Kia Sportage vs MG ZS: bigger AWD hybrid SUV or cheaper FWD hybrid SUV
The Sportage S HEV AWD gives you more boot, more towing and all-wheel drive, while the ZS Essence Hybrid+ costs a lot less, uses less fuel and has a longer warranty.
By Uzzi · 29 October 2026 · Every figure comes from each car's own page on CarSorted.
$47,450
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$47,450 RRP before on-road costs
We check the manufacturer's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the manufacturer.
$33,990
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$33,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the manufacturer's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the manufacturer.
Who the Kia Sportage suits
The Sportage S HEV AWD suits buyers who need real space and some towing ability. It has a 586L boot, a 1,900kg braked towing figure and AWD. You pay for it, at $47,450 (RRP excl. on-roads).
Who the MG ZS suits
The ZS Essence Hybrid+ suits buyers who mostly drive around town and want a hybrid SUV for less money. It is listed at $33,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), uses a claimed 4.7L/100km and is the shorter of the two at 4,430mm long. It is not the pick if you plan to tow anything heavy.
What decides it
1. Price
The Sportage is $47,450 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the ZS is $33,990 (RRP excl. on-roads). That makes the MG about $13,460 cheaper before on-road costs. We have no drive-away figures for either car.
2. Boot space
The Sportage has a 586L boot with the seats up, against 443L in the ZS, a gap of 143L. Fold the seats and it is 1,872L versus 1,457L. If you carry prams, sports gear or holiday luggage, this matters.
3. Towing
The Sportage is rated to tow 1,900kg braked, while the ZS is rated at 500kg braked. That is a difference of 1,400kg. Unbraked, the figures are 750kg and 500kg.
Running costs
Both are hybrids, and the ZS has the lower claimed fuel use at 4.7L/100km against 5.3L/100km for the Sportage, a gap of 0.6L/100km. Both have a service interval of 12 months, but we have no capped servicing figures for either. The Sportage comes with a 7-year, unlimited km warranty, while the ZS has a 10-year, 250,000km warranty. Check the running-cost chart below to compare them over time.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$5,246
per year to run
$73,679
total 5yr cost
$0.94
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $5,246/year to run, or $26,230 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$5,068
per year to run
$59,329
total 5yr cost
$0.76
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $5,068/year to run, or $25,340 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
Practicality
Both have 5 seats. The Sportage is the bigger car at 4,685mm long and 1,865mm wide, against 4,430mm and 1,818mm for the ZS, which also has the tighter turning circle at 11.0m versus 11.4m. The Sportage has more ground clearance at 181mm against 161mm, and a payload of 497kg compared with 470kg.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
⚠ Not every limit could be checked: the manufacturer publishes no GCM for this vehicle, so this verdict rests only on the limits that are published.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (28% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
Kia doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 586 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
⚠ Not every limit could be checked: the manufacturer publishes no GCM for this vehicle, so this verdict rests only on the limits that are published.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (37% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
MG doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 443 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
How quick is it?
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
Safety
Both cars carry a 5-star ANCAP rating. The Sportage's rating dates from 2022, while the ZS was rated in 2025.
The figures side by side
| Kia Sportage | MG ZS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $47,450 (RRP excl. on-roads) | $33,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) |
| Powertrain | HEV | HEV |
| Fuel | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Drive | AWD | FWD |
| Transmission | Automatic | Hybrid Transmission |
| Power | 132kW | 75kW |
| Combined system power | 173kW | 158kW |
| Torque | 367Nm | 465Nm |
| 0-100km/h | 8.5 seconds | 8.7 seconds |
| Fuel use (combined) | 5.3L/100km | 4.7L/100km |
| Fuel tank | 52L | 41L |
| Battery | No data | 1.8kWh |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Boot (seats up) | 586L | 443L |
| Boot (seats folded) | 1,872L | 1,457L |
| Length | 4,685mm | 4,430mm |
| Width | 1,865mm | 1,818mm |
| Height | 1,665mm | 1,635mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,755mm | 2,610mm |
| Ground clearance | 181mm | 161mm |
| Turning circle | 11.4m | 11.0m |
| Kerb weight | 1,793kg | 1,420kg |
| Towing (braked) | 1,900kg | 500kg |
| Towing (unbraked) | 750kg | 500kg |
| Payload | No data | 470kg |
| ANCAP rating | 5-star (2022) | 5-star (2025) |
| Warranty | 7-year | 10-year |
| Warranty distance | unlimited km | 250,000km |
| Service interval | 12 months | 12 months |
The verdict
The Sportage is the better fit if you need space, towing and AWD, but the ZS is the smarter buy if price and fuel use come first.
Pick the Kia Sportage if
you need a bigger boot, want AWD or plan to tow up to 1,900kg.
Pick the MG ZS if
you want to save about $13,460 up front, use less fuel and get the longer 10-year warranty.
Put them side by side yourself
Every figure, feature and running cost for both, in our live comparison table.
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Ask about these two cars
- Kia Sportage S HEV AWD
- MG ZS Essence Hybrid+
Tap a question or ask your own.Tap a question or ask your own. The answer starts from the cars in this comparison, with links to the rows behind them.
Questions buyers ask
Is the MG ZS Hybrid+ cheaper than the Kia Sportage hybrid?
Yes. The ZS Essence Hybrid+ is listed at $33,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the Sportage S HEV AWD at $47,450 (RRP excl. on-roads). On-road costs are extra for both.
Which uses less fuel, the Sportage hybrid or the ZS Hybrid+?
The ZS has the lower claimed combined figure at 4.7L/100km, against 5.3L/100km for the Sportage. Real-world use will vary.
How much can the Kia Sportage hybrid and MG ZS Hybrid+ tow?
The Sportage is rated at 1,900kg braked and the ZS at 500kg braked. Check the limits for your trailer before you buy.
Which has the bigger boot?
The Sportage, with 586L seats up against 443L in the ZS.
Are the Sportage hybrid and ZS Hybrid+ AWD?
The Sportage S HEV AWD is AWD. The ZS Essence Hybrid+ is FWD.
More on these cars
- 2027 Kia Sportage S HEV AWD: full specs and priceEvery Kia Sportage gradeAll Kia models
- 2026 MG ZS Essence Hybrid+: full specs and priceEvery MG ZS gradeAll MG models
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