New Toyota RAV4 rival draws closer to release: MG HS appears in approval documents ahead of mid-year reveal

A new version of the MG HS mid-size SUV has appeared in Australian government approval documents.

We have been expecting a replacement for the existing 'AS23' launched here in 2019, providing a much-needed freshen up for MG's rival in Australia's most competitive segment.

There is no word on a new MG HS hybrid yet. Instead, a turbocharged 1.5-litre with a dual-clutch auto and 2.0-litre with a regular nine-speed automatic are complied.

“With new products coming through, especially really important products such as new HS and ZS, we definitely focused on providing those great offerings to the market," Senior Product and Strategy Manager Akshat Ahuja told CarsGuide.

The new MG HS coming to Australia is distinct from the deep facelift revealed for the Thai market late last year.

Expect the coming 'AS33' MG HS to be a re-engineered version of the China-market Roewe RX5 – launched in August 2022 – with a visual make-over tying it into the MG3 hatch's new look.

A patent image lodged in China gives a pretty clear look at the new HS. A similar, but larger grille filters the air with headlights linked by a single bar in the middle.

The rear end has a full-width LED light bar while the sloping roofline gives the China-made SUV a slicker look than the car it replaces.

Inside, expect a new architecture based around a generously-sized touchscreen. Familial design details, including the MG4's hexagonal wheel and thin indicators, are expected to appear.

The China-market Roewe RX5's 1.5-litre turbo-petrol develops 138kW and 300Nm and is paired-with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.

The 2.0-litre turbo is yet to be detailed, but around 160kW will be needed to be competitive.

It looks like the new plug-in hybrid system will have similar outputs, with 180kW rated in China's eRX5. A bump to 570Nm (over the MG HS+'s 370Nm figure) is likely, too.

The eRX5 features a 21.4kWh battery for a 135km NEDC electric driving range rating. The plug-in hybrid HS is expected to arrive in Australia after the petrol-only models.

Currently, there are three trim levels – COM, DEL, LUX – with the 1.5-litre complied for all three and the 2.0-litre reserved for DEL and LUX.

The HS range currently starts at $29,990 drive-away, though expect the new model to follow the MG3's lead and jump significantly.

A starting price around $35,000 would keep it under key rivals and give MG the ability to fit crucial safety technology for a respectable ANCAP score.

MG's HS mid-size SUV needs a sales boost, with sales sitting at less than half of last year's result (1404 vs 3807). It was the brand's lowest selling model last month (279 registrations) a long way shy of segment leaders like the Toyota RAV4 (5517) and Mitsubishi Outlander (2500).

A local release of the new MG HS is expected before the end of 2024 followed by a new ZS small SUV. The brand is also investigating a larger seven-seat Kia Sorento rival.