First look at Australia-bound 2024 MG HS! Does this Chinese plug-in hybrid finally have what it takes to take down the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid?
The second-generation MG HS mid-size SUV has been fully unwrapped at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, revealing a smarter, more upmarket take on the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
We are still awaiting full details, but expect the current car’s 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines to carry over, as well as an advanced new plug-in hybrid powertrain that should offer a pure-electric range of more than 120km.
The flagship hybrid is also rumoured to produce as much 224kW and get a relatively large 24.7kWh lithium-ion battery.
When it lands, the MG HS will measure in at 4636mm long and 1890mm wide, and will ride on a 2750mm wheelbase. That makes it 26mm longer overall, and with a 30mm stretched wheelbase for extra room within, while the added 14mm in width should add extra shoulder-room. There’s also 44 litres more boot space, with the HS now offering up to 507 litres.
Within, the cabin is dominated by twin-12.3-inch displays that are said to run the car-maker’s latest software. There’s also a new three-spoke steering wheel and higher-grade materials used throughout.
New tech includes a 360-degree surround-view camera, an eight-speaker audio system, wireless phone charging and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) on the plug-in hybrid version.
Enhanced safety tech includes the car-maker’s latest AEB that gets pedestrian and bicycle detection, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, blind spot detection with lane-change assist, driver attention alert and rear cross-traffic alert.
Prices and full specification for the Australia market have yet to be disclosed, but it’s been predicted all models will be subject to a price rise of a least a couple of grand, that means we expect the new mid-size MG HS to be priced from around $35,000 drive-away.
When it arrives, the new MG HS will continue to be backed by MG Motor’s very respectable seven-year/unlimited-km warranty.
