Larger, more refined 2025 MG HS launches in Australia, PHEV arriving soon

MG Australia has launched its new-generation HS midsize SUV into Australian showrooms, with the family-sized wagon joining the MG3 small hatch as the latest salvo in the Chinese brand’s modernization of its product portfolio.

Besides gaining sharper styling that’s vastly more modern than the homely exterior that clothed its predecessor, the most noticeable difference for the second-generation HS is its size: an 81mm growth spurt in overall length to 4655mm and a 45mm increase in wheelbase to 2765mm gifts the new HS more cabin volume for passengers and cargo.

It’s still a five-seater – MG isn’t yet competing with other mid-size seven-seaters like the Nissan X-Trail or Mitsubishi Outlander – but there’s more sprawling space for five occupants and the boot now measures 507 litres with the rear seats up (1484 litres with them stowed).

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Equipment

Three grades are offered: Vibe at the entry level, Excite in the middle, and Essence at the top end. External differences are minor, amounting only to a different alloy wheel design for the Vibe, and foglamps for the Excite and Essence, with in-cabin equipment being the primary differentiator between the grades.

Starting with the Vibe, buyers receive 18-inch alloys, fabric upholstery, a bare plastic steering wheel, six-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, rain sensing wipers, heated and power-adjustable wing mirrors, keyless entry, LED daytime running lamps, roof rails, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

Infotainment is handled by a pair of side-by-side 12.3-inch screens – one for the driver’s instrument panel and the other for the central touchscreen display – with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring bringing sat-nav functionality as it’s not built in for the Vibe. Four USB ports are standard: two in the front cabin, and two in the rear.

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The mid-grade Excite is an incremental upgrade, adding the aforementioned foglamps and 19-inch alloy wheels, along with a 360-degree camera array, built-in satellite navigation and faux leather upholstery. Essence, meanwhile, goes substantially further by bringing in a power-operated tailgate, panoramic glass sunroof, lumbar adjustment and memory settings for the driver’s seat, power adjustment for the passenger seat, heaters for both front seats, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, front parking sensors, privacy glass, an eight-spear audio system and power-folding wing mirrors.

All models receive adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, AEB, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, speed limit recognition, driver fatigue monitoring as well as front and rear cross traffic alert.

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Mechanical

Initially, all will only be available with one powertrain: a 1.5-litre turbo petrol producing 125kW and 275Nm, driving the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. That’s a 6kW and 25Nm increase on what that engine delivered in the previous-generation HS, while the seven-speed auto adopts a wet clutch rather than the dry clutch unit of the outgoing model for improved drivetrain refinement.

Fuel economy for all variants is a claimed 6.9L/100km on the combined cycle, but those looking for even more thrift may want to wait until early 2025, when the HS plug-in hybrid variant is slated to arrive – though local specifications and pricing for the PHEV have yet to be announced by MG Australia

Pricing

Pricing starts at $33,990 for the Vibe, $36,990 for the Excite and $40,990 for the Essence, with all of those numbers being both the RRP and – for now – the drive-away price. The 2025 MG HS is available now.