news | On the road

MG HS Trophy

By Bill McCarthy

The growth of MG since its revival under Chinese ownership is nothing short of remarkable, to the point that its been the fastest or one of the fastest growing brands in the UK in recent years. Owned by the giant SAIC, the brand now offers a range of good-quality cars with hugely tempting price tags.

From the latest, simply brilliant MG3 hybrid, up to the range-topping HS, there’s something on offer for most requirements. They are a growing and noticeable presence on the road with tempting deals available.

MG standout value

With a starting price under £25,000 and backed by MG’s impressive seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty, the revamped HS is a standout vehicle with an almost budget price in the competitive SUV market. It is available in petrol, like this model, or PHEV versions. There are two specifications—SE or Trophy—both offering an excellent array of standard kit.

The SE comes with adaptive cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and start, 19-inch alloy wheels, parking sensors, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

For those of us who love the bells and whistles, the tested Trophy trim adds a premium eight-speaker sound system, wireless charging, selectable drive modes, dual-zone climate control, a hands-free power tailgate, and rear privacy glass.

Design and road presence

The latest model is bigger and much better looking than its predecessor. It features a longer wheelbase, which delivers even better cabin space. It looks the part: more handsome, with sleek glass panels, a prominent new grille, and a slim headlight array that gives it real road presence.

Performance and power

It combines striking design with its latest petrol powertrains, offering a blend of performance and efficiency, depending on your driving manners. This model featured a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 169PS and 275Nm of torque, propelling the car from 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds. It was paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission.

It’s economical. I managed nearly 42mpg, comfortably beating the official 38-odd mpg. However, the turbo unit can be raucous when pushed hard, and the auto gear change can be a bit jerky, particularly when pulling away.

Ease off with the right foot, and it’s an altogether more refined experience. It’s not one for the boy racers, but a practical family-orientated SUV that’s most at home motorway cruising. The ride is stable and only gets upset on poor road surfaces, otherwise occupants can enjoy a comfortable journey.

Premium interior feel

Inside, the HS is the best yet, offering a premium feel with high-quality fixtures and fittings and leather upholstery—a real bargain for such a big, well-equipped vehicle.

Earlier MGs had a more fragile, coarse finish, but this is on another level, feeling solid with soft-touch finishes, though some hard plastics remain.

It boasts smart, dual 12.3-inch high-definition displays in a single array for infotainment and driver information. One irritation is the constant barrage of warning clicks and chimes. Many can be turned down in volume or switched off entirely through the infotainment system’s settings menus, but some critical safety warnings, thankfully, cannot be fully disabled.

Practicality and safety

Boot space has increased to 507 litres, with a maximum of 1,484 litres available with the seats folded. This model featured a powered tailgate; the seats fold with one touch, but removing the parcel shelf proved frustrating and difficult to get back in place.

Standard safety technologies include a full airbag complement and the MG Pilot suite with Active Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, and Blind Spot Detection. The entry-level SE model starts at £24,995 and comes well-equipped with LED headlights, parking sensors, keyless entry, and dual-zone climate control.

Verdict

With a starting price of under £25k, the HS is hard to fault. There are niggles, and the engine can be a bit raucous under hard acceleration, but it is well-equipped and backed by that lengthy warranty. And it really looks good.

Factfile

Price: £27,495
Mechanical: Combined 169PS 1,498cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via seven speed DCT auto transmission
Max speed: 118mph
0-62mph: 9.4 seconds
Combined mpg: 38.2 WLTP
CO2 emissions: 173g/km
BiK rating: 37%
Insurance group: 25
Warranty: 7yrs/80,000 miles

It’s not that long ago that a Chinese car brand in the UK was as rare as hen’s teeth. Then established brands like MG and Volvo were taken over by Chinese manufacturers and the rush began.

A bit like waiting for a bus: nothing, and then they all turn up at once, with the likes of BYD, Great Wall, Omoda, JAECOO. and Xpeng.

The latest, Chery, is a name that will become very familiar in the UK. Forget about the puns regarding the cherry on the icing on the cake. The name is derived from the English word ‘cheery’ – apparently a mis-translation, but the company says it represents the philosophy of bringing cheer into its family cars.

This is not some start-up manufacturer, either; it is the second largest in China and it is already in the UK. It owns both Omoda and JAECOO, two brands that are having astonishing success in this country.

The JAECOO was the UK’s best-selling plug-in hybrid in August, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

So Chery, which sells millions worldwide, decided to get a slice of the action with the launch of two models: the oddly named Tiggo 7 and seven-seater Tiggo 8 SUVs, in petrol and plug-in hybrid form.

The brand sees the UK as an important and fertile market after the success of Omoda and JAECOO. It is committed to building an R&D centre here. The plan also includes establishing a large number of dealerships.

The firm says it understands the needs of drivers and that their cars are built with British roads, lifestyles and expectations in mind for years to come.

There are two variations: the entry-level but still well-equipped Aspire, and the Summit, which adds bells and whistles like a panoramic sunroof, ventilated and massaging seats, and a premium Sony audio system.

Five are seated in relative comfort in both models, while the 8 actually accommodated a six-footer in one of the rearmost seats reasonably well.

The 7 petrol model starts at £24,995, while the plug-in Hybrid (Super Hybrid) model starts at £29,995. On the seven-seater, the petrol starts at £28,545 and the hybrid from £33,545.

In addition, Chery is offering seven-year warranties together with free RAC membership. ‘Not that you should need it,’ a Chery representative was anxious to point out.

Both offer a choice of turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engines and plug-in hybrid systems that combine a 1.5-litre petrol engine with electric motors driving the front wheels.

The ‘Super Hybrid’ version also offers a substantial range in EV mode, with af 56 miles claimed and a nominal range of 745 miles

Both are stylish-looking motors, featuring high waistlines, dynamic lines and eye-catching diamond-pattern grilles.

The smaller 7 has a sportier profile with dual-L-shaped daytime running lights. The bigger three-row, Tiggo 8, however, also has a striking design, with sharp LED headlamps and a distinctive rear LED light bar.

The interiors are high quality, with soft-touch finishes prevalent both on the dash and door areas, and a logical control layout.

The first thing to strike you is the comfort, something which Chery is keen to emphasise. Seats are comfortable, fully electrically adjustable and supportive.

The brains of the car are twin displays via the 15.6-inch LCD screens, which control high-level infotainment, navigation and smartphone connectivity and, depending on the model, wireless phone charging.

On the road, the tested Tiggo 7 proved itself a more than competent performer in both petrol and hybrid form.

On a challenging route around the twisting roads of south Worcestershire and into Herefordshire, it was put through its paces, demonstrating sharp handling for the type of vehicle and a decent turn of pace.

Both models are equipped with advanced safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, lane assist systems, and 360-degree camera systems for comprehensive visibility.

Targeting the established brands in the UK, Chery is a big player with plenty still to come.

Welcome to this site

On the road

Tag Archives: news

Why the MG HS stands out among modern SUVs