All-new MG HS SUV launched

The all-new MG HS SUV has been launched. It features a new petrol engine, plenty of equipment and a seven-year warranty to help it to compete in the overcrowded family SUV class. Established rivals include the SEAT Ateca, Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar, but the MG’s relatively low starting price of £17,995 should tempt some buyers away from the competition.

The HS borrows some styling cues from the smaller ZS, including the headlights and starry grille. The windows are fairly large, which should help the interior feel airy, and the window-line rises up towards the tailgate. There are a number of typically SUV touches, including black body cladding and silver-painted bumper inserts that are styled to look like an SUV’s scuff plates.

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MG has used plenty of soft-touch materials inside the HS, and it should be the most upmarket interior the brand has ever produced. Other tactile elements include piano-key switches and turbine-style air vents, and all cars get a large 10.1-inch colour touchscreen. The rear seats can recline through two positions; those in the back also get air vents, USB ports and a fold-out armrest with storage and cupholders.

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Starting from £17,995, the entry-level Explore trim gets 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, cruise control, air conditioning, faux leather upholstery and heated folding door mirrors. That compares well with most of its rivals, which all cost above £20,000 for an equivalent model.

Mid-range Excite gets 18-inch alloys, DAB radio, sat nav, a reversing camera and auto wipers, and costs from £20,495. Stepping up to the top-spec Exclusive model, from £22,995, means you also get leather upholstery, heated electric sports-style front seats, two-zone climate control, LED headlights and a panoramic sunroof. If you choose the dual-clutch automatic gearbox (available on Excite and Exclusive for £1,500), traffic jam assist and adaptive cruise control are included, plus metal pedals, driving modes and a powered tailgate on the Exclusive model.

All versions get the MG Pilot driver assistance pack as standard. The list of safety kit is extensive, including emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, high-beam assist and hill descent control.

One engine is available from launch: a 160bhp turbocharged petrol engine. It gets the car from 0-62mph in a reasonable 9.9 seconds and continues on to a top speed of 118mph. MG claims it will return up to 37.2mpg. A six-speed manual is standard but there’s an optional DCT automatic gearbox that returns 36.2mpg. Achieving these economy figures results in a range of over 400 miles on a tank of fuel. Even without all-wheel-drive, the HS can tow a maximum braked weight of 1,750kg.

Read our reviews of the MG ZS and MG3 to see what we think of the other cars in the MG range.