leading" the small SUV segment in Australia based on its sales between 2021 and 2024, however, so far in 2025, it has been outsold by the Hyundai Kona.
Australian new-car sales data shows 16,971 examples of the Hyundai Kona have been reported as sold year-to-date, followed by the ZS with 16,015 sales.
It is down 5 per cent from 2024, when 16,907 ZS examples were reported as sold to the end of September, while the Kona has grown 27 per cent over the same period.
The decision to remove the 1.5-litre non-turbo engine from the ZS line-up does not impact the MG 3 hatchback, MG Motor Australia has confirmed.
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.
