BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Matt Allan takes in the top- spec MG SUV to see how it measures up to the competition in a cut- throat segment

Peop le who seethe MG badge want to know why we’ renot seeing ito na sports car. The simple answer isthat isn’ t where the money is.Look around you and it’ s obvious that the big money is in crossovers and SUVS. that’s why after the 3 hatchback MG set to work on the GS SUV and why its next model will be the XS compact crossover. If MG wants to start building the type of cars it was once famous for, first it needs to make some money and it’ shoping the GS is the way to do it.

MG is another company in the vein of Ssangyong – looking to build the brand up with unfussy, un pretentious vehiclesthat come packed with equipment for relatively little money.

Take, for example, the entry l eve lG S Excite which starts at £15,095. That’ s around the price of a Nissan Juke or RenaultCa pt ur but £4,000 cheaperthan aQashqai or Kadjar despite it being in the same class as the latter two.

The top- of- the- range Exclusive model we drove weighed in at £19,595. That’ s just £ 300 more than a base - spec Qashqaiand £200 cheaper than an entry-level Kadjar.

For your money you get all the sorts of gadgets you’ d expectfrom a rangetop ping C-segment SUV. 18- inch alloys; eight-inch touch screen with DAB, Mirrorlink and sat nav; LED running and tail lights; auto lighting and wipers; parking camera and sensors; heated electrically- adjustable leather seats; reclining rear seats and the full Scrabble board of safety acronyms.

It’ s a strong high-value offering, even if more expensive rivals offer more of the very latest in safety and convenience technology.

As is perhaps to be expected the GS isn’t a flashy car. It doesn’t look obviously budget but neither does it do much to stand out from the crowd.

Inside it isn’ t showy or innovative but there’ s not much wrong withit either. The material quality is what you’d expectfor a carat the cheaper end of the segment. It’s not stellar but nor is obviously bargain- basement. The driving position is too highset but the seats are comfortable and around you the cabin layout is logical and clear. There are a lot of buttons but at least they’re big, clear and easy to use.

Thecabin is also a decent size for a family vehicle. There’ s a lot of space and adjustment for the driver, and passengers front and rear have a good amount of room to spread out. The 483- litre boot is also near the top end for the class.

Underthe bonn et, the GS offers just one engine–a 1.5- litre turbocharged petrol that can be had with either a six-speed manual or sevenspeed automatic gear box. For a car operating at the budget end of the market, the engine is surprisingly smooth and refined. It stays relatively quiet and unobtrusive unless you’ re really thrashingit. It’ s not par tic-ularly potent, though. With 164bhp it’s nippy up to about 40mph but t hen runs out of puff.

Overall, the GS’ s driving experience isn’ t its strongest point. It’ s not going to bother the car-like Seat Ateca, Peugeot 3008 or even the Qashqai. There’ sal ot of leanand not a lot of feel or feedback from the steering. Anyoneexpecting this MG badge - wearer to honour the spirit of its sports car pre decessors will be disappointed buttreat it sensibly and it’ s acceptable, if not involving.

At the end of the day, though, the GS isn’t a car that anyone is buying for edge - ofthe - seat driving. It’s all about thevalue. More expensive rivals feel higher quality, offer more of the latest technologyand have a broader spread of drive trains. But theyare significantly more expensive and the GS doesn’t lookor feel as cheap as the price might suggest.

If you can live with the limited drive trainoffering the GS offers plenty of bang for your buck.

“It’s a strong high- value offering, even if more expensive rivals offer more of the very latest in safety technology”