MG’s mid-spec family SUV is the Excite and this petrol front-drive medium SUV has its sights set on the GWM Haval H6 and Mazda CX-5.
For $3000 more than the base Vibe you get a few extra goodies, such as 19-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree camera system, navigation with digital cluster integration, fog lights and MG’s iSmart connectivity.
It’s otherwise unchanged for specification, with a six-way power driver’s seat and four-way manual passengers seat. And while the perforated synthetic leather upholstery is easier to clean than cloth, it’s also hot and sticky in the Australian sun.
All HS variants (until early next year) pack a new and much-refined 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder developing 125kW and 275Nm. The surprise highlight is the slick seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which drives the front wheels and performs better than Kia and Hyundai’s efforts.
Explore the 2024 MG HS Range
The drive is smooth enough with compliant suspension and decent body control. The well-weighted steering and good visibility make it a perfectly able companion in the suburbs.
The improvements continue inside with influence from MG’s latest products, including the excellent MG4 electric hatch.
The HS has twin 12.3-inch screens that are high resolution but the centre multimedia screen can be a little tardy to respond to touch commands. This mid-sizer also lacks USB-C charge ports.
Extra size — specifically, the 45mm longer wheelbase and 14mm wider body — pay dividends in the second row where the HS has ample room, even for those over 180cm. Three ISOFIX ports and three top tether anchors are included as are soft-touch door tops.
The flat load bay provides 507L of storage space with a temporary spare tyre beneath the boot floor.
While the HS is covered by MG’s leading 10-year/250,000km warranty, it is hamstrung by expensive servicing, costing $2534 over five years.
Like the base Vibe, the Excite has a bulging list of safety features — though the driver-attention monitoring proved annoying — such as seven airbags, front and rear auto emergency braking (AEB) with junction detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control with stop and go.
Independent safety testing bodies, such as ANCAP and Euro NCAP, are yet to evaluate the HS’s safety performance.
With a price tag of $36,990 drive-away the mid-spec MG HS Excite may be dearer than the base car but it is still a smooth, refined drive and remains worlds more affordable than equivalently-specified established names.
