MG HS: Stylish Crossover Competing in the Middle East

The MG HS is a good-looking and feature-packed crossover that competes against the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Mitsubishi ASX in the upcoming Middle East Car of The Year (MECOTY) awards. Given the opportunity to take the HS for a spin one afternoon, we set out to discover what makes it unique and if its attractive price tag is enough to trump its Japanese and Korean rivals.

Exterior

Playing with the brand’s X-Motion concept, the design of the MG HS deserves praise. The protruding hexagonal grille and sleek headlamps give it a bold appearance that is both pleasant to look at and reminiscent of the MG 6 we tested earlier. With a strong focus on sportiness, the HS features:

• 18-inch alloy wheels with red brake calipers
• Distinct sharp creases along its bodywork
• Chrome garnishes
• LED headlamps and tail lamps
• A large diffuser for a strong road presence

Interior

Continuing its dedication to sportiness on the interior, the MG HS boasts a flat-bottom steering wheel featuring a blend of smooth and perforated leather. The cabin design is modern and minimalistic, adorned with brushed metal trim embellishing the center console and a bright, responsive 10.1-inch infotainment screen serving as the central command center.

To enhance the premium feel, MG has utilized soft-touch materials on the dashboard, door panels, and center console. The seats are well-bolstered, resembling those from a German sports car, and are covered in a fine mix of leather and Alcantara. The gear shifter also receives an elegantly embossed MG logo, a feature we didn’t find in the brand’s flagship RX8 SUV we tested earlier.

On the feature front, the HS is packed with comfort, entertainment, and safety features. Noteworthy features include:

• Full-length panoramic roof
• 12.3-inch virtual instrument panel
• Blind spot monitoring
• Lane change assist
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Power adjustable seats for driver and passenger
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Cruise control
• Power tailgate

Drive

The MG HS is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces a robust 231 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque. The top speed reaches 210 km/h, and if driven sensibly, it will return an average of 13 kilometers per liter. Three drive modes are available: Eco, Normal, and Sport, but since the HS positions itself as a sporty SUV, let’s focus on the latter.

Upon entering the driver’s seat, you’ll quickly notice the red Ferrari-style button on the steering wheel. While this button activates ‘Super Sport’ mode in the HS, it adjusts the transmission and ECU mapping, making the HS feel more responsive. You will notice the transformation as it holds onto gears longer and changes the cool blue theme in the instrument cluster to a sporty red.

For mild off-road adventures, the MG HS is equipped with an electronic differential lock and hill descent control. Notably, the model we tested was an All-Wheel Drive variant, allowing the differential lock to split power perfectly 50-50 between the front and rear wheels, rather than having the onboard system decide the power distribution for each wheel.

While the HS is easy and comfortable to drive at city speeds, this does not hold for the Sport and Super Sport modes. With peak power and torque coming in at 5,300 RPM and 4,000 RPM respectively (which is quite high for a turbocharged engine), the HS feels slow to respond when power is needed immediately. After a brief wait for the turbo to spool, it kicks in hard, resulting in a jerky drive overall. Thus, it is best left in Eco and Normal modes.

Verdict

Priced at 79,000 Dirhams, the fully loaded MG HS makes a compelling case for itself. It boasts a stylish design, an abundance of features, and decent driving dynamics. Whether it will attract customers away from the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Mitsubishi ASX remains to be seen.