If this new mid-size SUV is any indication, the days of cheap, questionable Chinese cars are coming to an end. But is the MG HS good enough to be Car of the Year?
- Why is the MG HS a carsales COTY contender?
- Who will the MG HS appeal to?
- How much does the MG HS cost?
- What have we already said about the MG HS Excite?
Why is the MG HS a carsales COTY contender?
Competing in the cut-throat mid-size SUV segment is no cakewalk – you need a vehicle delivering style, technology, accommodation needs and, increasingly, more luxury. And the MG HS meets, and in some cases exceeds expectations on these fronts, particularly in terms of its luxury interior and safety systems.
The MG HS comes with an impressive safety suite that can accelerate, brake and steer the vehicle without any driver input. We’re talking autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, blind spot monitoring, the list goes on. With a full complement of airbags, it’s no surprise the MG HS was awarded a five-star safety rating by crash-test authority ANCAP.
Throw in some modern cabin features like a 10.1-inch tablet-style touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four USB charging ports, dual-zone climate control and leather-accented seats and the MG HS is clearly a competitive offering.
As a brand, MG has been blazing up the sales charts in 2020 – which has been a challenging year, to put it mildly – and the Chinese car-maker has an eye on becoming a top-10 brand, threatening the likes of Honda and Subaru.
Who will the MG HS appeal to?
MG is targeting a broad swathe of customers with the HS given it competes in the single-largest sales segment in Australia – medium SUVs.
Family buyers will find appeal with the size of the MG HS, as well as its price and spec sheet. The same holds true for mature-aged buyers and those looking for an SUV that is equally at home doing the weekly shopping as it is embarking on an interstate road trip.
There’s plenty of boot space for those who have lots of gear to cart around, and the attention to detail in the cargo space and various storage areas are nice touches.
In terms of its size and functionality, the five-seat SUV competes against league leaders in the segment like Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, Nissan X-TRAIL and Hyundai Tucson.
How much does the MG HS cost?
As pricing in the mid-size SUV category generally pushes upwards, the MG HS has entered with a super-competitive product that starts from $31,990 drive-away for the entry-level HS Vibe and tops out at $40,690 drive-away for the MG HS Essence Anfield Edition.
The regular HS Essence currently starts at $38,990 and the second-tier HS Excite will set you back $34,990.
All variants feature the same powertrain: a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder driving the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Standard features in even the base-grade HS Vibe include 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, low-speed AEB, high beam assist, lane departure warning, electric fold-in door mirrors, digital radio, trip computer and tyre pressure monitoring.
Dual-zone climate control and 18-inch alloy wheels are standard in all other models further up the line.
What have we already said about the MG HS Excite?
For the local launch of the MG HS earlier this year, carsales editor-in-chief Mike Sinclair wasn’t quite unstinting in his praise, but found the Chinese brand’s new SUV had lots of positives to offer.
“Quite literally, the bottom line is that the new MG HS Vibe and Excite offer plenty of reasons to go on the consideration list for frugal buyers of mid-size SUVs,” he said.
“If you are focused on dynamics and that last few percentage points of refinement and overall polish, then the MG HS will not push all of your buttons.
“[But] the overall look and feel of the MG HS belies its price tag. If the brand continues to evolve at this pace, competitors will ignore it at their peril.”
MG HS Excite at a glance:Price: From $34,990Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrolOutput: 119kW/250NmTransmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automaticFuel: 7.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 170g/km (ADR Combined)
Keyword: MG HS: carsales Car of the Year 2020 contender