MG HS SUV announced with sharp pricing

The cynic in me is still wary of MG, probably because I wasn’t at all impressed with its early product. Back in April 2017 I was taken to the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) in Victoria to drive the MG GS, a small SUV. I wasn’t exactly blown away by that effort, but at the time I did conclude with “But look at how far South Korean cars have come, I have no doubt cars like the MG GS will one day be a far more accomplished vehicle.”

Plus, that’s the other issue, many still think MG is still a British sports car maker. In fact, it’s now owned by Chinese giant SAIC, making SUV’s and even has an EV on the way.

Now we have news today that MG has unveiled the all-new MG HS in Australia. This is a Mazda CX-5 competitor and also looks like one! Throw in the Toyota RAV4 for good measure as well.

Pricing is sharp starting at $30,990 driveaway. The MG HS arrives with two trim levels, the Vibe and Excite, the latter $33,990 driveway.

MG has gone for a premium, sophisticated and dare I say European look. The HS is said to have a high degree of standard equipment, including MG Pilot that is a driver assistance package.

MG is not hiding behind a weak warranty, going all out with a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty with seven-year roadside assistance, which is exceptional for any brand.

Peter Ciao, CEO, MG Motor Australia and New Zealand, said: “With the all new MG HS, we have put the very best of MG into an SUV. Stylish, sporty and savvy, the MG HS will have broad appeal to customers who are seeking premium features and design at an attainable price point.

“Packed with high quality materials, leather-style seats and with soft touch finishes throughout, there is a richness to the MG HS that we strongly believe resets the definition of premium value in the core SUV segment. Notably, with the MG Pilot suite of high-tech driver aids coming as standard, the MG HS provides a quality driving experience with measured performance and driver assistance.

“We’re very excited about the potential that the MG HS provides to our local business and our dealers are confident of the appeal of this new model. As we continue to build trust in the market, we look forward to seeing the MG HS on local roads soon.”

A 1.5L turbocharged engine is matched to a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission producing 124kW and 250Nm of torque. There’s a sports mode and even paddle shifters on the Excite.

Technology levels are solid with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard.

The 10.1-inch touchscreen is large by today’s standards while a digital dashboard, with navigation is available on the Excite model.

MG Pilot adds safety features such as Active Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Intelligent Headlight Control, Traffic Jam Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Detection and Door Opening Warning.