MG HS 2020 Review

The 2020 MG HS mid-size SUV is bigger than the ZS and replaces the GS. Which won’t mean a lot to most people who have yet to see an MG SUV, let alone sit in or own one.

But the new HS has the potential to significantly widen the recognition and appeal of the Chinese-based brand Down Under.

The new five-seater is the biggest SUV from MG yet – and it’s right-sized to compete in arguably Australia’s most hard-fought new-vehicle segment: medium SUVs.

There, the likes of Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 command the lion’s share of sales. MG is realistic about its chances of stealing customers from those top-sellers, but it’s keen to nip at the heals of many of the other cars that generate decent volumes in that part of the marketplace.

In the last three years, the marque has grown its footprint significantly in Australia. Wholly factory-owned and operated, the MG Motor Australia operation broke into the Aussie top-20 in 2019, when it delivered more than 8300 vehicles.

That’s more than brands like Jeep, Skoda and Volvo – and more than Peugeot, Citroen and MINI put together.

It’s hungry for growth but talks a solid game in terms of dealer profitability and long-term customer satisfaction. The arrival of the 2020 MG HS is a step change, insiders say, and given the segment’s popularity it should cement a place as the marque’s best-selling model.

To set the MG HS up to succed, MG Motor Australia has landed it packed to the gunwales with standard equipment and, for the time being at least, limited the choice to one mechanical spec in just two aggressively priced model grades.

Offered in front-drive, seven-speed auto guise only and powered by a 119kW/250Nm turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, the 2020 MG HS starts from just $30,990 drive-away.

That buys you the entry-level Vibe variant, with the high-spec Excite version priced just $3000 higher.

Even at base grade the new 2020 MG HS comes equipped with the brand’s full MG Pilot active safety suite. This system includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with cyclist and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist with steering input, plus lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign recognition, automated speed regulation, automatic high-beam, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.

To the best of my knowledge, it’s the first SUV in this price segment to deliver such a comprehensive safety offer. And it’s made all the more impressive by the fact the 2020 MG HS has also been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating – assessed against the most recent protocols.

Detailed scoring based on Euro NCAP testing was 92% adult, 83% child, 64% VRUP and 77% safety assist. For the record ENCAP stated: “MG HS scored well, yet concerns were noted for chest protection of the driver in the oblique pole test and head protection for older children in the side impact test.”

The MG HS Vibe also comes equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels with Maxis Bravo 215/60 R17 rubber, LED daytime running lights and tail-lights, fog lights, a 10.1-inch centre touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four USB ports (two in the front row, two in the second row), keyless entry and start, leather-accented trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The cabin itself also features soft-trimmed dash and instrument binnacle and a combination analogue and digital instrument package. A space-saver spare tyre is standard on all variants.

The Excite model adds dual-zone climate control, 18-inch alloys with Michelin 235/50 R18 tyres, LED headlights with dynamic indicators, puddle lights, rain-sensing wipers, native sat-nav and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

There’s also a sport driving mode (via an Alfa Romeo-style steering wheel button) which MG says sharpens the car’s key controls.

Family buyers will likely appreciate the power tailgate – yes, at less than $34K drive-away. Odd exclusions on both models is the lack of any electric seat adjustment or seat heating or cooling. Digital radio is also absent.

One more serious fly in the ointment for many, however, may be shorter than average service intervals – 10,000km or 12 months is mandated.

MG Motor Australia say it is still working its way through the option of capped-price servicing packages (or similar) but delivering peace of mind to early(ish) adopters is the fact all HS models are backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and seven years of roadside assist. The MG Australia network currently comprises 50 dealers.

The underpinnings of the MG HS are very much par for the segment. Front-drive only (at this time), the HS’s plaform features conventional MacPherson strut front and multi-link independent rear suspension. Brakes are by four-wheel disc.

Against the tape measure the 2020 MG HS Vibe and Excite also seem to sit in a sweet spot – at least compared to the big players in the medium SUV segment.

At 4574mm long overall, the HS is longer than the Mazda CX-5 (4550mm) but shorter than both the Nissan X-TRAIL (4690) and Toyota RAV4 (4600).

However, as is evident in the generous rear-seat room of the newcomer, the MG sits on the longest wheelbase of the quartet – 2722mm versus 2700, 2705 and 2690 for the Mazda, Nissan and Toyota respectively.

On paper there’s a slight handcap in terms of boot room for the MG compared to the Mazda. That said, a quick glance indicates there’s enough room to keep most buyers happy.

The MG HS’s front seats offer decent support and the tilt and telescopic steering wheel delivers a decent driving position for most. Even behind a 180cm driver there’s plenty of legroom in the rear. A tick for the addition of a proper left-leg footrest for the driver.

Cabin ergonomics are decent too. The steering wheel is from the Volkswagen GTI playbook and the multi-function switchgear on the wheel looks like it’s lifted straight from a Golf 6. Interesting given SAIC, MG’s parent company, long-time partnership with the German giant.

The MG HS’s high-res 10.1-inch centre screen has good clarity but in conjunction with the centre-stack located piano-key style interface, it has some way to go to match the best out there. There’s some flawed logic to how the various functions are accessed and the system is at times slow to respond to inputs.

The mixture of piano key buttons and touch-screen functionality is not the easiest to get your head around at first and there are odd omissions – for instance there’s no piano key control ‘home’ button for the native navigation on the Excite model.

Rear-seat occupants get centre-console air-vents and two USBs. The second row centre armrest features similar brightwork panels as the front centre console.

On the road, the 2020 MG HS is competent and capable. It’s perhaps not the 100 per cent polished performer that a Mazda CX-5 or Hyundai Tucson is, but it’s far from the sub-standard fare Chinese brands served up not so long ago.

There are areas that are prime for improvement. The dual-clutch transmission can be a little harsh at times and manages to combine tardiness off the mark with a propensity to at first hold gears and then hunt a little.

These characteristics are not helped by the 1.5-litre engine’s turbo lag and occasional throttle flare on gear changes.

But these negatives are offset by fact the turbo four is pleasantly powerful when into its stride and quite torquey. It’s also far from the noisiest powertrain in the segment.

Indeed, by some measures I’d rather this combination than the droney, flat delivery of the Nissan X-TRAIL atmo four-cylinder and its CVT transmission.

It’s in this powertrain department that the MG HS could benefit from some of the fine-tuning and careful calibration that is the bread and butter of ‘established’ engineering teams. In the case of the MG HS, it’s 95 per cent of the way there – but the missing five per cent highlights just how spoiled we are in terms of the polish of today’s mainstream models.

We experienced a few minor calibration issues also with aspects of the MG Pilot suite – most noticeably the adaptive cruise control which tended to hunt up and down a little while initially settling into a new speed.

Suspension characteristics of the MG are similarly close but still in need of finishing touches.

The ride of the MG HS is pleasantly supple and the overall refinement is good. As the bumps and cambers get a little more challenging, however, the overall performance falls off a little.

There’s a brittleness to the way the car copes with multiple bumps and bigger road irregularities, which could pretty easily be ironed out with a little more attention and was noticeable to driver and passenger alike.

On the positive side of the ledger, steering loads and precision are both good and the car feels confidence inspiring and relaxing to drive in most conditions.

This SUV is commendably quiet too – in terms of road and wind noise suppression. Indeed, even the base model MG HS’s cabin environment has a resolved feeling that belies its attractive pricing.

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. At the very least…

If you are focussed on dynamics and that last few percentage points of refinement and overall polish, then the MG HS will not push all of your buttons.

If you’re, however, after a roomy and comfortable mid-sizer and value a sharp purchase price and bang for bucks in terms of equipment, then perhaps this is a detour you’re willing to take.

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.

How much does the 2020 MG HS cost?
Price: $30,990 drive-away ($33,990 for Excite)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder
Output: 119kW/250Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.3L/100km (NEDC)
CO2: 170g/km (NEDC)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)