MG HS

Featuring an all-black theme with leather upholstery, the cabin of the MG HS hasn’t been changed much from its pre-facelifted avatar, which is a downer, considering that the cabin has now begun to show its age and has started looking too simple for an SUV of its price. 

However, the cabin of the MG HS is heavily equipped with modern features, including a 12.3-inch full-TFT instrument console behind the flat-bottom multi-functional leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast red stitching, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone automatic climate control and a panoramic sunroof.

The central layer of the dashboard has a soft touch leather finish, while also accommodating sleek-looking AC vents in the centre console, whereas the dashboard corners have rounded AC vents. Other features in the SUV include rear AC vents, an air purifier, a 6-speaker audio system, power front sports seats, sports pedals, and 64-colour ambient lighting.

With this facelifted version, the MG HS manages to distinguish itself more from the smaller and lesser-priced MG ZS available overseas. The changes in design introduced at the front and rear make it look more dynamic than its previous iteration. The HS was one of the first products to adapt MG’s new-generation design language, which was later introduced in more new models.

At the front, the MG HS has a swooping front grille with curved and vertically-laid chrome slats and also gets chrome surrounds for a more premium appearance. The bird’s eye-shaped all-LED headlamps, which are also armed with LED DRLs, are accompanied by scoop-shaped faux air dams with LED fog lamps on the front bumper corners. 

The side profile of this facelifted version of the MG HS looks not so different from the pre-facelifted version. The SUV crossover now gets a new design for the 17-inch machined alloy wheels. The rear profile has also been tweaked with new LED inserts for the sleek tail lamps laid horizontally. The MG HS also has a satin chrome finish for the roof rails, exhaust port surrounds, lower door panel garnish, and front splitter.

Available as a front-wheel drive compact SUV crossover, the MG HS has Macpherson struts at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear, both of which get stabilizers for eliminating body roll and maintaining composure at higher speeds. The suspension has been tuned to deliver a supple ride quality, with the MG HS capable of handling even bigger bumps comfortably. For a more engaging driving experience, there are five drive modes on offer – Eco, Normal, Sport, Super Sport, and Custom- which are selectable via a drive mode button on the lower centre console.

MG is offering the HS in Malaysia with a single powertrain combination as standard – a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This engine produces 160 bhp of maximum power and 250 Nm of maximum torque. While this engine impresses with its refinement levels and performance at higher RPMs, there is a minor turbo lag at lower RPMs, which dilutes its low-speed performance. 

The MG HS is loaded with a bunch of safety features, which include essentials like six airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, hill start assist, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera, and tyre pressure monitoring system. The MG Pilot suite of ADAS features on offer consists of front collision warning, lane departure warning, and prevention, traffic jam assist, blind spot monitoring, lane change assist, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, and door opening warning.

With subtle updates to the exterior styling and all the in-trend comfort and convenience features one expects from an SUV in terms of its price, the MG HS is a good compact SUV crossover that justifies its price points.