MG HS 2024 review

The 2024 MG HS Vibe is the entry-level offering within the new three-pronged portfolio, starting from a very competitive $33,990 drive-away.

For that money you’re presented with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, manual air-conditioning, keyless entry and start, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with matching infotainment screen, smartphone mirroring, a six-speaker sound system, reversing camera, power-adjustable driver’s seat, fabric upholstery, adaptive cruise control and the latest iteration of the MG Pilot safety suite.

Fussy buyers might rue the absence of climate control and native sat-nav, but the new HS only costs $1000 more than its predecessor and rides on an all-new platform. It is powered by a re-engineered 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine (125kW/275Nm) also, and features an all-new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Sweetening the deal further is the backing of a 10-year/250,000km factory warranty. The new model is significantly larger too, measuring 4655mm long (+81mm), 1890mm wide (+14mm), 1655mm tall and 2765mm between the axles (+45mm). The net result is a heap of extra room inside the cabin and some marked improvements in cargo capacity: 507 litres (+44L) behind the rear seats which expands to 1484 litres (+197L) when the second row is folded flat.

ANCAP is yet to crash test the new HS, but MG Australia executives are confident of a five-star rating when the safety authority gets around to it.

There’s no getting around that asking price. Less than $34,000 all-in for any brand-new medium SUV is a steal, let alone an SUV with this level of specification and backed by the very generous 10-year warranty.

And it’s not as if the whole thing’s held together with sticky tape; the 2024 MG HS is solidly built and feels just as good inside the cabin as the segment-leaders, with no obvious quality issues like rattles, squeaks, creaks or overly flexy materials in evidence.

The HS Vibe’s fabric-lined seats are comfortable and there’s plenty of adjustment to the driving position via both the seat and steering wheel – perhaps more so than some of the segment leaders.

Both the 12.3-inch displays offer crisp graphics, respond quickly to inputs and are relatively easy to navigate.

MG said it was hoping to deliver a “Euro-like” drive experience with the new HS, and in some ways it has succeeded, but there’s also still some work to be done.

Highlights include the previously mentioned build quality and the new powertrain; the latter being both stronger and more refined than the previous iteration, with special praise going to the new wet-clutch transmission, which is light years ahead of the old dry-clutch set-up.

At no point during our inner Sydney test drive did it stutter, lurch, hesitate or groan in the usual dual-clutch fashion, even when parallel parking or creeping forward in slow-moving traffic.

Visibility out of the cabin is on par for the segment, the steering is well-waited and accurate, and the brakes feel solid.

There’s one main shortcoming of the new 2024 MG HS and a couple of smaller niggles. Let’s start with the chief issue, the suspension.

It’s noticeably better than the old model but still lacks the overall polish and sophistication of the Kia Sportage or Honda CR-V in being crashy and firm over smaller bumps like surface changes, expansion joints and tram tracks.

Things improve at cruising speeds and it’s by no means offensive, but the rest of the package is so refined that this chink in the armour stands out.

As for the smaller gripes, the driver monitoring and lane departure warning systems sound almost identical – and the former chimes every time you tweak the infotainment system, check your mirrors, do a shoulder check, look for oncoming vehicles, adjust your air vents or do anything else other than look straight ahead.

Chinese manufacturers are seemingly obsessed with stashing the HVAC controls within the infotainment system and not providing a physical shortcut button to bypass the mass of clicks needed to find them if you’re not on the home screen.

The HS for instance has on/off and demister buttons on the dash but nothing to alter the fan speed or temperature – the two most-used features of any air-conditioning or climate control system.

One other small detail that may disappoint is the engine’s mandatory diet of 95RON premium unleaded.

This is nothing new for small-capacity European offerings but earns the HS a minor mark against its name, given turbocharged Asian rivals like the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and Haval H6 all run on 91RON and make more power.

If you’re after a new medium SUV but don’t want to spend in excess of $40,000 then the new 2024 MG HS is a very compelling option, particularly the entry-level Vibe variant.

It costs significantly less than its big-name Kia, Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Mitsubishi counterparts while offering heaps more gear, comparable build quality, a very agreeable driving experience and an industry-leading aftersales program.

Its shortcomings are not deal breakers in an increasingly diverse segment and are easily forgiven when the $33,990 drive-away price tag and excellent warranty are factored in.

The dual-clutch transmission, interior fit and finish and all-round space are particular high points, and it wouldn’t take much to rectify the flaws.

MG proved with the MG4 it meant business and was getting its act together on its way to becoming a major player in western markets; the latest HS serves as the next chapter of that journey, a journey primed to be even more intriguing when the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions arrive next year.

2024 MG HS Vibe at a glance:
Price: $33,990 drive-away
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 125kW/275Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 6.6L/100km
CO2: 156g/km
Safety rating: Not rated

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