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Watch out, Chery Tiggo 4! MG ZS Vibe returns for 2026 to reclaim title of Australia’s cheapest small SUV

 
Lukas Foyle
Contributor

New, price-busting MG ZS Vibe trim priced from $22,990 drive-away, dethroning the Chery Tiggo 4 as cheapest small SUV in Oz


MG Motor Australia has announced the return of its introductory ZS ‘Vibe’ trim grade for 2026, with pricing for the small SUV now starting from a low $22,990 driveaway.

The bullish price drop means that MG will officially reclaim the title of Australia’s cheapest small SUV, after losing bragging rights to the Chery Tiggo 4 Urban (currently $23,990 driveaway) in October, 2024.

MG_ZS_2026_blue

But pricing for MG’s small SUV shake-up is only expected to last until the 28th of February — afterwards, the MG ZS Vibe should return to a driveaway price of $24,513, according to the MG website. 

Chery’s cut price Tiggo 4 has dominated the small SUV segment since its H2 2024 inception, with its affordable entry price no doubt playing a key role. 

MG_zs_steering_wheel

Last year, the Tiggo 4 saw an unprecedented growth in sales of 950.5-percent, shifting 20,149 units to take the title of Australia’s most popular small SUV, as well as its cheapest. 

In contrast, the MG ZS saw an 11.6-percent dip in sales year-on-year, shifting 20,000 units to finish the year as Australia’s second-most-popular small SUV. Only 149 deliveries separated the two Chinese front-driven SUVs in 2025.

MG_ZS_interior

For 2026, the MG ZS Vibe will retain its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four cylinder, paired with a CVT and front-drive.

The Vibe produces 81kW and 140Nm, meaning that Chery’s introductory Tiggo still has the performance edge bragging rights with 108kW/210Nm. 

MG_ZS_shifter

Standard equipment on the 2026 MG ZS Vibe includes:

  • 16-inch Alloy Wheels  
  • 10.25-inch Infotainment Screen  
  • Reverse Camera   
  • Push Button Start   
  • Wired Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ 
  • MG Pilot Safety Suite   
  • Four-Speaker Audio System  
  • Two front USB Ports
  • Fabric Interior
  • Halogen Headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights 

All MG ZS models additionally feature a five-star ANCAP safety rating, as do all Chery Tiggo 4 models. 

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