2025 MG HS: Next-gen RAV4 rival teased ahead of reveal
MG has teased the next generation of its HS petrol and plug-in hybrid SUV ahead of its imminent reveal, though we already knew what it’ll look like.
The new MG HS reveal will take place at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 11, 2024 at 7pm AEST, before the model launches in Australia in August.
While this teaser is quite revealing, we’ve already seen patent filing images out of Europe that show the new HS appears to be little more than a lightly restyled Roewe RX5.
2025 MG HS: Next-gen RAV4 rival teased ahead of reveal
This model debuted in China in 2022, and its exterior styling has been kept intact for the MG apart from a revised front end to bring the mid-sized SUV more in line with the likes of the MG 3.
SAIC Motor often rebadges Roewe and LDV/Maxus products as MGs in markets like Southeast Asia and the Middle East, though Australia has until now missed out on such rebadges.
Not only is the HS set to be a Roewe RX5, an upcoming large, three-row SUV set for an Australian launch is likely to be a version of the Roewe RX9.
The new HS will continue to offer both petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains, though local specifications have yet to be confirmed. The petrol is expected to arrive first.
The RX5 is offered with two different plug-in hybrid powertrains in China as the D5X DMH and eRX5, respectively.
The D5X DMH, launched this year, features a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 110kW and 235Nm, mated with a 145kW/350Nm electric motor, MG’s ‘Dedicated Hybrid Transmission 2’, and a 21.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
It offers a claimed 135km of electric range on the CLTC test cycle.
The eRX5 also features a turbo 1.5-litre four, albeit with 138kW and 300Nm, mated with a 12.3kWh LFP battery, a 180kW/270Nm electric motor and a 10-speed automatic transmission.
It offers a claimed 61km of range on the NEDC test cycle, down 2km on the outgoing HS Plus EV.
Total system outputs are 183kW and 570Nm – down 6kW but up 200Nm.
MG HS patent filing images
The new HS has already been spied testing locally, with petrol models showing up in government approval documents.
Documents note the petrol MG HS range will be offered in five variants: three listed as having a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and a dual-clutch automatic transmission, and two with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and a nine-speed torque-converter automatic.
In China, the RX5’s turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine produces 138kW of power and 300Nm of torque – 19kW and 50Nm more than the outgoing HS 1.5T – and is mated to a seven-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Roewe RX5
There’s no 2.0-litre turbo currently available in the Chinese RX5 lineup, though SAIC Motor offers such an engine – complete with a nine-speed auto – in other products like the MG 7 sedan that’s also set for an Australian launch.
The MG 7’s 2.0-litre produces 192kW of power and 405Nm of torque, up 24kW and 45Nm on the 2.0-litre in the outgoing HS.
The RX5 measures 4655mm long, 1890mm wide, 1664mm tall and rides a 2765mm wheelbase. That makes it 81mm longer, 14mm wider, and 21mm taller than the current HS on a 45mm longer wheelbase.
Available features in China include a choice of 24.6-inch or 27-inch screen arrays, a power tailgate, and power-adjustable and heated front seats.
There’s also a full suite of active safety and driver assist technology available including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic assist, and a surround-view camera.
It’s unclear how much of a price rise will come with the larger, more powerful new-generation model.
Current MG HS
At present, the MG HS starts from $29,990 before on-road costs, while the HS Plus EV is priced from $49,690 drive-away.
The HS is the least popular member of the current MG lineup in Australia, despite the mid-sized SUV segment being Australia’s largest by volume.
To the end of May, MG has sold 1404 examples this year, down 63.1 per cent on the same period last year.
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