IT’S goodbye to the GS and hello to the HS over at MG Motor Australia, as the company unveiled in its brand new 2020 MG HS SUV in Sydney today, the occasion also marking the official unveiling of its Sydney City MG dealership.
Bigger in every way than the model it replaces, the HS range starts at $30,990 drive away, and is the first local model to be equipped with the MG Pilot driver assistance suite, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
MG Pilot adds adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, auto high beam and speed assist; a new system designed to keep the car under the speed limit.
Other safety features include traffic jam assist, brake disc wiping, a carpet airbag in the floor, ABS, and a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines and audible parking sensors.
Available in two variants, the Vibe and Excite, the new model features a very European design aesthetic, and a quality feel throughout the cabin. There’s even plenty of leg and head room in the back.
Offered with a 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty and roadside assist for the entire warranty period, the good looking SUV could well change people’s perceptions of the now Chinese owned brand.
“We’re not just launching a new model, we’re redefining the MG brand,” product design manager Akshat Ahuja said at the launch event, the significance of the location (as the spiritual home of the original MG brand in Australia) not lost on the attendees.
A long list of standard features makes the Vibe the perfect entry level mid-sized SUV, while the Excite variant offers some added extras too, including a red Super Sport button that when pressed, increases throttle response and rpm, and enhances the steering.
The Vibe rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, with the Excite sitting atop 18-inch wheels. Externally the two offerings are in fact, very similar, with full LED lighting, paddle shifters and SatNav among the add-ons for the Excite.
Both variants are powered by the same 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, featuring multi-point direct injection, and mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. The package delivers maximum power up to 124kW and 250Nm of torque.
Inside, the MG HS features a large 10.1-inch full colour touchscreen infotainment system situated front and centre of the dashboard, while cooling cup holders, push button ignition and key-less entry complete the package.
Multiple USB charging points are available front and rear, while the Excite scores an electric boot lid. Some 423-litres of boot space will feature on the two variants, with split fold rear seats giving way to a total cargo load space of 1,237-litres, when laid flat.
In addition to the standard features across the range, the 2020 MG HS Excite gains welcome lights, trophy badges, dynamic indicators, rain-sensing wipers, and dual zone climate control with a dust filter.
Expect to hit showrooms in December, the 2020 MG HS SUV is priced at $30,990 drive away for the Vibe variant, and $33,990 drive away for the Excite edition.
