MG HS 1.5 Turbo Exclusive (A) Review

We know what you're thinking. 

So to be clear, the good-looking, if slightly unimaginative MG HS hasn't received a facelift (at least not the one seen in these pictures), and neither is it brand new. Rather, it's being reintroduced in completely identical form, albeit with a fuller course of safety features in a new Exclusive variant to further raise its already-incredible value. 

Things are, however, no longer as they were when the model first landed in 2020; a quota crunch has pushed COE premiums skywards, while competition in the SUV crowd of today is arguably more cut-throat than before. That also brings us to the question: How has the HS held up? 

Safety check 

Since the HS's new claims of exclusivity are tied entirely to its additional safety systems, that's where we're duty-bound to start. 

Augmenting an already expansive cache of features (including cruise control, blind spot detection, as well as a rear cross traffic alert for enhanced spatial awareness when reversing), the Exclusive variant adds a few substantial extras to put the HS on par with the safety systems offered on more premium cars. These are housed in a new section you'll get to dive into via the infotainment touchscreen. 

With more radars and a roofline-housed camera freshly onboard, the car's cruise control is, firstly, now also adaptive. Additionally, the camera will also help to read road signs on the road to indicate the varying speed limits of different roads to the driver. And last but not least, the HS Exclusive also comes with Lane Keep Assist, within which a Lane Departure Warning System is embedded. 

As for how sophisticated the systems are, our brief experience with operating them was a mixed bag. 

On the one hand, getting the adaptive cruise control to work was pleasantly fuss-free. Activating/deactivating the system is effortless thanks to a separate, dedicated stalk, with which you can also adjust the distance from the vehicle in front of you, and set your desired speed. 

Both braking and acceleration are executed progressively and responsively, giving you the confidence to hand the reins over to the system completely on highways. The sudden cutting in of a motorbike at one point even evinced the alertness of the radars, which slowed the car down without much hesitation. 

The Lane Keep Assist, on the other hand, felt a bit a more temperamental. Make no mistake - your hands have to be on the wheel all the time - but even so, the little nudges provided by the steering wheel to keep the car within its lane weren't the smoothest, and oscillated randomly between over and under-adjustment. 

Another pain point is that unlike the triangles one typically sees on the wing mirrors of other modern cars, the HS relies on bulbs integrated less intuitively into its A-pillars for blind spot warnings. 

Punching above

The rest of the HS is what we've grown familiar with. Gone are the initial feelings of reservation and ambivalence many felt when the HS debuted under the reintroduction of MG as an Anglo-Chinese marque. Instead, appreciation mostly remains for the car's sensibility and surprising quality. 

Although a clunky transmission at lower speeds means that the HS doesn't feel the most eager off the line, its 1.5-litre turbocharged engine - producing 160bhp and 250Nm of torque - redeems itself at higher speeds, where it provides sufficient grunt to pull forward when your right foot so wills. 

What refinement the car may lack at lower speeds, it also more than makes up for in terms of ride comfort. Our shoot for the day took us across some rather poorly paved roads, but even when stared down by a few nasty potholes, the HS will remain unfazed. Coupled with well-supported seats, expect to do tens of kilometres per day in the car without getting any backaches.

And above all, credit extended to MG for the design and quality of the HS's interior back in 2020 is still valid today (in fact, the cabin is still the car's most notable strength). Although positioned as 'entry-level', its mimicry of more expensive cars is convincing enough to be bought wholeheartedly.

The driver's seat is a wonderful place to settle into, considering the variety of textures and colours present: Soft-touch leather wrapped around the dash and door surfaces, the eye-catching but not overdone dual red-black tones surrounding the entire cabin, and brushed aluminium flowing from the centre console to the cup holders. Even the seats get bits of what feel like suede. 

Likewise, the 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen (which can operate wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and analogue-cum-digital instrument cluster for the driver still feel suitably modern today. Switches and hinges are nicely damped, and buttons depress with reassuring clicks. Unlike in many other cars within its segment, the full-length sunroof here is also tinted, allowing light to flood the cabin without roasting the car's occupants. 

The new Standard? 

Whether or not the new variant is the one to get depends on how much a full-house of safety features means to a driver. If one's life on the road means 100% driver engagement at all times - in other words, with minimal to no intervention from the car's systems - the HS, in its Exclusive variant, may admittedly not offer much more than what it already used to. 

Regardless, however, taking a step back allows one to understand and appreciate the larger picture surrounding the car. 

Although served up in an admittedly derivative-looking package, the HS has always delivered levels of equipment, cabin quality, and power beyond what a driver might expect at its price point. Despite its undeniable aging (and its sea of coming and going competitors), these strengths largely hold true still in 2022, especially with its bolstered equipment list. 

On the other hand, it's entirely possible too that the Standard variant will get phased out such that the HS moniker is represented solely by the Exclusive one. If so, MG's local flagship remains a compelling SUV that now punches slightly further above the line that it always has - in other words, well above its weight.


On the hunt for other SUVs in this price segment? Be sure to check out these other models! 
 
The Citroen C4 is an appealing and affordable option for those looking for a coupe crossover 

The facelifted Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross's newfound styling, increased space, and cabin upgrades make it a sensible coupe SUV 

While not the fastest, the Honda HR-V is quiet, affordable and comfortable