2021 MG HS X review: All-wheel drive and luxury kit on a budget

This car maker has gone from a little known brand to a top 10 seller in the past year and its latest SUV is a big reason why.

MG is a brand on the rise, it has gone from obscurity to a top 10 selling brand in the past few years as buyers warm to its vehicles’ good looks and strong value. We test out its new top-shelf family SUV.

VALUE

The MG HS is a mid-size SUV similar in size to the popular Toyota RAV4.

Prices start at a headline grabbing $29,990 for the base Core and rise to $47,990 for the plug-in hybrid version.

We are testing the recently added MG HS Essence X, the most expensive petrol version, priced at $42,990 drive-away.

That sounds like a lot of money for an emerging brand that has relied on cheap and cheerful machines, but you’d be hard pressed to find a similar sized SUV this well equipped. A similar spec Mazda CX-5 or Hyundai Tucson will set you back up to $10,000 more.

The MG HS is a good looking ride.

It benefits from the addition of a larger, more powerful 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, sportier dual-clutch auto and all-wheel drive over the 1.5-litre turbo/front-wheel drive set-up of the non X badged HS versions.

The HS is handsomely styled with a crisp design and plenty of flashy touches such as big 18-inch alloy wheels.

There is a 10-inch touchscreen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Navigating the menu takes time and can be distracting. Some touchscreen functions would work better with simple buttons or dials.

MG soothes any reliability worries with a seven-year/unlimited km warranty and roadside assistance. The company is yet to formalise a capped price servicing program.

COMFORT

Passengers are treated to firm but supportive leather wrapped seats with a heating function for the front pair. Visibility is excellent thanks to the high driving position.

The HS X Essence has a long list of standard equipment.

There are plenty of soft-touch surfaces, high gloss highlights and chrome elements throughout the cabin. Build quality seemed to be up to scratch – our test car had no noticeable creaks or rattles. The suspension is reasonably well sorted, soaking up smaller bumps but wallowing sometimes over bigger dips.

Decent insulation keeps road noise and tyre roar to a minimum.

SAFETY

Every HS has a comprehensive range of active driver aids.

The HS will brake automatically if it detects a collision with a car ahead and the lane-keep assist will make sure you don’t wander into other lanes, gently tugging at the steering wheel if you begin to stray. It’ll let you know if there is an object in your blind spot or if another vehicle is approaching as you reverse out of your driveway or parking spot.

The HS presents very well and there were no immediate build quality issues.

DRIVING

There’s room for improvement here. The 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine makes 168kW and 360Nm. They are strong numbers on paper but they fail to translate in the real world.

The six-speed dual-clutch automatic can hold on to gears for too long, leading to excessive revving. The auto feels a bit unrefined and power doesn’t always arrive in a smooth fashion. On the freeway it performs well. It feels solid and planted at speed and is capable of overtaking with little fuss.

The all-wheel drive set-up is a welcome addition and is complemented by grippy Michelin tyres. There is some lean through the twisty sections, but this is a trade off for a more comfortable urban commute.

MG could improve the drive experience and needs to reduce it fuel use substantially.

Fuel use is claimed to be 9.5L/100km. That’s too high and you’ll struggle to hit the number unless you do lots of open road driving.

VERDICT 3/5

The MG HS represents solid value and does a lot of things right, but the drive experience and fuel use leave room for improvement.

ALTERNATIVES

Mazda CX-5 GT Turbo, $49,990 drive-away

Good looks, stunning cabin and punchy turbo engine. More expensive and shorter warranty.

Hyundai Tucson Elite 1.6, from about $47,000 drive-away

Loads of safety kit with a feisty and efficient turbo engine. Polarising looks.

Haval H6 Ultra, $36,990 drive-away

Slightly bigger and much cheaper but not as nice to drive.

MG HS ESSENCE X VITALS

Price: $42,990 drive-away

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol, 168kW/360Nm

Warranty/servicing: 7 year/unlimited km, no capped price servicing

Safety: 6 airbags, auto emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, bird’s eye view camera

Thirst: 9.5L/100km

Cargo: 463 litres