MG ZS vs Renault Duster: Hybrid SUV against a cheaper Petrol SUV
The MG ZS Hybrid+ has the stronger ANCAP rating, lower fuel use and a longer warranty, while the Renault Duster costs less, has the bigger boot and tows far more.
By Uzzi · 30 October 2026 · Every figure comes from each car's own page on CarSorted.
$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.
2026 Renault Duster Evolution 4x2
$34,990 drive-away
RRP $31,990 excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$31,990 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 MG ZS suits
The MG ZS Essence Hybrid+ suits buyers who put safety ratings and fuel use first. It carries a 5-star ANCAP rating and uses 4.7L/100km on the combined cycle. The 10-year warranty will also appeal if you keep cars a long time.
Who the Renault Duster suits
The Renault Duster Evolution 4x2 suits buyers who want to spend less and need to tow. It lists at $31,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), has a 472L boot and is rated to tow 1,500kg braked. The trade-off is a 3-star ANCAP rating.
What decides it
1. ANCAP safety rating
The MG ZS has a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2025. The Renault Duster has a 3-star ANCAP rating from 2024. If crash ratings matter to you, this should weigh heavily in your decision.
2. Fuel use
The MG is a hybrid and uses 4.7L/100km on the combined cycle. The petrol Duster uses 6.5L/100km. That puts the MG 1.8L/100km ahead on paper.
3. Price
The Duster lists at $31,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the MG ZS at $33,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), so the Duster is $2,000 cheaper on list price. Renault's Duster also has a Victorian drive-away figure of $34,990 (drive-away, VIC). We have no drive-away figure for the MG.
Running costs
The MG uses 4.7L/100km against the Duster's 6.5L/100km, though the Duster has the larger tank at 50L versus 41L. Both have a service interval of 12 months, and we have no capped servicing figure for either car. The MG comes with a 10-year, 250,000km warranty, while the Duster has a 5-year, unlimited km warranty. Check the running-cost chart below to compare them over time.
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.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$5,601
per year to run
$59,997
total 5yr cost
$0.77
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $5,601/year to run, or $28,005 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 cars have 5 seats. The Duster's boot is 472L with the seats up and 1,564L folded, against 443L and 1,457L for the MG, so the Duster has 29L more space seats up. The MG is longer at 4,430mm versus 4,345mm, but the Duster has more ground clearance at 174mm against 161mm. For towing, the Duster is rated at 1,500kg braked, which is 1,000kg more than the MG's 500kg.
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.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
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 (35% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
Renault doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 472 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
The MG ZS holds a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2025. The Renault Duster holds a 3-star ANCAP rating from 2024.
The figures side by side
| MG ZS | Renault Duster | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $33,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) | $31,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) |
| Drive-away price (VIC) | No data | $34,990 (drive-away, VIC) |
| Powertrain | HEV | ICE |
| Fuel | Hybrid | Petrol |
| Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Transmission | Hybrid Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Power | 75kW | 113kW |
| Combined system power | 158kW | No data |
| Torque | 465Nm | 270Nm |
| 0-100km/h | 8.7 seconds | 9.2 seconds |
| Fuel use (combined) | 4.7L/100km | 6.5L/100km |
| Fuel tank | 41L | 50L |
| Battery | 1.8kWh | No data |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Boot (seats up) | 443L | 472L |
| Boot (seats folded) | 1,457L | 1,564L |
| Length | 4,430mm | 4,345mm |
| Width | 1,818mm | 1,813mm |
| Height | 1,635mm | 1,650mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,610mm | 2,657mm |
| Ground clearance | 161mm | 174mm |
| Turning circle | 11.0m | 10.86m |
| Kerb weight | 1,420kg | 1,309kg |
| Towing (braked) | 500kg | 1,500kg |
| Towing (unbraked) | 500kg | 695kg |
| Payload | 470kg | 536kg |
| ANCAP rating | 5-star (2025) | 3-star (2024) |
| Warranty | 10-year | 5-year |
| Warranty distance | 250,000km | unlimited km |
| Service interval | 12 months | 12 months |
The verdict
For most buyers the MG ZS Hybrid+ makes more sense, with the stronger ANCAP rating, lower fuel use and longer warranty for $2,000 more on list price.
Pick the MG ZS if
you want the higher ANCAP rating, lower fuel use and the longer warranty, and you don't need to tow much.
Pick the Renault Duster if
you need to tow a decent load, want the bigger boot or want to spend less up front.
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
- MG ZS Essence Hybrid+
- Renault Duster Evolution 4x2
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+ safer than the Renault Duster?
On ANCAP ratings, the MG ZS has a 5-star rating from 2025 and the Renault Duster has a 3-star rating from 2024.
Which uses less fuel, the MG ZS Hybrid+ or the Renault Duster?
The MG ZS Hybrid+ is listed at 4.7L/100km combined and the Duster at 6.5L/100km. Your own figures will depend on how and where you drive.
How much can the MG ZS and Renault Duster tow?
The MG ZS Hybrid+ is rated to tow 500kg braked. The Renault Duster is rated to tow 1,500kg braked and 695kg unbraked.
Which has the bigger boot, the MG ZS or the Renault Duster?
The Duster's boot is 472L with the seats up and the MG's is 443L. With the seats folded it's 1,564L for the Duster and 1,457L for the MG.
How much do the MG ZS Hybrid+ and Renault Duster cost?
The MG ZS Essence Hybrid+ is $33,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the Renault Duster Evolution 4x2 is $31,990 (RRP excl. on-roads). On-road costs will add to both.
More on these cars
- 2026 MG ZS Essence Hybrid+: full specs and priceEvery MG ZS gradeAll MG models
- 2026 Renault Duster Evolution 4x2: full specs and priceEvery Renault Duster gradeAll Renault models
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