Driven: MG GS crossover rolls in
MG Motor has released its first SUV in Australia, with the GS featuring keen driveaway pricing for its first few weeks on sale, as well as a spacious cabin, two turbo powertrain choices and a competitive list of standard features.
Initially kicking off from $22,990 driveaway for the base Vivid in manual-only, front-wheel-drive, five-seater guise, the offer is valid until the end of May, when it rises to $23,990 plus on-road costs, according to MG Motor Australia general manager Zhu Chao.
“It is a special price to help promote the car in Australia,” he said. “After that the price will not be driveaway.”
MG Motor will remain an eastern seaboard proposition for the time being, with only Sydney’s inner west, Brisbane’s inner north and Coffs Harbour scoring a dealership, although another retail site is planned for Melbourne by the end of this year.
Further up the GS range, the midspec Core automatic starts from $25,990 plus on-roads, adding a dual-clutch transmission as well as a rearview camera, climate control, an improved audio system, a 6.0-inch touchscreen and 17-inch wheels.
However, no AEB Autonomous Emergency Braking is in the pipeline for any variant in the foreseeable future, while the lack of audible rear seatbelt reminders means the GS rates only four out of five ANCAP stars.
The four-variant model range also extends to the Soul auto from $27,990 plus on-road costs, which introduces an 8.0-inch touchscreen, satellite navigation, leather trim, driver’s seat lumbar adjustment, front foglights, rainsensing wipers and 18-inch alloys.
MG Motor parent company SAIC Motor Corporation Limited has high hopes for the $34,990 Essence X, since its four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine grows from 1.5 to 2.0-litres, and it also gains all-wheel drive, hill descent control and anti rollover tech, paddle shifters, Xenon headlights and a sunroof.
MG Motor cites models larger than the CX-3, such as the Honda HR-V, Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson, as the GS’S main targets, pointing to generous rear-seat packaging – that includes central air vents from Core upwards as well as reclining backrests – and a 483-litre luggage capacity.
The GS is powered by a choice of two new-generation Euro five emissions-rated four-cylinder direct-injection petrol engines.
All front-drive models are powered by a 1.5-litre turbo ‘Cube Tec’ engine, pumping out 119kw of power at 5600rpm and 250Nm of 4500rpm.
Mated to the six-speed manual in the 1420kg Vivid, it returns 7.3 litres -100km on the combined cycle, or 0.1L-100km more with the in-house seven-speed dual-clutch that pushes the front-drive GS’ weight up another 40kg.
Moving to the Essence X AWD, an Saic-designed, Opel-tuned 2.0-litre twin-cammer steps in, delivering 162kw at 5300rpm and a hefty 350Nm at 4500rpm.
Driving the front wheels via a sixspeed dual-clutch, it averages 9.6L100km, partly reflecting this variant’s substantial 1642kg kerb weight.
Like the Qashqai, the GS employs a multi-link rear suspension system, joining the CX-3 AWD’S de Dion and C-HR’S double wishbone back axles in breaking away from the torsion beam norm of most small SUVS, although the front falls in line with a pseudo Macpherson strut arrangement.
Steering is via an electric rack and pinion design, while all four wheels employ discs for brakes.
On the safety front AEB and other semi-autonomous driving tech are not offered, but all versions feature electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, cornering brake control, emergency brake assist, six airbags including full-width curtain head protection, LED daytime driving lights and rear parking sensors.