1 day Ago By James Wong
/ (min cost $ 0 ) or signup to continue reading Aussies love a bargain. While many manufacturers will report high percentages of expensive, top-of-the-line vehicles as their biggest sellers, the Chinese brands have proven that cheap and (mostly) cheerful motoring still has a strong following. Take the for example; on paper it's fully loaded and looks pretty swish in the metal.
Here in flagship Essence guise it's priced which is thousands cheaper than rivals from Japan and Korea. It's a large reason why the ZS nameplate is so strong in Australia, with 29,258 sold for the 2023 calendar year with 19.9 per cent share of the mainstream small SUV segment – for reference, the second-placed was less than half of that volume and market share.
The gap is closing in 2024, with the new snapping at the Chinese crossover's heels thanks to the availability of hybrid and EV options, though the ZS EV does exist and does solid numbers. MG has also confirmed a new-generation ZS/ZST is due before the end of this year, too. You can actually get into a ZST for as little as $26,990 drive-away if you can live with a naturally aspirated petrol engine and a few less features, and the lower grades maintain a solid level of spec that's arguably even better value.
But the turbocharged Essence showcases everything the nameplate has to offer in Australia. How does it fare in 2024? As noted earlier, a 2024 MG ZST will set you back with standard paint. A quick look on the MG Motor Australia website at the .
