Cheap Chinese SUV gets a major glow up: 2025 MG ZS teased with hybrid power and lots of safety tech to battle the Toyota Yaris Cross, Mazda CX-3 and Kia Stonic

MG has given the best look yet at its next-gen ZS small SUV.

Earlier this month, homologation documents lodged with the Australian government revealed a lot of the technical details of the coming budget-friendly SUV.

Now the Chinese brand has released some teaser images of the cut-price SUV ahead of its official reveal next week.

The images show the ZS will receive similar styling updates to the recently revealed MG HS mid-size SUV and MG3 small hatchback.

It features a more pinched front end and fresh grille design that is complemented by dynamic headlights and new alloy wheels.

The teaser follows MG Motor Australia Senior Product and Strategy Manager Akshat Ahuja telling CarsGuide earlier this year that the ZS will come with a substantial upgrade.

“ZS is definitely not far away,” said Ahuja. “It will be an all-new generation. It carries the same new design language like we see in the MG3. So an all-new exterior and interior as well as a massive upgrade in technology. “

“So it's a significant upgrade from the current ZS and it’s not far away.”

The big news is the ZS will be fitted with the same hybrid tech as the new MG3 hatchback, as well as two petrol engine options.

This means it’ll use the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor combo.

In the ZS it makes a total of 158kW compared to the 3’s 155kW.

Petrol variants will be propelled by either a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine or a turbocharged 1.5-litre motor, with both matched to a CVT automatic.

2025 MG ZS.

Power figures for the petrol engines haven’t been confirmed, but the non-turbo 1.5-litre engine in the current version makes 84kW and 150Nm. 

Price is the biggest question mark left.

The outgoing ZS is one of the cheapest SUVs on sale, with prices starting at $23,990 drive-away.

The next-gen ZS will usher in a range of tech and safety upgrades on top of the new hybrid set-up, which will translate to a much higher starting price.

MG’s 3 had a similar update earlier this year and the price jumped by about $7000.

There are a few sweeteners to the deal, though.

MG has just announced it will guarantee its vehicles for 10 years or 250,000km, whichever comes first.

This warranty beats every other brands', and unlike Mitsubishi’s conditional 10-year guarantee MG owners can get their car serviced anywhere, not just at a dealership.