SUV | On the road

MG HS T-GDi Exclusive auto

By Bill McCarthy

THE MG marque was originally famous for it classic sporty and upmarket motors, the now Chinese-owned firm produces value for money cars.

And a bit like the rise of the Korean brands, it has seen a steady, upward curve in sales since its reintroduction to the country.

MG is making significant progress. And just like the Koreans, it has cottoned on to the attraction of extended warranties, seven years in this case. That’s peace of mind.

MG had record-breaking year of sales. Overall, total sales for 2019 were 13,075 units, meaning a 45 per cent uplift in registrations compared with the same 12-month period the year before.

Yes, they are cheap, they now have had most of the rough edges knocked off and are offering real quality.

The HS is a prime example. The largest of the SUVs coming in just above the equally stylish ZS. There are three versions; entry level Explore; mid-level Excite and top level Exclusive driven here.

It is a good looking motor and packed with equipment and with an almost ridiculous starting price of just under £18k. Standard kit includes 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry with push button start, a 10.1 inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and electric folding and heated door mirrors, plus a comprehensive list of safety features.

It is also good to drive, has decent handling, although the ride can be unsettled on rougher roads and manages half decent economy from the new single 162bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine. However, carbon dioxide emissions are on the high side making it more expensive to tax and bump up BIK for company car users.

The model I tried featured an automatic twin clutch gearbox, with, unfortunately, jerky, uncertain shifts as it hunts for the gear. It’s fine at low revs, or when using the paddles behind the steering wheel, but floor the pedal and it becomes raucous searching for the right gear..

It is quick though, and will hit 60mph in under 10 seconds, reaching a top speed of 118mph. This is combined with decent economy for such a big car, with acombined WLTP figure of 36.2mpg.

The Exclusive DCT version driven here includes a button on the steering column, which engages the car Sport mode for that extra burst of speed and illuminates the interior’s red ambient lighting.

Inside has come on leaps and bounds with an array of soft touch finish and faux leather to dash and sports seats, with fewer of the harsher solid plastics.

There is also leather finish to the multi-function steering wheel, while the central touchscreen infotainment system controls with sat nav, DAB radio/CD/aux and phone connectivity. This can be operated as a touch screen or via the piano keys situated on the dash.

In home positiion it is a bit gaudy for my liking, but once you set it to radio or navigation it is easier on the eye and easy to operate.

The large interior has good head and legroom all round and this model has has comfortable electrically operated leather seats giving the driver a commanding view of the road. Rear seat passengers are looked after too with the reclining seats offering bags of space, twin air vents, two USBs and a fold-out arm rest.

The size of the car is matched by the boot space with an impressive 450 litres, while the 60:40 split rear bench seat, offers even more stowage space. The boot floor also conceals a storage compartment beneath.

It’s an old cliche, but you really do get plenty of bang for your buck. This is the real deal for MG ,an affordable, large SUV that deserves to succeed.

Factfile

Price: £24,495

Mechanical: 164bhp 1,498cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels wheels via 7-speed auto gearbox

Max speed: 118mph

0-62mph: 9.9 seconds

Combined mpg: 36.2

Insurance group: 18E

CO2 emissions: 157g/km

BiK rating: 35%

Warranty: 7yrs/80,000 miles

SsangYong Tivoli by Bill McCarthy

Think Tivoli and you might think of a town in Italy or even the famous Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.

But maybe not SsangYong? SsangYong is the oldest vehicle manufacturer in Korea, dating back to 1954 and despite being overshadowed by Hyundai and Kia is the country’s only 4×4 and SUV specialist producer.

The Tivoli is a a compact SUV/crossover, which should be no surprise, given the huge popularity of the type.

Older SsangYong models I have driven like the Rexton and Korando have been notable for their, how can I put this, quirky design.

The Tivoli has led the way with new design, which has brought the range right up to day.

It is as mainstream as you can get, with sharp styling, economical engines and an industry matching seven year warranty.

But with a starting price of around £15k it is no longer rock bottom, bargain basement price.

That’s Dacia Duster territory.

Yet even the base model is packed with standard equipment and is one of the most spacious in its class.

This limited edition offers a sporty look, with three striking colours, orange in this case ,with contrasting black roof and chrome door handles, piano black grille, front fog light and projector headlines together with front and rear LED daytime running lights. In addition there are heated, power folding mirrors with integrated indicators smart black diamond cut 18-inch alloys and a rear spoiler, plus tinted glass.

The interior is smart, spacious and slightly funky looking with a neat control layout, comfortable, leather look seats and plenty of space for four and even five with a bit of a squeeze.

The cabin is roomy, airy and well appointed while head and legroom is surprisingly good. For extra comfort for passengers, the rear seats recline.

It is packed with kit and the centrepiece of the interior features seven-inch touchscreen, with DAB radio and iPod & Bluetooth connectivity with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone connectivity.

Navigation and infotainment is also controlled from here.

Other goodies on this model include cruise control, smart steering, reversing camera, heated front seats and multi-function D-shape steering wheel.

Available in petrol and diesel in this case, this model also added automatic transmission to give a health price tag of £20,245.

The latest 1.6 litre diesel delivers decent enough performance while the six-speed auto gearbox is slick enough, although it is less economical than the manual, although mid-40s mpg is still achievable.

Acceleration, if that’s what you’re looking for, is modest, hitting 60mph in around 12 seconds and there is evidence of clatter on start up but is all but absent on the motorway.

But handling is decent enough, actually quite sharp, although the ride can easily become unsettled on poorer roads. Manoeuvrability is good and with three steering settings, which is excellent, particularly around town and into tight parking spaces.

Crossovers, particularly the smaller ones need to be practical and the Tivoli scores well here.

In addition to excellent passenger space, the boot offers a more than competitive 423-litre boot that will accommodate most loads for a normal family. In addition the split folding rear seats open up a much wider cargo capacity of 997 litres. There are also other pockets and cubby holes throughout the cabin.

For safety there are seven airbags, assisted braking, stability programme, forward collision warning and rollover protection.

No longer bargain basement, the Tivoli, with its range of standard kit and seven year warranty,offers something different in a packed compact crossover field.