MG ZS vs Audi E-Tron Gt
What's the difference?

MG ZS

$17,980 - $32,990

2025 price

View pricing & specs

Audi E-Tron Gt

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2026 price

View pricing & specs

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Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

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Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

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Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

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Summary

2025 MG ZS

2026 Audi E-Tron Gt

By James Cleary

By Stephen Ottley

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.5L

Electric motor type

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Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Vehicle type

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Fuel Efficiency

6.9L/100km (combined)

Electric range

—

Energy consumption

—

Battery capacity

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Seating

Likes

Value
Performance
Refinement

Immense performance and acceleration
Active suspension works brilliantly
Super-responsive handling

Dislikes

Thirsty
Pricey servicing
Over-speed warning

Very close to Porsche Taycan on price
Very close to Porsche Taycan on performance
Not the most spacious family sedan

2025 MG ZS Summary

The MG ZS stands as a firm favourite with Aussie small SUV buyers, in a close-fought arm wrestle with the Hyundai Kona and Mitsubishi ASX for supremacy in a cut-throat competitive part of the new-car market.

Launched here in late 2017, and updated in 2020, MG subsequently added the ZS EV before launching this new-gen version in late 2024. It has initially been offered in hybrid and naturally aspirated petrol versions to maintain its position at the pointy end of the sales race. However, there’s nothing like a turbo model to add some extra spice to your compact SUV line-up.

And that’s what we have here, the ZS Essence Turbo, a punchy, keenly-priced addition to MG’s local range. Stay with us to see if it has enough boost pressure to muscle its way onto your new-car short list.

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2026 Audi E-Tron Gt Summary

It can be easy to dismiss electric cars as an imperfect solution to the world’s problems. But that would be missing one big point - they’re really, really fast.

Carmakers twigged that not everyone was enamoured with the environmental credentials of electric vehicles (EVs), especially luxury brands, and thus pivoted to the new sales tacit of performance and prestige.

Which is why Audi’s current performance flagship vehicle is not a mid-engined V10-powered replacement for the R8, but rather the all-electric RS e-tron GT. And for the new model year they have not only updated the range, bringing (you guessed it) more power, but also added a new hero model - the RS e-tron GT Performance.

It leads a new three-pronged line-up for the four rings brand, with the RS e-tron GT Performance sitting above the RS e-tron GT and the new S e-tron GT; the latter effectively replacing the previous ‘entry-grade’ model known only as the e-tron GT.

These arrive as part of a mid-life update for the model, with some minor styling tweaks (inside and out) along with enhancements to the battery and changes to the specifications.

The new range has just arrived in Australia and Audi will be hoping it can turn around the sales performance, which saw the outgoing e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT find just 84 customers in 2024. That was a decline of 75 per cent on 2023 sales, and nearly 200 less than the closely related Porsche Taycan.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 MG ZS 2026 Audi E-Tron Gt

Verdict

The MG ZS Essence Turbo has a lot going for it. It’s keenly priced, well equipped, spacious and comfortable with good performance, refinement and safety. On the downside, it’s thirstier than it should be, despite a stonking 10-year warranty servicing is relatively pricey and there are some low-level quality concerns. But should it be on your $30-35K small SUV shopping list. One hundred per cent, yes.

Verdict

While it may be a very different beast to the R8 supercar, it’s hard to argue that the e-tron GT offers performance that isn’t equal to anything Audi has previously produced. The immense acceleration and power, coupled with the brilliant and clever handling make this updated range, especially the RS pair, feel like something special.The fact that it will save you visiting a petrol bowser and might help cut harmful emissions is just a bonus.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

MG ZS vs Audi E-Tron Gt What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

MG ZS vs Audi E-Tron Gt
What's the difference?