What's the difference?
While the Mitsubishi ASX has long established itself as a compact SUV fan-favourite, its rivals are becoming better specified and even more affordable, like the Kia Seltos, GWM Haval Jolion and MG ZST.
There's a long-running joke that the Mitsubishi ASX is the oldest 'new car' on the market with technology that hasn't had a makeover in close to a decade.
Is the cool new Street package for the ES base model enough to lift its competitive edge?
MG is gaining popularity at a rock star rate with more and more popping up on our city streets. But what does this mean? Are they any good, or are they just affordable and great looking?
Well, we’ve tested the MG HS, which is the brand’s mid-sized SUV, in the Excite grade which sits high in the range.
Our car also had the less powerful of two engines available – the 1.5-litre four-cylinder with front-wheel drive.
So, is the MG HS Excite a good urban car? Read on to find out.
The Mitsubishi ASX ES Street can more than handle being an urban dweller. The Street style pack makes this model stand out and the cabin is practical enough that it’s a good alternative for smaller families in the city. I get why the ASX is popular and I like the basic and traditional nature of this model on most fronts but not for the safety and tech. Not in this day and age against all of the well-equipped rivals it faces.
The MG HS Excite has beautiful styling with a premium look. It’s loaded with advanced safety tech and is better value than rivals such as the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 (which demand more money for similar equipment).
There are weaknesses. The driving experience isn’t as good as those rivals and the quality in-car feel of these competitors exceeds that of the MG.
The HS Excite is a good choice for an urban car. It’s not too big, but offers excellent practicality, and there’s great city safety tech, even if the AEB in my test car got a bit confused.
Only the jerky transmission and the fuel economy stops it from being a great urban car.
There is a plug-in hybrid version of the HS. Sure, it’s more expensive, but it’s one of the most affordable electric vehicles in Australia, and my colleague Tom White covers it in his range review.