2022 MG HS gets 1.5 Turbo, top spec at PHP 1,208,888

All-new MG HS wants to pick a fight with Geely Azkarra, Chevy Trailblazer, Ford Territory

There's a new turbocharged crossover in town, and it's got the Ford Territory, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Geely Azkarra in its sights.

This is the 2022 MG HS, and it's packing quite the punch. Slotting above the MG ZS, it now serves as the brand's compact crossover offering and surprisingly, it will not supplant the MG RX5. We'll tackle that at a later date. 

There appears to be a strong Italian inspiration throughout the MG HS design. Starting with the exterior, it has wide hips and a curvaceous rear end. It also has an aggressive-looking front end that's dominated by a large grille and eye-catching LED headlights. As an extra touch, all variants of the HS roll on 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/50 tires.

Inside, it gets a predominantly black interior with splashes of chrome trim. True to its sporty design, it also gets a flat-bottom steering wheel and red contrast stitching throughout the cabin. Don't expect to find traditional gauges inside the HS. Instead, it comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Not only does it display the tachometer and speedometer, it also has an integrated multi-info display.

Other features available in the HS include a Stargazer panoramic sunroof, a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sport bucket seats, ambient interior ligthing, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a power tailgate.

Powering the HS is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection. It's coupled to a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission that drives the front wheels. It pushes out a healthy 169 PS at 5600 rpm and 250 Nm of torque at 1700 – 4400 rpm.

Anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution come standard while other safety features present on the MG HS are blind-spot detection, tire pressure monitoring system, and electronic parking brake with auto-hold function.

Colors for the 2022 MG HS include; Maya Brown, Pearl Black, Pearl White, Phantom Red, and Surfing Blue.

The 2022 MG HS is available in two variants; the 1.5T Alpha which retails for PHP 1,158,888 and the range-topping 1.5T Trophy that sells for PHP 1,208,888.