Review: 2020 MG HS

The big brother in the MG line-up is the HS, an SUV that has to compete in one of the most crowded fields in the car market. Leave it to the HS however to stand out from the crowd and make for a very interesting proposition.

INITIAL IMPRESSION

With the HS on top of the food chain the MG family forms a complete package. With a familiar grill to it's little sister, the ZST, the HS follows the same design pattern as its siblings and it suits the bigger form perfectly. Where some other SUVs tend to look boxy, the HS keeps a sleek line throughout, finishing in a nicely rounded rear with a cool, sporty spoiler and well integrated taillights. Especially on the 18-inch alloys you'll get on all models above the Vibe the HS looks like a upmarket SUV.

DRIVEABILITY

It's impressive how much MG manages to offer for the price point of the HS. Not only in size, but also in technology. The HS is equipped with MG Pilot and has adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intelligent headlight assist, as well as traffic jam assist. That's a big list of safety features by any standard.

And then there is the quiet, fuel efficient 1.5L turbocharged 4 cylinder engine that puts out 119kW of power and 250Nm of torque and which drives smooth and secure. Of course it's not a sports car, but press the Super Sport button and use the paddle shifters and you will actually got quite a bit of excitement out of the HS. All of that without using more than 7.3L/100km, mainly thanks to a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic, which offers smooth shifts along the way.

LIVEABILITY

The interior of the HS is to be spacious and comfortable, while also being modern, clean and stylish. Though at a low price point, the finishing don't feel cheap and the leather steering wheel even feels more luxurious than you would expect. Some brushed metal accents help the upscale feel and because both the centre console and the gauge cluster are layed out functional and ergonomically their easy to use and view. Again, go any trim level above the Vibe and you'll get keyless entry and a button to close the boot, which help in making live easy.

The 10.1 inch colour touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and looks smart together with its partly digital instrument pack. There are two cupholders in the front, a space for keys and a phone, bottle holders in each door and a centre storage area. Rear passengers get cupholders their own air vents, and there are four USB ports in total in the car which makes it great for charging devices over long journeys.

Talking about road trips, with the HS you don't have to worry if you want to take passengers. The rear seats are perfectly fine for adults and you'll still 463L of boot space, which is good for this size car. You can even fit a third child seat on the back row, so the HS is perfect even for bigger families.

COST

One of the major draw cards for the MG HS is its price tag. Starting with the Vibe for over $30k, you get the whole MG Pilot driver safety suite, the 10.1-inch multi-function colour touch screen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto and keyless entry. Add $3000 for the Excite and your HS will be standing on 18-inch alloys, you get customisable ambient lighting, satellite navigation and an electric tailgate.

For an additional $4000, but still under $40k you'll find yourself in the HS Essence, which comes with 6 way electric adjustable seats, front heated seats, a panoramic sunroof and 360 degree camera. If you feel like splurging out on your MG HS you can opt for the Essence Anfield, which comes standard with a white or black metallic paintwork and the Anfield Special Edition red interior. Plus all new MG's come with a comprehensive 7-year unlimited kilometre manufacturer warranty as standard, plus you'll receive MG Motor Roadside Assist.

CONCLUSION

A roomy SUV that is fitted with all the modern day safety tech you could even need and a powerful turbocharged engine that doesn't use a lot of gas but yet is powerful enough to haul your whole family around, that's the MG HS. The fit and finish of this car are above what you would expect at this price point and that's definitely also something your passengers will appreciate. The MG HS surprises everybody that sits inside and with its sleek and cool styling it will at the same time turns some heads outside. The perfect package.