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The HS is Chinese brand MG’s entry into one of Australia’s most competitive new car segments, the mid-size SUV market
Having only launched here in 2020, it’s already a popular option with one in 20 new mid-size SUVs bought in the sub-$60,000 segment being an MG HS.
While it generally aims to undercut established rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 with a lower price, it still has some relatively well-equipped variants, an option of 1.5- or 2.0-litre petrol engines, and even a plug-in hybrid variant.
The line-up currently starts at $33,990 for the HS Vibe and ranges through to $40,990 for the range-topping HS Essence.
With new design language from the MG4 hatch, the latest HS is much slicker in its presentation.
There are far more soft touch materials than you might expect for the price, including on the dash-top, door cards and as padding where the driver and passenger rest their knees.
It is a lot more insulated than the car it replaces helping to reduce stress when on the road.
The default purchase for somebody looking for a mid-sized hybrid SUV is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. But if that’s too big, there’s the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid, C-HR Hybrid and even the Corolla Cross Hybrid which sounds like the marketplace is getting crowded but is really just a reflection of the appetite right now for cars like these. And that’s the catch; the waiting times for a brand-new example of some of these cars is out to many months and even years. So your plan to shop second-hand makes plenty of sense, but don’t expect any bargains in a market currently being dominated by lots of demand and less supply.
Beyond the Toyota brand (which has been doing hybrids longer than just about anybody else) there’s also the Mazda CX-30, Subaru XV Hybrid, Haval Jolion Hybrid, Kia Niro, Subaru Forester Hybrid, Nissan Qashqai e-Power, MG HS, Honda HR-V e and more. For something a bit bigger, try the Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe hybrids. There are others out there, too, that are probably bigger or more expensive than you need, but it's very much a growing scene in the Australian marketplace.
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The MG HS comes standard with metallic paint, dusk-sensing LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, auto wipers, keyless entry and push-button start, tyre pressure monitoring, a six-speaker sound system, nice cloth upholstery and six-way power adjust driver’s seat are standard.
Optional extras include 19-inch alloy wheels, perforated synthetic leather upholstery, navigation, fog lights and MG’s 'iSmart' connectivity system on the mid-spec Excite.
A fully-loaded HS adds panoramic sunroof, rear privacy class, a power tailgate, front parking sensors, wireless phone charging, eight-speaker audio, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat with memory, seat heating and wireless phone charging to the mix.
The MG HS’s boot is about average for the class measuring 507 litres. A power tailgate is standard on upper trims and there is only one boot light with no shopping bag hooks.
The space grows to 1484L with the 60/40 backrest folded and there are two netted cubbies, some additional compartmented storage beneath the boot floor and a temporary space-saver spare tyre.
The MG HS petrol uses a new 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder developing 125kW at 5000rpm and 275Nm between 3000-4000rpm.
It is hooked up to a slick seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
There are two hybrid variants available, too, with a punchy revised plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and regular plugless hybrid on offer.
The MG HS has comfortable and supportive seats. All variants have at least six-way power-adjust for the driver and manual passenger settings. A tilting/telescoping wheel adjustment makes it easy to find a comfortable driving position.
Cloth upholstery is standard while up-spec variants feature synthetic leather upholstery and the range-topping Essence even gets a tan colour option.
The rear seat is spacious for those up to and above 180cm tall. An optional panoramic sunroof brings light in and soft-touch door plastics are standard across the range — a rare win at this price.
The MG HS petrol can sprint from 0-100km/h in 9.6 seconds (claimed).
MG does not publish a top speed for the HS but it is at least 160km/h.
In the ADR combined fuel efficiency cycle, the MG HS petrol is rated at 6.9L/100km, emitting 156 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
A 55-litre fuel tank gives the HS petrol a theoretical driving range of around 800km and it requires 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.