The Vibe is the lower-mid grade of the MG HS mid-size SUV range, wearing a drive-away price of $31,990.
Like the entry-level Core, it is available only as a front-wheel drive auto, sporting the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine (119kW/250Nm) mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The Vibe has an official combined fuel consumption figure of 7.3L/100km, although in our weekly test of the Core we scored an as-tested figure of 9.5L/100km. All HS variants require mid-grade 95RON unleaded fuel.
Explore the 2021 MG HS range
The Vibe shares the same basic equipment as the entry-level core, with a 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, 17-inch alloy wheels, a semi-digital dash cluster, and halogen headlights with LED DRLs. On top of that, the Vibe scores keyless entry to go with its push-start ignition, synthetic leather interior trim and steering wheel, electrically auto-folding wing mirrors and a set of roof rails.
The Vibe maintains the full active safety suite including freeway-speed auto emergency braking, which works up to 150km/h and detects pedestrians at up to 64km/h, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, auto high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist.
Like the Core below it, the Vibe has ample room in the front and rear for both passengers and storage despite an unusually high seating position. The boot is capable of consuming 451-litres (VDA), which is at the lower end of the mid-size SUV segment and scores a space saver spare under the boot floor.
The Vibe is covered by a seven-year and unlimited-kilometre warranty, although capped-price servicing had not been locked in at the time of writing.