MG ZS vs Ssangyong Korando

What's the difference?

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.

It’s safe to say that SsangYong’s reintroduction to Australia back in late 2018 didn’t go as planned.

Since the relaunch, the world was plunged into an industry-disrupting pandemic and the brand has had to manage bankruptcy in its Korean home market.

But that has also created an opportunity, as big-name brands like Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia and Mitsubishi continue to push upmarket, it leaves price-sensitive customers with fewer and fewer options.

As a cut-price alternative alongside Chinese brands like MG, LDV and GWM Haval, SsangYong could very well carve out its niche as more Australians look to get into new wheels without breaking the bank.

And while the Musso ute and Rexton large SUV are the brand’s biggest sellers, it’s the Korando mid-size SUV that could make the biggest impact in turning SsangYong’s fortunes around as it competes in the booming mid-size SUV market.

So, does the SsangYong Korando have what it takes to steal sales away from big dogs like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5? Or are you better off waiting months and months for a known quantity?