MG ZSWhat does it cost to run, and is an EV cheaper?
Driving 250 km a week, the MG ZS Vibe 1.5 uses about $39.08 of petrol a week in South Australia and $41.26 in ACT, at this week's average prices. Over 5 years it costs about $35,800 to own, and none of the 105 EVs we track work out cheaper.
Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. May show an overseas version or a related model.
What would it cost you in fuel?
MG ZS fuel costs by state
MG ZS Vibe 1.5, using each capital's average unleaded price for the week to 21 October 2026. *Per year assumes 15,000 km.
| State | Petrol | Per week | Per year* | Full tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $2.39 | $40.00 | $2,400 | – |
| Victoria | $2.36 | $39.56 | $2,374 | – |
| Queensland | $2.37 | $39.76 | $2,386 | – |
| South Australia | $2.33 | $39.08 | $2,345 | – |
| WA | $2.35 | $39.40 | $2,364 | – |
| Tasmania | $2.46 | $41.17 | $2,470 | – |
| ACT | $2.46 | $41.26 | $2,475 | – |
| NT | $2.45 | $41.05 | $2,463 | – |
What a MG ZS costs to own over 5 years
250 km a week in NSW at $2.39 a litre of petrol. Scheduled service every 12 months or 15,000 km, about $300 a visit. Warranty: 10 yrs / 250,000 km (serviced by MG).
| Variant | Fuel use | On the road* | Fuel / yr | Servicing / yr | Tyres / yr | 5-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vibe 1.5 | 6.7 L/100 km | $22,990 | $2,080 | $300 | $182 | $35,800 |
What do "on the road" and "cost to own" mean?
Before on-road costs (+ on-roads): the car's list price only. You pay extra government charges and dealer fees on top when you buy.
On-road costs: stamp duty, first year's registration, compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, number plates and the dealer's delivery fee. They usually add $3,000–6,000 depending on the car and your state. Where a price is "before on-roads" we add about $4,000. See stamp duty and rego by state.
Drive-away: a price that already includes the on-road costs, so it's what you actually pay to drive the car home.
On the road price: the drive-away price, or the list price plus our on-road estimate.
Cost to own: everything you'd spend over the years you keep the car (5 unless you change it): the on the road price, plus a home wall charger for EVs (about $2,000, one-off), plus charging or fuel, scheduled servicing and tyres for every year. Divide it by the number of weeks to see what the car really costs you each week.
Not included: yearly rego renewals and insurance after the first year, finance interest, and what the car is worth when you sell it. These vary too much by person and car to estimate fairly, and resale value is the biggest unknown, especially for newer brands.
The MG ZS against EVs
The eight EVs with the lowest 5-year cost to own, against the MG ZS Vibe 1.5 at $35,800. Green means the EV works out cheaper. EV totals include a home charger.
| EV | Charging / week | 5-year total | vs this petrol |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYDAtto 1 Essential | $14.54 | $37,146 | +$1,346 |
| LeapmotorB03X Style | $12.75 | $38,462 | +$2,663 |
| GeelyEX2 Complete | $14.91 | $39,523 | +$3,723 |
| MGMG4 Urban 43 | $15.47 | $42,474 | +$6,675 |
| BYDDolphin Essential | $14.91 | $43,243 | +$7,443 |
| GACAion UT Premium | $15.38 | $45,160 | +$9,360 |
| JaecooJ5 EV Track | $13.41 | $45,284 | +$9,484 |
| BYDAtto 2 Dynamic | $16.04 | $45,721 | +$9,922 |
Head-to-head with its closest electric rivals
Common questions
How much is a MG ZS in Australia?
The MG ZS starts from $22,990 drive-away (Sydney) (October 2026). Prices change often, so check with a dealer.
How much fuel does a MG ZS use?
Its claimed fuel use is 6.7 L/100 km. Driving 250 km a week that's about $39.08 to $41.26 of petrol a week, depending on your state.
Is a MG ZS cheaper to run than an EV?
Per week, an EV charged at home usually costs much less to run. Counting the purchase price, a home charger, servicing and tyres over 5 years, none of the 105 EVs we track cost less to own than the MG ZS.
Do you need to plug in a MG ZS?
No. The MG ZS is a regular hybrid. It charges its small battery itself while you drive and refuels at any petrol station.
Other petrol and diesel cars
How we work it out, and our sources
Weekly cost = the car's energy use × 250 km × your electricity or fuel price, with 90% of charging at home. Prices are list prices at October 2026; check with the dealer.
- Electricity: 2026–27 default rates (AER, Victorian Default Offer, state retailers). Public charging: Sydney network prices, July 2026.
- Petrol and diesel: ACCC capital-city averages, 21 October 2026.
- Cars: maker figures via CarExpert, Drive, CarsGuide and EV Central. Plug-in electric range is taken as 80% of the claim.
- Servicing: published capped prices; marked as an estimate where not yet published (CarExpert comparison).
- Tyres: an EV set lasts about 35,000 km, a petrol or hybrid set 50,000 km (RACV); prices from Gridly.
- Home charger: about $2,000 installed ($1,000–$3,000). Novated leases: PwC summary.
Printed from EV Pick · evpick.com.au. Prices and costs are estimates; check with the dealer.