1200km range? Say less. We are all-in for this mega range offering from MG, in the form of its Excite Super Hybrid HS SUV. Less time at the bowser, means way more time for fun on the weekends, and that’s a massive positive on savings alone.
The MG HS (tested here in its pre-production form) sports a new look that feels modern and dare we say, suave. Curvy, spacious and simple, it comes in Pearly White Metallic, Cashmere Silver Metallic, Arctic Blue Metallic and Lunar Grey Metallic.
You can opt for Black Pearl Metallic or Diamond Red Metallic as well. Soft touch black surfaces are paired with cloth seats, with the Excite being the base model. It’s here too that you’ll find dual 12.3-inch displays for the instruments and infotainment.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The latter threw up our first issue with this car though, as we were unable to connect to the cord-free version of Apple’s system. Wired connectivity exists, in USB-A form, but the whole scenario felt clunky.
Sure Bluetooth worked, but it’s not an overreach to expect Apple CarPlay in a new car. What is impressive though is the 507-litre boot space in this five-seater, which expands to 1484-litres with the second row dropped.
That’s ample space to easily carry all your family’s gear, groceries, and adventure essentials. The MG HS Excite Super Hybrid pairs a 105kW/230Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with a 154kW/340Nm hybrid traction motor.
That translates into a 220kW/350Nm powertrain, that still feels a little underdone. That said, its 135km NEDC/120km WLTP EV-only range makes up for any shortfalls. On the road, it’s consistent and comfortable.
More importantly, it’s efficient. There are three drive modes, including Comfort, Normal or Sport, and while they don’t offer huge performance differences, they do enhance the range. Regenerative braking in this plug-in hybrid platform can be tailored to suit your needs.
MG claims fuel economy of 0.7-litres/100km, which is outrageous – and we managed to get it as low as 1.9-litres in real world testing. Safety tech is next level, and includes adaptive cruise control, active emergency braking, and lane change and lane keep assist.
You’ll also find lane departure warning, emergency lane keep assist, intelligent cruise assist, blind spot detection, an electric park brake, forward and rear collision warning, rear cross traffic braking and front cross traffic alert.
There’s even a door open warning and tyre pressure monitoring. For those with small humans, there are two ISOFIX and three top tether anchor points. Other safety features include electronic stability control, hill start assist and a pedestrian warning sound.
While most new cars get a bad wrap for the consistently infuriating beeping the MG HS Excite Supe Hybrid wasn’t too bad, and didn’t feel overbearing. Backed by a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, the Excite is priced at $50,990 drive away in NSW.
Charging takes about eight hours on a standard 240v power outlet, but you can also top up at charging stations. It also has vehicle-to-load capability to charge laptops, or when you need power for your campsite, and can tow up to 1500kg – braked.
Backed by a 10-year or 250,000km warranty, which also covers the battery, it’s an impressive, economic vehicle overall. You can find out more about the HS Excite Super Hybrid on the MG Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership.
To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by MG Motor Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle.
