The MG ZS The range has been expanded downwards for the 2026 model year (MY26), with a new base grade that reduces the starting price for the small crossover SUV by $2,000.
Powered by a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder gasoline engine, the new entry-level Vibe is priced at $22,990. MG calls this a “celebratory offer” that ends on February 28, 2026.
The ZS range has been reshuffled for MY26. MG currently lists on its website Vibe and Essence variants with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, as well as Excite and Essence variants with a 1.5-litre hybrid four-cylinder, in addition to the new naturally aspirated Vibe.
With Daily Sparkz you can save thousands on a new car. Click Here to get a great deal.
Gone are the supercharged, naturally aspirated Vibe and Essence variants that were part of the MY25.5 ZS range; The short-lived naturally aspirated Excite has already been discontinued for MY25.5.
The new MY26 1.5L Vibe is equipped with the following equipment as standard:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Automatic halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 3.5-inch instrument display
- 4 speaker sound system
- Start at the push of a button
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
- Polyurethane steering wheel
- Fabric seat upholstery
- 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
It also features the same active safety and driver assistance technologies as the rest of the range, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.
However, it does not have the air conditioning of the Vibe Turbo and is equipped with a conventional gear lever.
For features like LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, satellite navigation, a surround-view camera, rear air vents or a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, you’ll need to step up to the Essence Turbo or one of the two ZS Hybrid+ SUVs.
The Vibe’s 1.5-litre engine produces 81kW of power and 140Nm of torque, which is 44kW and 135Nm less than the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine.
Unlike the previous generation ZS 1.5L, which used a four-speed automatic transmission, the new generation SUV features a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Combined cycle fuel consumption is 6.7L/100km, 0.2L/100km less than the turbocharged and, crucially, it only uses 91 octane regular unleaded fuel instead of 95 RON premium fuel.
The current second-generation ZS came onto the market here at the end of 2024, initially only with a hybrid drive, before a four-cylinder with turbocharger followed in 2025.
The introduction of the new 1.5-litre Vibe comes after the ZS lost the title of Australia’s best-selling small SUV in 2025 and the Hyundai Kona broke its four-year streak. Hyundai sold 22,769 Konas versus 20,000 MG ZS crossovers.
Additionally, Chery’s Tiggo 4 narrowly beat the MG in the sales race (20,149), while the GWM Haval Jolion (19,413) was very close.
According to MG, the launch of the new 1.5-litre Vibe “strengthens its position in the compact SUV segment with a value-conscious entry-level variant”.
It’s a return to the ZS’s roots, as the previous-generation model ended its run at $23,990, albeit with significantly less standard safety equipment than the current model.
MORE: Explore the MG ZS showroom
