2020 MG HS - Top alternatives

The 2020 MG HS is conventionally designed and efficiently engineered to deliver tough competition to some of the most popular cars in its segment, the Mazda CX-5, and Toyota RAV4, along with other tough competitors like the Nissan X-Trail.

The all-new 2020 MG HS redefines the standards of SUV styling. MG motors have clearly put in considerable attention and effort into the exterior designing of the 2020 HS. The latest offering by MG comes in two variants, Vibe and Excite.

Engine	1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol
Transmission	7-speed automatic
Power	166 hp
Torque	250 Nm

The car features a sports pedal shift on the steering wheel, with a bright super red Sports Mode button and an iconic MG badge. The vehicle is designed to cater to the needs of an ideal family SUV on a budget. The automaker has already built a loyal fanbase ever since its launch in November, the previous year. The offering by the Chinese automaker is a hit amongst the users for providing a comfortable and feature-laden ride at a pocket-friendly price tag.

What are the alternatives to the 2020 MG HS in Australia?

Being available in two different trim levels - Vibe and Excite, the 2020 MG HS is not immune to its competitors. It has some fierce competition in the market and has to take a close run with some of the heaviest hitters in the market. To be precise, there are a few alternatives to the MG HS that can be considered by customers looking for mid-sized SUVs in the Australian market.

Car	MG HS	Mazda CX-5	Nissan X-Trail	Toyota RAV4
Price	$30,990	$48,130	$38,700	$36,157

Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 is the closest competitor of the MG HS. It looks elegant on the aesthetics, thanks to the long front hood design. Being almost $18,000 pricier than the HS, the car offers elegant styling and great features for a mid-sized SUV. Although more expensive, and figuratively consisting of a more powerful engine, the CX-5 still runs short in terms of performance and tends to lack the fun-to-ride factor on the highway. Plus, the fuel efficiency is also not the best in the segment since it has a bigger engine than the MG.

The inline 4-cylinder, 2.5-litre turbo engine delivers a power of 188 bhp and a torque of 252 Nm, which is just a little over the figures delivered by the MG HS. The CX-5 comes with a horde of advanced technologies and safety functions in terms of the MG HS, though.

Nissan X-Trail

The Nissan X-Trail is one of the most popular cars in the segment with an attractive design, some reliable delivery and performance and a comprehensive set of safety and technology features. Aesthetically too, it appears to be bigger in dimensions, thanks to the muscular build and design language.

The X-trail comes with a similar multipoint fuel injection system only boasting a more powerful 2.5-litre, inline 4-cylinder engine delivering a torque of 226 Nm and a power of 169 bhp. The CVT is a sure advantage over the MG HS and gives a slight edge in performance to the X-Trail. Hence, it is clear that performance-wise, this SUV is inferior to a great extent despite being priced higher than the MG.

Toyota RAV4

If the discussion is going on about the popular mid-size SUVs in Australia, the Toyota RAV4’s name will surely arise. On 2018, the carmaker launched the SUV’s fifth generation. The latest model comes with some modern tech features along with additional safety equipment. It has a starting price tag of $36,157.

In Australia, the RAV4 is the first model of the Japanese automaker Toyota, to have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Edge and Cruiser models come with a new multi-information display of 7-inch. Also, the car features the biggest boot space in the class as 580-litres.

Final Choice

The 2020 MG HS comes in two different variants, the entry-level Vibe starting, at a price of $30,990 and a premium variant, named the Excite, starting at $33,990. Though the automaker would want the 2020 HS to deliver a premium SUV experience and likely be one of the best-sellers in the coming times, there are some pretty good alternatives to consider from the buyers’ perspective.

Among all the cars mentioned here, the MG HS is priced at the lowest while the CX-5 is at the top. Along with having the lowest price tag, the MG HS might be excellent in terms of quality, the competitors cannot be written off completely.

To put things in perspective, the small 1.5-litre engine of the MG HS is efficient, though not the most powerful one. On the other hand, the Toyota RAV4 has a hybrid version as well. 

Hence, the final call is always on the buyers and the specific requirements they are looking to fulfill, be it power, practicality or budget. In short, the 2020 MG HS is the most affordable one despite having a lot of similar features like its competitors.

Also read: Toyota RAV4 - Variants explained