WORTH A CLOSER LOOK
Early Chinese cars were best avoided, but recent offerings are much improved
Few brands have emerged from the challenges of 2020 without scars, but fast-moving MG has bucked the downward sales trend. As the rest of the market plunged, the Chinese-owned brand lured more buyers, in part thanks to the HS, the company’s newest value-packed arrival.
As the largest and most expensive car in a modest three-model portfolio, the HS competes in a tough market dominated by big names such as the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.
A chrome-smothered design makes a solid style statement, even if it appears to have some Mazda and Mercedes-Benz influence.
Despite stepping into the ring with the big boys, the HS starts with a slender model line-up, for now at least. There are three models — Vibe, Excite and Essence — stepping up in price from the $30,990 drive-away kick-off to the $38,990 flagship.
The Excite we’ve tested here lands towards the lower end of the mid-sized SUV segment, at $34,790 drive-away. If you want a colour other than white add $700 to that.
All come with a 1.5-litre turbo driving the front wheels. An all-wheel drive HS with a 2.0litre engine is due early in 2021.
Standard fare includes smart key entry, dual-zone ventilation, electric tailgate, 18-inch alloys and a pretty convincing imitation of leather.
There’s also a 10.1-inch touchscreen incorporating navigation and Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto connectivity, as well as a quartet of USB ports to keep gadgets charged.
The seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty is a plus, outdoing all but Kia. But servicing is required every 10,000km, so many will need attention sooner than the usual 12month intervals.
The leather may be fake but it looks the business and is backed up with perforated finishes on the dash and steering wheel as well as some classy metal highlights. Combined with some red stitching and a two-tone trim (with a lighter roof lining), the interior is as visually convincing as the exterior. Front seats also look classy, but they’re a fraction high and lack lateral support, a rare blemish.
There’s a covered console and plentiful storage for odds and ends, while rear seat occupants are well accommodated with decent leg and head room.
The boot floor is flat but quite high, with storage compartments beneath to keep smaller items separated.
Previous MGs have lacked on the safety front but the HS addresses those issues with a fivestar ANCAP rating. Full-speed autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection heads the suite of active safety gear, which also includes blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, speed-sign recognition and lane departure warning.
Skiers and the mildly adventurous may be disappointed with the lack of an all-wheel drive option on the HS. The front-drive set up is fine for around town, save for some mild tugging at the steering wheel when powering out of tight bends or intersections.
Blame that on the 250Nm of torque that starts swelling well below its 4400rpm peak.
In regular driving it’s the most useful attribute of the 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and doesn’t show up the mild coarseness at higher revs. Acceleration is hearty and it holds pace nicely up hills.
Fuel use is a claimed 7.3 litres per 100km. That’s thoroughly respectable, although expect more in everyday motoring and be warned, it requires more expensive premium unleaded. The seven-speed twin-clutch auto shifts cleanly for the most part, although it can be clumsy at times, occasionally hesitating when taking off from standstill.
The bright red Super Sport button on the steering wheel kicks it down a gear or two and sharpens the throttle — as well as changing the ambient lighting from green to red — but it’s a tad too touchy around town.
Riding on relatively low profile 18-inch Michelin tyres, the HS can be a little firm at low speeds but the ride improves as you gather pace. It’s hushed enough and responds faithfully to steering inputs, although it feels oddly weighted initially when you tip it into corners.
The most frustrating part of the MG is its intrusive driver-assist tech, particularly the lane-keep assist. There’s a constant stream of warning chimes pestering you over anything from an open door to a lane change. There’s no point having such features if all they do is encourage you to switch them off.
And while mid-sized SUVs aren’t chosen for heavy duty towing, the HS can’t even take a box trailer because it’s not certified for towing.
It looks the business, comes loaded with kit and addresses many previous concerns with MG.
Can I really live with those constant audible warnings? And the driving experience isn’t quite as convincing as the segment leaders.
Seven-year warranty is a winner and an elegant and functional interior reinforces the value. The 2.0-litre engine needs winding up.
The mid-sized SUV benchmark delivers a classy and comfortable driving experience.
The HS is the most convincing of the modern MGs, nailing the tug-at-the-heartstrings stuff but losing lustre the deeper you dig.