Hold onto your seats, because the small SUV market just got a major shake-up! After four years of dominance, the MG ZS has been dethroned as Australia’s best-selling small SUV, with the Hyundai Kona claiming the crown in 2025. But here's where it gets interesting: the race was incredibly close, with just 3,356 units separating the top spot from fourth place. This shift in the rankings wasn’t just about numbers—it’s a story of evolving consumer preferences, strategic pricing, and the rise of hybrid and electric options.
In 2024, the MG ZS was the undisputed champion, selling 22,629 units. However, its sales dipped by 11.6% in 2025, landing it at 20,000 units. This decline opened the door for the Hyundai Kona, which saw a remarkable 31.1% sales increase, reaching 22,769 units. But the Kona wasn’t the only contender making waves. The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro surged late in the year to secure second place with 20,149 sales, while the GWM Haval Jolion narrowly missed the podium, finishing with 19,413 units—a 36.3% market share increase compared to 2024.
And this is the part most people miss: the MG ZS wasn’t just resting on its laurels. In 2025, MG introduced more affordable petrol-only versions, starting at $25,888 drive-away, and continued offering its second-generation hybrid model. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Kona, launched in its second-generation form in mid-2023, added hybrid and all-electric options in late 2023 and early 2024. However, by mid-2025, Hyundai dropped the all-wheel-drive option (except for a limited-run batch), positioning the Kona’s price range between $32,700 and $48,700 before on-road costs.
The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, which arrived in late 2024, received a hybrid powertrain update in 2025, starting at $23,990 drive-away. As for the GWM Haval Jolion, first introduced in 2021, it saw significant discounts on its petrol and hybrid models throughout 2025, boosting its appeal.
Overall, the small SUV segment under $45,000 grew by 15.5% in 2025, reaching 162,449 units. This made it more popular than all passenger cars combined (157,484 sales), though it still trailed behind mid-size SUVs, 4x4 utes, and large SUVs under $80,000.
But here’s the controversial question: Is the Kona’s victory a sign of Hyundai’s innovation, or did MG simply lose its edge by not adapting quickly enough to market demands? The rise of hybrid and electric options clearly played a role, but pricing and availability were equally critical. What do you think? Did Hyundai deserve the top spot, or is this just a temporary shift? Let us know in the comments!
This article was crafted by Tung Nguyen, a seasoned automotive journalist with over a decade of experience. From news and reviews to video presentations, Tung’s passion for cars—sparked by childhood Saturdays spent watching Transformers and playing Gran Turismo—shines through in every piece. His dream car? A Nissan GT-R with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course. To learn more about Tung, visit his profile here.
