2021 MG HS Essence X review

MG – the revenant brand once synonymous with quintessential British sportscars is performing something of a sales miracle in Australia with a range of Chinese-made cars that are grabbing the attention of buyers with both hands.

While some approach the brand with hesitancy, year-to-date sales growth of 240 per cent to the end of June and almost 220 per cent increase over the same month in 2020 suggests there are plenty of Aussies willing to put faith in an illustrious marque under new ownership.

So what’s the allure? Quite simply – price. Its little MG3 hatchback is on offer from just $16,000, the ZS small SUV kicks off from about $21,000, while the HS mid-sizer is available from less than $30,000. And, by the way, MG will also sell you Australia’s cheapest EV for $44,000.

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The company also chucks in a seven-year warranty for peace of mind, and its cars are also building a reputation for being packed full of tech features more akin to the consumer electronics realm.

But if price is the clear driver behind MG’s building momentum, then how will the discerning local audience receive a model that costs $42,990 drive-away?

That’s what we have here – the MG HS Essence X – a mid-sized SUV that sits almost at the top of the range and is outranked in stature and price only by the plug-in hybrid version.

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A nice day on the beach with the MG HS. Or maybe it was the moon.

Apple, Prada and Paddle Pops have proven that Chinese manufacturing won’t turn consumers away if the quality and price is right

For the cash, the Essence X gets the highest level of specification available in the HS range, a new more powerful engine, and all-wheel drive (denoted by the X), as well as the same comprehensive set of safety and driver assistance features typical to the range.

Included in the asking price is a generous list of equipment starting with a leather interior and a pair of comfortable and supportive sports seats in the front row. Their design blocks a lot of the forward view from the second row but they look great and form a centrepiece for what is a tidy and spacious cabin.

It’s difficult to find any scratchy plastics, with fine quality materials and padded textures covering virtually everything and the layout is beautifully spartan and clean. Only a handful of switches adorn the dash beneath the sharp 10.1-inch touchscreen through which most functions are accessed.

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We would prefer a few more hotkeys to things like heated seats, while two separate volume up and down switches could have been better incorporated into just one. And while the digital system looks classy and offers lots of functions, switching between applications can take an age with lots of lag after the function is selected.

Redeeming features include the brilliant 3D 360-degree camera and operating system that feels more like a tablet than something automotive and lots of information, customisable displays and options to add and expand applications.

The technological touches continue through to the instrument cluster where a generous central display overlaps the pair of mechanical gauges for a pleasant blend of traditional and modern.

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2021 MG HS Essence X 3D 360-degree camera captures everything

Second-row seating offers more high-quality touches and space with a tilt-adjustable backrest although there’s a lack of under-thigh support for not just long-legged occupants. At the back, an electric tailgate gives access to the 463-litre boot and space-saver spare.

At the wheel, it’s easy to adjust the electric seat to a comfortable position although the steering wheel adjustment doesn’t quite offer enough reach. The wheel itself is both ergonomically and aesthetically well designed, with a sporty look and more leather upholstery.

Perhaps the highlight of the new HS Essence X however, is its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. Its significant output of 168kW/360Nm is not only impressive in a car of this size, it’s also the most power you can have in an SUV for the same cash.

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2021 MG HS Essence X 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine

For more standard duties of cruising, however, the HS has a civilised manner with good bump absorption and a comfortable ride. There’s also minimal road noise.

We didn’t get a chance to test the AWD system on anything more serious than muddy forest trails but it is complete with a diff-lock, which is a statement of confidence and intent. The likelihood of an HS finding its way to some challenging off-road trails is perhaps minimal but we would like to be proven wrong.

Its effect on-road though is noticeable and our test coincided with an unprecedented Victorian storm. Patches of mud washed onto the road and extensive debris couldn’t shake the MG’s traction, highlighting the benefit of all-paw systems even if you never intend to leave the blacktop.

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Unfortunately, the strong engine, welcome AWD system and relaxing chassis are let down by a sub-par automatic transmission. Paired as standard to the 2.0-litre is a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (the 1.5-litre gets a seven-speed) but the in-house unit suffers all of the disadvantages of early DCTs without any of the major advantages.

Low-speed manoeuvring is frustrating with an extended delay between switching between forward and reverse, with the transmission also allowing the vehicle to roll while it’s taking time to think.

Several times during three-point turns, we had to apply the brake to prevent the HS from rolling into objects before it had engaged a gear and, when it eventually finds a gear, the throttle modulation is very much a matter of all or nothing.

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Only a small press of the accelerator unleashes a sizeable chunk of the power, launching the MG uncomfortably forward. At low speeds, the HS is difficult to drive smoothly and this would be a concern if a majority of your driving is suburban.

Out on the road, it gets little better with a program that is defiantly unwilling to kick down and manual paddle-shifters that only function when the selector lever has been pushed into Sport mode. And if you were hoping for a transformative effect from the tantalisingly named Super Sport button on the steering wheel, there’s none.

Its influence prompts the gearbox to drop a gear and perhaps a little more weight is added to the steering.

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Engage Super Sport mode and brace yourself...

That’s a shame because the HS package would be so much more cohesive and convincing with a more conventional torque-converter auto, or perhaps a third-party DCT. The smart money for now though is still where MG is forging a good reputation for itself and, in the HS range, that means shopping at the more affordable entry-point.

But MG would do well to remember Rome wasn’t built in a day and, while its range of vehicles is improving rapidly, it’s unrealistic to expect it to rival the current affordable champions of the Australian market just eight years after entering it.

And while there’s certainly value in referencing MG’s sporty English heritage, it might also pay for MG to lean into its Chinese ownership rather than wincing every time it’s mentioned. After all, 90 per cent of merchandise entering the country originates in China and a vast majority of consumers have no qualms about their phones, furniture and footwear starting life in the PRC.

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As Huawei, Lenovo and Tsingtao have demonstrated, Chinese brands can find a foothold in Australia, in the same way Apple, Prada and Paddle Pops have proven that Chinese manufacturing won’t turn consumers away if the quality and price is right.

And that’s where the value equation probably isn’t quite right for the MG HS Essence X. For the same cash, Hyundai will sell you the excellent new-generation Tucson in mid-range Elite with the strong 1.6-litre turbo engine, Kia offers the mid-range Sportage, and you could even have a m Mazda CX-5.

Against these more cohesive options, the high-end HS can’t compete but its more affordable counterparts make far more sense. You won’t get the strong 2.0-litre turbo, but the entry Core and Vibe HS variants deliver all the critical ‘Pilot’ safety features of the flagship versions (adaptive cruise, AEB, lane-keep assistance, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert) minus the hefty price.

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MG has a little way to go before its cash cow takes the form of a premium variant like the Essence X, but if it maintains its current sales trajectory with more affordable options as the heroes, it’s only a matter of time.