This is the most affordable second-gen MG HS you can get but it might be the best in the range.
Priced from $33,990 drive-away, the new HS Vibe features metallic paint, dusk-sensing LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, auto wipers, keyless entry and push-button start, tyre pressure monitoring and a six-speaker sound system.
Like the rest of the petrol range, it has a new and much-refined 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder driving the front wheels with 125kW and 275Nm. The surprise highlight is the slick seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that performs better than Kia and Hyundai’s efforts.
Matching the new transmission, the suspension is smooth and compliant. It is not the last word in dynamic performance, but the HS’s well-weighted steering is nice to use.
Inside, the interior design is much-improved with design influence from MG’s latest range of products, including the excellent MG4 electric hatch.
The 12.3-inch screens are high resolution but the centre multimedia screen can be a little tardy to respond. It also lacks USB-C charge ports.
When it comes to creature comforts, the six-speaker sound system is passable and the front driver’s seat is power adjustable in six directions. Unfortunately, the high-set passenger seat has no height adjust.
Although the Vibe lacks seat heating, the pleasant cloth upholstery is preferable as it’s more temperature stable than the Excite and Essence’s plasticky synthetic leather.
The rear seat is especially impressive with stacks of legroom and ample headroom including for those over 180cm. Even in the base Vibe, MG has bothered with soft-touch door tops that both add comfort and help insulate road noise.
There may not be a power tailgate but the flat load bay and 507L boot is plenty spacious. It features a temporary spare tyre below the boot floor.
MG’s servicing is on the dearer side at $2534 over five years but it hits back with a 10-year/250,000km warranty.
Safety doesn’t come at the cost of, well, cost in the HS and the entry grade Vibe is equipped with the full suite, including 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.
The driver-attention monitoring could do with some extra tuning as it was annoying on test but the other aids mostly behaved themselves. Independent safety testing bodies, such as ANCAP and Euro NCAP, are yet to evaluate the HS’s safety performance.
Arguably the litmus test of the range, getting the base model’s features and driving experience correct is a tricky ask for a manufacturer. Truth is, there’s no real need to spend more than $33,990 drive-away on the MG HS.