MG ZS vs Holden Acadia
What's the difference?

MG ZS

$17,980 - $32,990

2025 price

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Holden Acadia

—

2020 price

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Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

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Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2025 MG ZS

2020 Holden Acadia

By James Cleary

By Laura Berry

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.5L

V6, 3.6L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.9L/100km (combined)

8.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Value
Performance
Refinement

Truck-like looks
Advanced safety tech
Good value

Dislikes

Thirsty
Pricey servicing
Over-speed warning

2000kg braked towing capacity
Engine needs to rev hard to make grunt
Wireless charging not standard on LT

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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2020 Holden Acadia Summary

If the Acadia had an accent it would be a southern drawl because this big seven-seat SUV is built in Tennessee, USA, and wears a GMC badge when it’s at home.

In Australia of course it wears a Holden one and comes straight from the factory in right-hand drive. So how does it suit Aussie conditions? Does it even know the importance of a sausage on a piece of bread bought outside a hardware store on a Saturday?

All this and more was learnt when the entry grade LT front-wheel drive came to live with my family.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 MG ZS 2020 Holden Acadia

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

The Holden Acadia is a proper seven-seater SUV in that it will fit adults in the third row without turning your friends into enemies. It’s also practical and well fitted out with storage places and utilities such as USB ports.

I was particularly impressed with the advanced safety equipment on-board even at this entry LT level. Yes, it’s a V6 petrol and it’s not the most fuel-efficient SUV, but our time with it showed that with cylinder deactivation and the stop-start system it might not be as thirsty as you’d think.

MG ZS vs Holden Acadia What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

MG ZS vs Holden Acadia
What's the difference?