Compact SUVs tick a lot of boxes for many shoppers. It is also one of the most popular segments for automotive car brands today, making it an incredibly competitive sector. So with plenty of choice, which compact SUV best suits a range of different buyers?
- MG ZST– from $28,490 – $31,490 (plus on-road costs)
- Hyundai Kona Elite – from $30,660 (plus on-road costs)
- Nissan Qashqai ST+ – From $32,290 (plus on-roads)
- Mitsubishi ASX LS – From $28,940 (plus on-roads)
- MG: the smart choice
Compact SUVs tick a lot of boxes for many shoppers. It is also one of the most popular segments for automotive car brands today, making it an incredibly competitive sector. So with plenty of choice, which compact SUV best suits a range of different buyers?
The car you drive is, for some, an extension of what you wear.
It is just as much of a statement in style as that tailored jacket or those designer sneakers, and its attributes are a mirror-perfect reflection on your lifestyle and priorities.
That’s why – just like picking the right pair of jeans – when choosing a new car, it has to be a perfect fit, and able to be worn almost anywhere.
Which is exactly why compact SUVs like the MG ZST, Hyundai Kona, Nissan Qashqai and Mitsubishi ASX are so popular… They are adaptable to all occasions, from tackling the urban jungle, carting the kids to weekend sporting activities and getting out of a town for a road trip off the beaten track.
So, let’s see which one of these stylish, feature-packed and affordable compact SUVs fits best.
MG ZST– from $28,490 – $31,490 (plus on-road costs)
Let’s get straight to the point; the top-spec MG ZST Essence is the best value for money vehicle in this segment. When you take into consideration what is included in terms of safety, technology, practicality and aftersales, it makes it the most affordable vehicle to drive out of the showroom.
The MG ZST Essence is also the slightly larger than its rivals delivering a spacious five-seat cabin with plenty of cargo-carrying capacity in the boot.
It comes equipped with a longer list of standard equipment, including a fully digital instrument cluster, heated front seats, LED headlights, a 360-degree virtual-reality parking and reverse camera and a full-length panoramic sunroof – all of which are either not available, or only offered in higher-spec variants of its competitors.
Safety-wise, the MG ZST comes with the complete MG Pilot advanced driver assistance suite as standard, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, traffic jam assist, blind spot and rear cross-traffic alerts and lane keeping assistance.
The MG ZST also has the largest infotainment display – at 10.1 inches – with sat nav, Bluetooth and smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android phones. Plus it gets the most USB outlets to keep mobile devices connected and charged, uniquely including one in the rear view mirror for dash cameras and two in the rear for back seat occupants.
And all this on top of other conveniences such as a stylish soft touch interior, six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, keyless entry with push-button start and climate control air conditioning.
And, even though it has the smallest capacity engine on paper, the 1.3-litre three-cylinder is turbocharged and therefore the most powerful, generating 115kW of power and 230Nm of torque, driving the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
And best of all, MG’s aftersales service is class-leading to boot. Indeed, both the ZST Essence and the even more affordable MG ZST Excite (from $28,490 Plus on-road costs) better their rivals with a seven-year, unlimited kilometre factory warranty.
Hyundai Kona Elite – from $30,660 (plus on-road costs)
The Kona was Hyundai’s first compact SUV and polarised opinions with its bold styling when it was first launched in 2017. A facelifted model is due to arrive in Australian showrooms in 2021.
Until then, the mid-level Kona Elite has a suite of active safety systems and some key features, such as its synthetic leather trim, climate control air conditioning and keyless entry with push button start but it misses out on features like the MG ZST’s 360-degree camera and Traffice Jam assist. The Kona also has a smaller eight-inch colour infotainment display but gets sat nav, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities.
You’ll also have to spend around 20 per cent more and step up to the range-topping Highlander to match the MG ZST Essence with items such as a glass sunroof, heated front seats and LED headlights.
Powered by a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder that produces 110kW and 180Nm, it too drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox but is the least efficient out of the models we’ve selected with a combined average fuel consumption of 7.2L/100km.
You can offset that by choosing a more economical and more powerful 1.6-litre turbo charged four-cylinder that brings all-wheel drive via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, but the complex drivetrain comes with a hefty premium – an extra $3,840.
Nissan Qashqai ST+ – From $32,290 (plus on-roads)
The oddly-named Nissan Qashqai has been in Australian showrooms for almost six years now and is beginning to show a few wrinkles.
A new model is in the wings but could be up to 18 months away. Until then, Nissan’s small SUV contender falls behind its rivals in a few key areas.
For starters, the second-tier ST+ variant we’re comparing here is the most expensive in this quartet. And you’ll have to pay significantly more for higher-grade models to match the MG ZST Essence for features like a leather-trimmed cabin, glass panoramic sunroof, heated front seats and a full suite of active driving aids.
For its price, the Qashqai ST+ comes with cloth trim, manual adjustment for the front seats, climate control and a 7.0-inch colour touch screen with sat nav. A recent update brought smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices as well as a basic complement of safety systems with automated city braking, forward collision, blind spot and lane departure warnings, rear cross traffic alert and a 360-degree monitor with obstacle detection.
Powered by a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four cylinder that drives the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission, it produces the least amount of power (106kW and 200Nm) but is one of the more efficient options in its class with a claimed average fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km.
Mitsubishi ASX LS – From $28,940 (plus on-roads)
The Mitsubishi ASX has had more nose jobs than most of Hollywood. Like the Nissan, it’s showing its age – indeed, it is much the same car that first launched almost a decade ago.
The latest iteration receives a complete makeover with new front and rear bumpers, LED headlamps and an upgraded infotainment system with an 8.0-inch colour display that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — but no standard sat nav.
The LS model we’re comparing here comes with Mitsubishi’s ADAS suite of safety systems that includes emergency braking, lane departure, blind spot and rear cross traffic alerts, but it isn’t as advanced as the MG Pilot package that uses additional radar sensors to activate features like Traffic Jam Assist and adaptive cruise control.
The ASX is, however, one of the more spacious small SUVs with a large boot and generous rear-seat legroom, but the cloth-trimmed cabin isn’t the most exciting in terms of its design and misses out on conveniences like rear air conditioning vents and multiple USB charging outlets.
The ASX is comfortable to drive and handles well and its 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder drives down the middle of the road within the segment in terms of performance, generating 110kW/197Nm. That said, it is the least efficient in this quartet with a Combined fuel consumption of 7.6L/100km.
Although Mitsubishi has a standard five-year, 100,000km warranty, it is currently offering a sweetener by doubling that period if the vehicle is consistently maintained within its dealer network.
MG: the smart choice
Just as you would when shopping for a pair of jeans, all four of these cars look like great options when they’re on the rack. And they are among the best value SUVs you could choose.
But only one of them will be the perfect fit.
The ASX has plenty going for it, like interior space, value for money and the incentive of Mitsubishi’s 10-year warranty deal, but no amount of designer Botox can hide its age and present it as a good long-term option.
Similarly, the rapid rate at which technology has advanced over the last decade highlights some of the Nissan Qashqai’s shortcomings, and, ultimately, it struggles to justify the price premium it commands over its rivals.
The Kona is a great vehicle that offers better value and more equipment than the Qashqai and ASX but its style might be a little too radical for some.
Which leaves the MG ZST Essence as the perfect fit.
A stylish and spacious SUV, brimming with the latest in technology, seven-year warranty and roadside assist, crammed full of features and benefits the others can’t match and, most importantly, a more affordable price tag — the MG ZST Essence is the smart choice, and in our opinion the perfect fit that can be driven every day.
Keyword: MG ZST Essence – the smart, exciting choice