MG ZS VS Hyundai Kona
MG ZS
Likes
- Efficient hybrid engine
- Exterior styling more unique
- Good value
Dislikes
- Some confusing switchgear
- Interior styling still a bit derivative
- No reach adjustment for steering column
Hyundai Kona
Likes
- Looks good inside and out
- Feature-laden
- Easy to handle
Dislikes
- Ongoing costs expensive for class
- Single motor isn't the punchiest
- 'Extended' range still doesn't come near 500km
Summary
MG ZS
I’m going to admit something personal here - I was not a very good student. I didn’t really like school, I was only interested in cars and school didn’t have enough car-related lessons to keep me interested.
The team at MG, on the other hand, appear to be very good students. They learn fast and adapt quickly and, most importantly, test well.
Let me explain.
Read more about
- Next-gen cut-price hybrid SUV here very soon: Here's when you can get into the new Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross rivalling 2025 MG ZS small SUV and what to expect from its overhauled range
- Bargain electric car to return? 2025 MG ZS EV replacement price confirmed in China in a boost for new BYD Atto 3 and Hyundai Kona Electric rival: Report
- MG won't follow in Toyota's footsteps and go hybrid and electric only in Australia
When the brand re-entered the Australian market under Chinese ownership just over a decade ago (2013) its cars were, to be blunt, not very good. They were underpowered, had derivative designs and drove poorly.
Fast forward to 2024 and MG is among the most popular brands in Australia and the ZS is the country's best-selling small SUV. Its rapid change in fortunes is a direct result of its ability to learn quickly what the market expects and deliver a new model that meets those needs.
But perhaps MG’s greatest strength was to do that without charging a premium for rapidly developed new models. In fact, MG’s popularity is linked to its cut-price deals - it offers a reasonable package compared to its rivals for less money.Â
Now, having learnt that Australians know their products and like them, MG is applying new lessons to introduce the second-generation ZS, starting with an all-new hybrid model.
| Safety rating | — |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 1.5L |
| Fuel Type | Petrol-electric Hybrid |
| Fuel Efficiency | 4.7L/100km |
| Seating | — |
Hyundai Kona
With its EV-led design, the updated flagship Hyundai Kona Electric model, the Premium Extended Range, is a small SUV that's big on space and luxury features.
Which feels increasingly necessary for EVs to compete in an ever-expanding market where change is celebrated and expectations remain high.
Competition includes the newcomer Renault Megane E-Tech, the Kia Niro EV and even the Volvo C40. I've been driving the top model for a week to see how Hyundai's cutest EV fared with my little family of three.
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- Problem? What problem? Why Hyundai isn't worried about its sales despite getting beaten by Kia and Ford in 2023
- Can Hyundai take down Toyota in the off-road war? It will be LandCruiser Prado versus Santa Fe XRT in the battle of the bush-bashers in 2024
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | — |
| Fuel Type | Electric |
| Fuel Efficiency | —L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Verdict
MG ZS7.1/10
So is the MG ZS Hybrid+ another test passed for the company and its fast-learning team? Or is it a rare failing grade?
While there is still clearly some work to be done in certain areas to compete on quality, design and dynamics, the overall package offered by the ZS Hybrid+ is a strong one. It offers a frugal engine, a spacious cabin, inoffensive design and plenty of equipment (including safety) for a very sharp price.
There’s no reason MG shouldn’t stay top of the class in the small SUV segment once the range is completed in 2025.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.
Hyundai Kona7.4/10
The Hyundai Kona Premium Extended Range offers a great amount of passenger comfort and space but its ongoing costs are a bit more expensive for the class and its low safety rating is surprising given its strength in that category in the past.
However, it drives well, looks good, and has great storage space so it's still in the race!
Design
MG ZS
One of the obvious criticisms you could level at the outgoing ZS was the design was derivative of rival models and lacked any unique ‘MG’ traits. That’s less of a problem for this new-generation ZS, at least on the outside, which features a new design, adopting MG’s new ‘family face’ as already seen on the new HS and MG3.
It’s still not the boldest SUV in the segment, but MG is clearly looking for broad appeal and doesn’t want anything polarising.
However, it still feels a bit derivative on the inside and despite upgraded technology (a pair of 12.3-inch digital screens for the instrument display and infotainment system) it lacks visual impact. There’s elements of other rivals that are noticeable, specifically the hexagonal theme around the air-vents, which remind me of the Mazda CX-5.Â
It’s a perfectly fine interior, there’s nothing ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ about it, but it does feel like MG likes to play it safe on design when it could have made some bolder choices.
Hyundai Kona
The design for the Kona has always been a win in my books because it’s cute and functional.
Hyundai also designed the EV Kona first then based the fuel-powered versions on it. So, you get a flat floor in the back row, a cool-looking front with extended body panelling and some futuristic pleating across the panels.
The exterior LED lights are pretty cool as a lot of them resemble pixels and can be found in multiple spots at the front and rear. The long LED strip light across the front also sets it apart from it's fuel-based siblings.
The interior exudes a good sense of luxury with its light-coloured leather upholstery and trims. Coupled with the sunroof the cabin space is bright and cheery.
The 64-colour ambient lighting adds a touch of fun and the update sees some minor tweaks to accent panels where black plastic has been dropped in favour of a brushed metal look.
The dashboard has been redesigned with dual 12.3-inch technology screens (one for media, one for instruments), now standard across all variants instead of just the top model, which is great to see.
Practicality
MG ZS
This is an all-new model, according to the company, sitting on a new, larger platform that adds 107mm to the length, 25mm to the wheelbase and also makes it 9mm wider. That makes for a more spacious cabin, with noticeably more room in the second row. It’s still a small SUV but it probably borders on mid-size in some regards, especially around knee room in the back.
There’s plenty of small item storage space too, with a small tray ahead of the gear selector, a pair of cup holders in the front, good size door pockets, the centre lidded box and a new small shelf on the dashboard, in front of the passenger.
In terms of boot space, MG has packaged the battery underneath the rear seats and opted for a tyre repair kit instead of a spare, so there is a sizeable boot with 443 litres of luggage room.
The twin 12.3-inch screens take care of most functions but MG was quick to point out they have retained several physical buttons for some functions; ‘home’, volume for the stereo, the windscreen demister and an on-off for the air-conditioning.
While physical buttons are a clear positive in terms of usability and safety, the decision to put the demister instead of say, air-con temp or fan speed doesn’t make a lot of sense (surely they’d be more useful every day?).
MG counters that the steering wheel buttons/toggles can be programmed for different functions, including air-con controls but that is an added layer of complexity to what should be a simple function.
More surprising and disappointing is the steering wheel has no reach adjustment, only height, which is almost unheard of these days in modern passenger cars. It smacks of saving money when developing what is claimed to be an ‘all-new’ model, and is an important element to skimp on as it directly impacts how comfortable you feel in the car.
Hyundai Kona
The Kona's size has increased for its second generation, which means more occupant space and storage capacity. The front offers more space than you’d expect for a small SUV and I’d describe it as roomy, even for someone taller than my 168cm height.
The rear row also has fantastic head- and legroom for the class but it's the storage options which clinch the practicality for me.
Up front the centre console is still the hero for storage with multiple nooks and spaces for items like keys, phones and wallets. You get two retractable cupholders, a 1.5L drink bottle holder in each door and a good-sized middle console and glove box.
In the rear, you get map pockets, 0.7L drink bottle holders in each door and two cupholders in a fold-down centre armrest.
The boot sees an additional 33L, expanding the overall capacity to 407L with all seats in use. That jumps up to 1241L when the rear row is folded. Underneath the adjustable floor, you get a temporary spare wheel.
The electric front seats aren’t as comfortable as the previous generation. They’re narrower, firmer and sit a bit higher than I remember. Though I still love the added comfort functions they have, including a reclining relaxation mode.Â
The rear seats are better cushioned and offer longer under-thigh supports and middle seaters should be comfortable thanks to the flat floor.Â
The technology looks good and the 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system is easy to use once you spend some time with it. You get built-in satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. Â
The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel isn't customisable but all information is easily seen as is the colour head-up display.
Charging options are great throughout the car with each row getting two USB-C ports, the front also featuring a wireless charging pad and 12-volt outlet. The next-gen model sees the Kona get V2L (Vehicle To Load) capability, too, which is great.
Price and features
MG ZS
The ZS Hybrid+ is launching with two variants, Excite and Essence, priced from $33,990 and $36,990 respectively. Those prices are both manufacturer list price and drive-away at the time of launch.
In terms of price though, that’s a big step up for the brand and the model. The outgoing ZST Excite was priced from $29,490 and the Essence from $30,490, drive-away. For comparison, the Hyundai Kona hybrid range begins at $36,500 and stretches to $46,500, the Toyota Corolla Cross is priced from $36,480 to $50,030 and the Kia Niro hybrid models start at $45,000. So while the Hybrid+ is more expensive than before, it still represents good value in the small hybrid SUV market.
It’s also important to note at this point that there will be non-hybrid versions of the new ZS, which will almost certainly be cheaper and closer to the old model, but they won’t arrive until 2025.
As for what you get for the money, standard equipment on the Excite includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, two 12.3-inch digital screens for the instruments and multimedia, as well as navigation, a 360-degree camera and the MG Pilot active safety suite.
The Essence adds 18-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, PVC seats, six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Hyundai Kona
There are a whopping eight variants for the Kona range and you have a choice of four powertrains – petrol, turbo-petrol, hybrid or fully electric like our flagship Premium Extended Range model.
The model on test is priced from $68,000, before on-road costs, and that positions it in the middle of its rivals.
Based on a NSW, 2000 postcode you can pick up the Kia Niro EV GT-Line for $66,590 MSRP and the Volvo C40 Plus variant for $78,990 MSRP.
The most affordable rival is the newcomer, Renault Megane E-Tech for $64,990 but it's important to note the E-Tech is only offered in a mid-spec variant for the Australian market at the moment.
Compared to it's rivals, the flagship electric Kona is well-priced but it’s a hefty $20K jump up from the equally equipped top petrol version.
Being top dog, you should expect a host of premium features like a sunroof, heated, ventilated and power-adjustable front seats, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel and eight-speaker premium Bose audio.
The front seats also feature a 'relaxation mode' where they act as a recliner, providing a comfortable option for charging sessions.
Practical features include a handsfree powered tailgate, 27L frunk storage, remote parking assist (from the key fob), over-the-air updates for the built-in satellite navigation and Hyundai connected services app.
Unusually for an EV, you also get a temporary spare wheel in this model instead of a repair kit.
Other features include some A-grade tech like dual 12.3-inch technology screens, fast USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and vehicle-to-load function in the form of a three-pin standard house socket so you charge larger appliances.
Under the bonnet
MG ZS
The ZS Hybrid+ is powered by a 75kW/128Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with a 100kW/250Nm electric motor, with MG claiming a combined output of 150kW/465Nm.
The electric motor draws power from a 1.83kWh NCM (nickel-cobalt-magnesium) battery and is paired to a three-speed hybrid automatic transmission.
Hyundai Kona
The Premium Extended Range model is front-wheel drive and has an electric motor with outputs of 150kW and 255Nm.
It’s not as spritely as some of its rivals but it’s able to hold its own on the open road. Just don't expect it to blow your hair back.
Efficiency
MG ZS
MG claims the system delivers an average fuel consumption of 4.7L/100km. While it’s a good return for an SUV of this size, it is higher than both of its key rivals, with the Corolla Cross offering a 4.3L/100km claim and the Kona Hybrid managing 3.9L/100km.
With its 41-litre fuel tank it has a theoretical driving range of more than 870km.
Hyundai Kona
The official energy consumption figure for the Premium Extended Range model is 16.7kWh/100km and a week of mostly urban road driving resulted in an average of 16.6kWh/100km.
That's very good consumption and the official driving range from the 64.8kWh lithium-ion battery is up to 444km but I’d have my eye on the range on a longer journey.
The top electric Kona has a Type 2 CCS charging port which means you can benefit from faster DC charging speeds.
But it can also accept a top speed of 10.4kW on AC power. On an 11kW AC charger, you can go from 0-100 per cent in a little over 6.5-hours.
The Premium Extended Range model can only accept up to 100kW on DC charging, which is lower than its rivals, and you can go from 10-80 per cent in just over an hour on a 50kW system and in as little as 45 minutes on an 100kW system.
Again, it's figures are a tad slower and lower than rivals but not inconvenient for everyday use.
Driving
MG ZS
Nobody has ever bought a modern MG because of its dynamic handling or pampering ride. The ZS may have led the segment in price but it hasn’t ever had a class-leading driving experience. Nor was it bad, but clearly there was some work to do because MG says the suspension has been redesigned for improved ride comfort, handling and reduced noise.
It feels like an improvement based on our initial drive, with the ZS feeling more comfortable, riding with more composure than the old model. But the brand still has work to do in terms of ride and steering tuning, especially for Australia’s unique conditions, if it wants to compete with the best-in-class.
As for the powertrain, it does a very good job, it feels smooth and quiet and offers adequate performance for a small SUV. Its real-world fuel economy after a drive through urban, open road and some freeway ended at 4.9L/100km, which is a solid return. More urban driving, which would emphasise the role of the electric motor, would likely bring that figure down.
Hyundai Kona
The top model's single motor delivers smooth power in most instances but you can lose traction if your accelerate too quickly from a standstill.
Mostly urban kilometres covered during this test and despite the Kona not having the punchiest motor, I’ve still had moments of it feeling zippy.
The steering feels like it’s in the middle of firm and makes for responsive manoeuvring. You get some roll when cornering and the car can feel a bit light-footed when you’re shooting across traffic but otherwise it's well-balanced.
The ride comfort is very good in terms of suspension, where it feels well-cushioned but not too floaty.
Road noise isn’t intrusive, either, but there's some wind noise, even at lower speeds.
It’s an old gripe but the speed-sign recognition tech in a lot of Hyundai and Kia models is intrusive and annoying with how often it chimes at you.
It's worth the effort to turn off the warning sounds every time you drive, particularly if you're in the city. Usually, this would be in the safety section but it affects the driving enjoyment.
When it comes to parking, the Kona's compact dimensions make it your best friend in a car park. A fabulously clear 360-degree camera system also helps.
Safety
MG ZS
While MG’s efforts to keep its models affordable has created some safety headlines in the past (such as the MG5’s poor ANCAP score), the company has made a concerted effort to ensure the new ZS doesn’t suffer the same fate.
As mentioned earlier, the MG Pilot system is included as standard on both variants of the ZS Hybrid+. This brings a broad line-up of active safety features including autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, lane change assist, speed assistance system, front collision warning, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.
There’s also the 360-degree surround-view cameras so you can see what’s around when you’re parking or manoeuvring slowly.
The new ZS Hybrid+ hasn’t been crash tested yet and it’s impossible to speculate on its score with any certainty. The previous generation ZS received a four-star ANCAP rating but the recently launched HS managed five stars, so MG is capable of building models to get top marks.
Hyundai Kona
The 2024 electric Kona has a long list of safety systems but surprisingly its previous-generation model’s five-star ANCAP safety score hasn’t been matched, with the new version getting four stars from testing in 2023.
Penalty points have been applied across a few items and its individual protection scores for vulnerable road users and safety assist systems are at 64 per cent and 62 per cent, respectively.Â
The Kona has seven airbags, including a front centre airbag and a highlight feature is the blind-spot view monitor which shows you a camera feed of your blind spot on the dashboard.
Other standard features include blind-spot monitoring, driver attention warning, safe exit warning, rear occupant alert, full LED lights, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree view camera system, as well as front, rear and side parking sensors.
The Kona has AEB with forward collision warning which is operational from 5.0-85km/h for pedestrian and vulnerable road user detection and 10-180km/h for car detection.
For any families out there, the Kona has ISOFIX child seat mounts on the rear outboard seats and three top-tether anchor points but two seats will fit best.
Ownership
MG ZS
MG Australia offers what it calls a ‘Precise Price’ servicing plan, so you’ll know what you’re paying for the first five years. Service intervals are every 12 months/15,000km and vary from $144 for a minor visit up to $432 for your four year/60,000km check-up. The total cost is $1232 over the five year span.
Like all MG models the ZS Hybrid+ is covered by the brand’s 10-year/250,000km warranty.
Hyundai Kona
Servicing costs for the Hyundai Kona are quite expensive for the class and you can pre-purchase one, two or three services. Services cost $520 (one service), $1040 (two services), or $1560 (three services). It's typical to see EV servicing sit closer to the $250 mark.
Warranty terms are pretty typical, though, the Kona coming with a five-year/unlimited km warranty and the battery covered by an eight-year, or up to 160,000km warranty term.
Servicing intervals are every two years or 30,000km, whichever occurs first.