MG reveals the new 2023 HS SUV
My first memory of cars was sitting in the back of my dad’s open-top MGB GT in the mid-1990s.
Throughout its history, MG as a brand has undergone many changes in ownership, with British Leyland, the Rover Group, and Nanjing Automobile Group all having control up until 2011. MG production restarted in 2007 in China and the first new MG model in the UK for 16 years, the MG 6, was launched on 26 June 2011. In the years between the MGB GT and the present day, car culture, in general, has undergone many changes and one of those changes is the rise in SUV culture. Seemingly every brand is contributing their own effort, with some customers preferring comfort and space over style. SUVs certainly aren’t cheap. In 2022, a Lease Fetcher study stated that the average cost of an SUV was £38,015 and the most popular SUVs came in above the £40k mark.
There are, of course, cheaper options available in the UK market, like the Dacia Duster at £10,000 - a decent off-roader and quite stylish for the price. However, in my mind, and maybe others, the MG badge evokes a nostalgia that a Dacia could never have. That’s why news of the new 2023 MG HS caught my attention. MG recently released pricing for the comprehensively updated HS, the company’s best-selling flagship SUV.
The previous MG HS has been hugely popular since its launch and was recently announced as the UK’s best-selling vehicle in January 2023, with 3481 units sold. At the start of April, MG had sold 13,320 HS vehicles across Europe. Building on its previous popularity, the new HS has received a bold new look, with a sharper, more aggressive appearance. At the front, new bi-function LED headlights, a bold grille design, and a new front bumper - all contribute towards a more enhanced look. At the rear, a new bumper design, revised dual exhaust outlets and LED tail lights complete the contemporary new styling update, alongside a new 18” diamond cut wheel design.
The new MG HS will be offered in SE or Trophy specification, both offering comprehensive equipment levels. At launch, all models will be powered by a 1.5 litre, turbocharged petrol engine delivering up to 162PS. A manual gearbox is available as standard, with an optional dual-clutch DCT gearbox offered across the SE and Trophy specifications. Under the umbrella of the UK SUV market, the 2023 MG HS seems to offer value for money, retaining the same pricing structure as the outgoing model, with the SE specification starting from £23,495 on the road. This includes bi-function LED headlights with front and rear sequential indicators for the first time – alongside air conditioning, satellite navigation, rear parking camera with sensors, raining sensing wipers, keyless entry, and a leather steering wheel as standard. Trophy specification, priced from £25,995, also includes leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, ambient interior lighting, rear privacy glass, and an upgraded 6-speaker audio system. MG Pilot, the company’s comprehensive package of safety equipment, is available across the range as standard – equipping the HS with Active Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Bicycle Detection, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning System, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Blind Sport Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Intelligent High Beam Assist.
What colours are on offer? Urban Grey is available for the first time within the HS range, as part of an extensive seven-colour palette, including solid, metallic, and tri-coat options.
Order books are now open in the UK.
Words: Mike Booth
Pictures: MG