MG Car Club
MG GS – First UK Road test
Following its Chinese launch in April 2015, the MG GS has arrived in the UK – Andy Knott, Colin Grant and Adam Sloman put MG’s first SUV through its paces…
The idea of an MG SUV was, and perhaps still is, one that fills marque purists with dread – it most certainly came as a shock to many MG fans when the covers were pulled from the MG CS concept back in 2013.
If we remove our octagon-tinted glasses for a second and think about a world where Jaguar and Porsche produce a Sports Utility Vehicle, perhaps the idea of a marque with a strong sportscar heritage producing a car in the SUV class isn’t really that shocking?
It’s taken a little over two years for MG’s SUV to make the journey from concept to crossover; along the way the ‘C’ became a ‘G’ and MG are now firmly in the SUV/Crossover sector as the GS has arrived in the UK.
The GS is the fourth car to be launched by MG Motor and is arguably its most important – while the 3 has brought significant footfall into MG’s growing dealer network, you need only look at any high street up and down the country to see roads dominated by the likes of Nissan’s Qashqai, Hyundai’s ix35 and Kia’s Sportage.
SUVs are the hot ticket at the moment and carry with them significant sales volume – in the UK, sales of SUVs rose 22% in March compared to March 2015. Whether you like them or not, SUVs sell in volume, and if MG are to prosper in the UK they need to sell vehicles in volume – volumes that could, in the future, support a new roadster.
Family Face
Externally, MG’s SUV is largely identical to the version offered across the rest of the world. Thanks to the internet, MG fans have had plenty of time to grow accustomed to its looks. In the metal, the car looks good, with a strong, sporting stance. The GS is immediately recognisable to anyone familiar with the 6 or 3 – a broad horizontal grille tapering to a point in the centre and a large, prominent MG octagon.
It’s fresh and modern – the car’s sides are sculptured, while the rear is simple and unfussy, with the rear wearing a similarly large MG octagon. It’s remained largely faithful to the original CS concept.
The lower half of the front grille is home to daytime running lights and on top spec models, fog lamps as well.
Explore, Excite or Exclusive?
The GS offers three trim levels, Explore, Excite and Exclusive. MG have worked hard to ensure the gap between model variants is small, with the Explore kicking off the range and starting at £14,995. For that you get an engine with Stop/Start, a six-speed manual gearbox, hill hold assist, automatic headlamps, cruise control and air conditioning.
Move up to the Excite at £17,495 and the GS gains rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, LED tail lamps, DAB radio, Bluetooth media and telephone support and a leather-finished steering wheel. The 8” inch touch screen also includes Mirror Linking for your mobile phone, making it safer to access telephone contacts etc. while on the move.
The range topper is the Exclusive, coming in at £19,495, or £20,995 if you opt for the seven-speed, dual clutch automatic gearbox. The Exclusive adds to the Excite by including automatic wipers, Xenon headlights, a rear spoiler and front foglamps. Inside, the Exclusive swaps cloth for electrically adjustable leather seats.
GS is also the first MG to be backed by their new five year, 80,000 mile warranty, a considerable improvement over previous warranties offered on the 3 and 6.
Unlike in the rest of the world, the UK GS is offered with just a single engine – a 1.5 turbo petrol, co-developed with General Motors. MG Motor have, in the past, been criticised for their lack of engine options, however Matthew Cheyne was quick to point out that UK sales statistics show that the majority of private buyers in the UK opt for a two-wheel drive, petrol power when buying a Crossover.
There’s currently no diesel in the line-up, Cheyne was honest on this front, stating that MG Motor didn’t want to pass diesel development costs onto customers, saying a new diesel engine would add “£3,000-£4,000” to the cost of the GS.
The six-speed manual ’box is MG’s own, while the seven-speed, dual clutch auto is co-developed again with General Motors, albeit with MG leading the project.
Keeping Up with the Competition
MG are keen to ensure the GS stands up to the competition, identifying Mazda’s CX-5, Ford’s Kuga and the ubiquitous Nissan Qashqai as the car’s key competitors.
With 483 litres of space in the boot or 1,336 litres with the seats down, the GS has a bigger load capacity than the Qashqai, while that 1.5 turbo offers better CO2 emissions than the Sportage and Kuga, and better MPG than the Qashqai and CX-5. It also offers the most power and torque when compared to its Crossover peers.
On the road
Climbing into the GS, it’s easy to get comfortable – forward visibility is good though the view through the rear window is a little restrictive. The leather-trimmed steering wheel is comfortable and a noted move up in quality from that in the 6 or 3.
There’s plenty of adjustment in both the seats and steering wheel, so finding a comfortable seating position is easy. In the back, there’s plenty of space for children and adults alike, with the rear seat back being adjustable. The rear seats also fold flat, without the need to lift the squab.
Twisting the key, the GS fires into life and settles to a very hushed engine note – the noise from under the bonnet well refined until you put the car under hard acceleration. Working up through the six-speed manual, the shift is slick smooth, albeit with a slightly longer throw than you might expect. The ratios are quite long, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity to wind the GS up and get the turbo spinning.
Naturally, as an SUV, there is bodyroll when cornering in the GS, however it is well contained, with impressive levels of grip – the GS never feels unstable. The steering is well-weighted and delivers decent levels of feedback. The suspension is most definitely at the ‘firm’ end of the scale – that’s not to say it’s harsh, there were plenty of potholes marking the route, however the GS was able to soak up the bumps and ruts without jarring the occupants.
Verdict
Andy
Looking at the specification of the UK GS I thought it may be underpowered. I needn’t have worried though, as the 1.5 turbo coped admirably on the road with no sign of turbo lag, and with 250Nm of torque and a towing capacity of 1,750kg I can see this appealing to the caravanners and members that tow a race car.
I was impressed with the seven speed DCT auto, the gear change was silky smooth, although the kick down did confuse the car occasionally, changing down two gears before instantly changing back up one. This was easily overcome by knocking the gearstick to the right to select sports mode; this dropped it down a gear, raising the revs enough for the eager 1.5 turbo to overtake or pull out. For the sporting drive the DCT also features paddle shift, enabling the driver to select the gear of their choice.
Colin
Not having driven an SUV vehicle before I didn’t really know what to expect, but have to say I was suitably impressed. My everyday car is an MG TF and I thought the GS would seem huge by comparison, but once entering the cabin I found the impression totally different, it being airy and spacious but not imposing. This, combined with its surefootedness and torquey motor, left me driving with confidence.
I was particularly impressed with the leg and head room, with the load space being ideal for shopping/ holiday luggage and even the largest of dogs. Having suffered with back issues in the past I found the seats extremely comfortable with good lumbar support. The rear parking sensors and camera made a breeze of reversing, with all being displayed on the 8” information screen. Overall an excellent car and one I would be pleased to have in my garage.
Adam
Having previously tried a China-spec GS I was keen to try the UK version to see the changes the team at Longbridge have made – once again they’ve done a good job. The GS is good looking, well-equipped and offers genuine value for money. Most importantly, for an MG, it’s engaging to drive. It’s an ideal solution for the modern MG family!
Tech Specification
| Engine | 1.5 Turbo Petrol (EU6B Compliant) |
| BHP | 164 |
| Torque | 184ft lbs |
| Top Speed | 118mph |
| 0-60 | 9.9 seconds |
| MPG | 46.3 (Combined) |
| Emissions | 139g/100km |
