MG has officially launched its second-generation HS SUV in Australia, and it comes with big ambitions as the brand looks to move away from its budget-buyer image.
The first generation had only been on sale in Australia for four years after being introduced in late 2019, and in that time it proved to be a strong seller – even if it wasn’t at the top of MG’s records.
Despite a price bump which has resulted in the HS now starting from $33,990 drive-away, MG expects the new model to outsell its predecessor.
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In 2022 and 2023, 10,948 and 8126 examples of the HS were delivered respectively, placing the SUV behind only the MG ZS and MG 3 in the brand’s list of best-sellers.
It also held a commendable position in its segment, though there was still a considerable margin to leaders like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 at more than 23,000 examples annually, each.
Now, as MG begins to shift away from its budget background spurred on by some of its smaller models, it says the new HS “signals a takeoff point” in the SUV market, and the arrival of hybrid powertrains next year is expected to bring it into the realm of SUV heavy-hitters while still retaining value to stay “competitive”.
MG Motor Australia chief commercial officer, Giles Belcher, says hybrids “seem to be the direction”, with consumer demand indicating the new-generation hybrid model could be a strong offering from the brand – even if it the non-hybrid version is now up to $7000 more expensive than before.
“A lot of brands are bringing [hybrids] out now, so it certainly seems to be the way the market is going,” he said.
“It’s not for everybody though. Hybrids always come with a price premium and it varies product by product, and not everyone can stretch that far.
“What we want to to do is offer different drivetrains in the same product so everyone has an opportunity, so that’s what we’re doing with the HS. We’ve got the petrol now, a full hybrid next year and a plug-in hybrid coming at the same time.
“Our plan is to offer different drivetrains to the market, and the customers can decide which one suits them.”
MG’s outline contrasts plans from other manufacturers like Toyota, who recently announced its entire Australian passenger and crossover lineup (excluding performance vehicles) would be moved to hybrid-only powertrains.
That includes its larger SUVs like Toyota’s Kluger and RAV4, as well as the smaller Corolla Cross and C-HR, though Toyota expects hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs) to account for more than half of its sales next year.
Mr Belcher anticipated MG would likely be in a similar situation, with petrol models expected to begin falling behind hybrid sales once all three HS powertrains are established locally.
“I think the plug-in hybrid is an interesting variant. Our technology in that space is going to be really cool when we can launch it, and I can’t say too much about it right now but we’re confident in the specification, ability, and technical prowess of that car,” he said.
“Plug-in hybrids will become more popular than they’ve been in the past as pure electric range grows and becomes more useful. [The] plug-in hybrid in the old HS was fantastic for its time, so [the new version] could be a sleeping surprise down the track.”
No specifications have been confirmed for Australia, though United Kingdom HS PHEV models pair a 105kW 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 154kW electric motor and a 24.7kWh battery.
That battery is the larger option of the two available in China, and MG Motor Australia head of product, Akshat Ahuja, told CarExpert the incoming HS PHEV will get “the biggest battery” in a bid to offer “maximum electric range to customers”.
The new HS is being launched locally with only non-hybrid technology in three variants at first. It retains a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated with dual-clutch transmission, though there have been some subtle changes intended to improve the driving experience.
Power and torque figures have been slightly increased, while the transmission is now a seven-speed wet dual-clutch unit designed for smoother shifting – especially at lower speed.
Its exterior is largely in line with MG’s latest design language seen on the new MG 3 and ZS, and while the petrol-only versions are intended to be a step forward for the brand, it’s anticipated the arrival of hybrid technology in the first half of 2025 will herald significant improvements.
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