Dongfeng 06 vs MG ZS

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Dongfeng 06 in South Africa

Dongfeng 06

06 E3 Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 579,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 120 kW 🔧 230 Nm
VS
MG ZS in South Africa

MG ZS

1.5L 4AT Luxury Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 309,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 84 kW 🔧 150 Nm ⛽ 14.08 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Dongfeng 06 vs MG ZS: the short answer

06 and ZS are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

ZS starts ZAR 209,100 cheaper 06 from ZAR 499,000 · ZS from ZAR 289,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification 06 ZS
Maximum Power 06120 kW ZS84 kW
Maximum Torque 06230 Nm ZS150 Nm
Engine Size 06Not Applicable ZS1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 06Not Applicable ZS14.08 km/l
Ground Clearance 06170 mm ZS175 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

06

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

ZS

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

06

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

ZS

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec 06 ZS
Model Introduced Year 2026 2025
Generation Current South African 06 generation Current local value-positioned ZS compact SUV, sold alongside rather than replaced by the larger turbocharged ZS Pro.
Facelift History Current South African launch version; no local facelift announced Current South African ZS specification introduced with MG's market return in 2025.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV Five-door compact SUV
Model Year 2026 2024
Production Status active active
Segment Compact Electric SUV Compact SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger Vehicle SUV
Spec 06 ZS
Length 4306 mm 4314 mm
Width 1868 mm 1809 mm
Height 1645 mm 1624 mm
Wheelbase 2715 mm 2585 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 170 mm 175 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 155 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 48 l
Boot/Cargo Space 500 l 359 l
Kerb Weight 500 kg 1258 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 500 kg 1695 kg
Payload Capacity 500 kg 437 kg
Towing Capacity 750 kg 500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 1010 mm 1043 mm
Rear Headroom 980 mm 995 mm
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1070 mm
Rear Legroom 920 mm 850 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This 06 and ZS comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: 06 42 vs ZS 37.

Efficiency index: 06 31 vs ZS 55.

Safety-equipment index: 06 88 vs ZS 87.

Practicality index: 06 60 vs ZS 52.

Ownership-cover index: 06 not separately scored vs ZS not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

ZS leads by 1 points

06 and ZS are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 57 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 73% source coverage
57
#1 Evidence leader

ZS

73% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Performance 37
Performance 37
Efficiency 55
Safety 87
Practicality 52
Leads by 1 points
56
#2

06

83% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Efficiency 31
Performance 42
Efficiency 31
Safety 88
Practicality 60
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance 06 +5 Efficiency ZS +24 Safety 06 +1 Practicality 06 +8

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

ZS

Performance 37/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 52/100

06

Performance 42/100
Efficiency 31/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 60/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index MG ZS leads the specification evidence index with 57 pts vs 56 pts for 06

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, ZS leads. However, 06 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

06 vs ZS questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.