2024 MG HS Luxury Review

As competition in Malaysia's C-Segment SUV market intensifies, consumers' demand for models with "rich features + sufficient power + reasonable price" continues to rise — the 2024 MG HS Luxury is precisely targeted at this niche market. As the core SUV model of the MG brand, it not only retains its high value-for-money advantage but also brings optimizations in intelligent features and power tuning. The main purpose of our test drive is to verify whether its static experience meets the expectations of family users, and if its dynamic performance balances daily commuting with occasional highway trips.

From a distance, the overall style of the 2024 MG HS Luxury leans toward youthful and sporty, without overly rugged lines, while its detailed design is distinctive enough. The front features MG's family-style large cosmic grille with a black honeycomb structure inside, paired with sharp LED headlights on both sides, giving the front end a spirited appearance; the headlights support an automatic lighting function, which is quite convenient for daily use. The body side has smooth lines, and the waistline extending from the hood to the rear ensures the side doesn’t look bulky; the 215/60 R17 tire specs balance comfort and passability, and the multi-spoke wheel design is not stunning but very pleasing to the eye. At the rear, the LED tail lights adopt a contour resembling a through-type design (though not entirely connected in the middle), which offers decent recognizability when lit; the silver skid plate decoration under the rear bumper slightly enhances the SUV's off-road vibe.

Sitting inside, the interior overall has a simple and practical style without overly fancy designs. The top of the dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch materials with a reasonably fine texture, while the middle part is made of hard plastic, though the stitching gaps are well-controlled, and the overall craftsmanship aligns with this price range's level. The 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster is clear, and you can switch between different display modes. For example, tire pressure, fuel consumption, navigation information, etc., are all directly visible; the 10.1-inch central control screen is positioned relatively high, so you don’t have to look down too much during operation. The system supports CarPlay and CarLife connectivity, and its response speed is reasonable, although the interface design is somewhat conventional.

In terms of features, the Luxury version is indeed well-equipped: The front row has dual-zone automatic air conditioning, and the rear row comes with independent air vents, ensuring rear passengers won’t feel hot during summer; the driver’s seat has 6-way electric adjustment + manual lumbar support, while the passenger seat offers 4-way electric adjustment, making it easy to find a suitable sitting position. The standard fixed panoramic sunroof is spacious and makes the interior feel more open, and there’s a sunshade to block intense sunlight. The steering wheel is multifunctional, with the left side controlling multimedia and phone functions, while the right side operates the ACC cruise control; paddle shifters are also provided, useful for occasional manual gear shifting. In terms of storage space, the front door panels can hold two bottles of water, the central armrest box has decent depth, and it’s sufficient for storing small items. The rear floor is almost flat, ensuring the middle passenger’s feet won’t feel uncomfortable when seating three people.

In terms of body dimensions, the length, width, and height are 4574/1876/1664mm, with a wheelbase of 2720mm, which is relatively long for a C-Segment SUV. For the actual seating experience: A 175cm passenger sitting in the front row with an adjusted posture still has a headroom of one fist and two fingers; in the rear row, there’s over two fists of legroom and one fist of headroom, so even tall passengers won’t feel cramped. The rear seats support a 60:40 split-folding configuration, and when folded down, the trunk floor is basically flat, making it convenient for carrying large items like strollers or suitcases; in its regular state, the trunk capacity easily fits three 20-inch suitcases.

In terms of power, it is equipped with a 1.5T turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 162PS and a maximum torque of 260N·m, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. During daily driving, the power response at start-up is not particularly fast, but after pressing the accelerator, the turbo kicks in at around 1700 RPM. Acceleration in the mid-to-low speed range (such as 30-80km/h) is brisk, making it easy to follow or overtake cars in the city. On the highway, even after reaching 100km/h, there is still enough power to accelerate to 120km/h without feeling sluggish. Regarding the transmission’s smoothness, there is occasionally slight jolting during low-speed gear changes (such as from 2nd to 3rd gear), but it is not very noticeable and generally does not affect daily commuting experience. When pressing the accelerator pedal deeply, the downshifting is relatively quick, providing sufficient power support for overtaking.

As for the chassis, it uses a front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link independent suspension setup, which is tuned more towards comfort. When passing over speed bumps or uneven road surfaces, the suspension can filter out most of the minor bumps and doesn’t feel too harsh. When cornering at high speeds, the body roll is relatively well-controlled and does not sway too much, which gives a certain sense of confidence. The steering wheel is light, making it easy for women drivers to handle, and it is relatively precise, although it lacks significant road feel. Nonetheless, it is sufficient for daily commuting. The brake pedal feels relatively linear, not overly sensitive at the initial stage, and releases braking force evenly in the middle section. During emergency braking, the body remains stable.

In terms of fuel consumption, our test drive primarily consisted of city commuting with a small amount of highway driving. The displayed average fuel consumption was approximately 8.2L/100km, slightly higher than the official figure of 7.4L/100km. Considering the traffic congestion in the city, this fuel consumption level is still reasonable. Regarding noise control, at low speeds in the city, tire and engine noise are not very noticeable. At 120km/h on highways, wind noise becomes slightly more prominent, but it doesn’t require raising one’s voice for conversation, and the overall sound insulation meets the standard for this price range.

The ACC adaptive cruise control is very useful. On the highway, once the speed is set, the vehicle can automatically follow the car ahead, decelerating when the car in front slows down, thus freeing up the right foot. The 360-degree panoramic imaging has good clarity, making it easy to see surrounding obstacles when parking, allowing even new drivers to park with ease. The seat padding is quite soft, and the backrest provides good support. Long drives (e.g., driving continuously for 2 hours) do not make your back feel sore. The rear seats have a suitable recline angle, making them comfortable for long journeys.

Overall, the core advantages of the 2024 MG HS Luxury are very clear: First, its spaciousness, especially in the rear seats and trunk, which can fully meet the needs of family users. Second, its high level of configuration, including features like a fully digital instrument panel, electric seats, panoramic sunroof, ACC cruise control, and 360-degree camera, all of which are standard. Compared with low-spec versions of the Honda CR-V 1.5T or Toyota RAV4 2.0L in the same price range, it offers a much richer configuration. Third, its price is reasonable. With a price of RM145,900, it is considered to offer high value for money among C-Segment SUVs.

Its target audience is also very clear. Firstly, families who prioritize space and features; the rear seat can comfortably accommodate three adults, and the trunk can hold a stroller and luggage, with configurations that meet all daily usage needs. Secondly, young people with a budget of around RM150,000 who want a car with a stylish appearance, smart features, and sufficient power for city commuting.

If you're looking for a family SUV with ample space, comprehensive features, and an affordable price, the 2024 MG HS Luxury is indeed a worthy option to consider—it doesn't have any particularly obvious shortcomings, offers good balance, and can handle various daily family scenarios well.