MG GS review (2016-2019)
The MG GS is a medium-sized family SUV that promises to make a dent in the market, offering affordability and fuel efficiency. It’s up to the job with a large boot and five seats. But how does it compare against its well-established rivals? Read our full MG GS review below.
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Pros
- Affordable
- Cheap to run
- Large boot
Cons
- Only one engine option
- Rivals have more standard kit
Interior
Our rating: 4/10
Driving position
Get into the MG's driving seat and one of the first things you notice is how good the driving position is, with the fairly flat bonnet giving decent visibility to the front.
It’s very spacious inside, whether you’re in the front or rear seats, which also slide back and forward.
The seats themselves are reasonably comfortable and in the top-spec Exclusive models, they’re even leather-covered.
Tech and features
The relatively low price of the MG GS means that you can’t expect too much of the car’s interior, but it must be said that even the most basic level of trim does come with a good range of features, including automatic headlights, air conditioning and cruise control.
However, cheap materials and hard plastics do let things down a little.
Other issues include the infotainment screen that is slanted away from the driver and towards the passenger and the rather fiddly buttons that can be hard to use when you’re on the move.
There’s also no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity – but if you have a smartphone that’s MirrorLink-enabled then at least you’ll be able to use that instead.
Performance
Our rating: 5/10
Handling and ride comfort
The steering feels precise and reactive, but the suspension seems variable in the way it copes with the lumps and bumps of daily driving.
This seems especially pronounced when cornering, where judders can run through the car.
Some reviews have also reported that the car’s automatic gearbox seems rather clunky and doesn’t change gear at the right moment – although the manual version is fine.
Engines and power
With only one engine to choose from, a 1.5-litre petrol, the car can also seem rather under-powered until you get it to 3,000rpm or more.
Practicality
Our rating: 6/10
Boot space
The MG GS is larger than most of its rivals and this translates into having a very generous amount of load space – more than enough for the big supermarket shop or holiday luggage for four people.
The 60/40 rear seats also slide forward to give more room and fold completely flat to create a very big cargo space.
One small issue is that the boot opening is narrower at the bottom than the top, which can make loading tricky.
Storage solutions
Inside the spacious cabin there are plenty of cubby holes for those odds and ends like sunglasses and lip balm.
Running costs
Our rating: 6/10
Fuel economy
With a single engine on offer, the MG GS doesn’t give you the option of a diesel version.
The 1.5-litre petrol isn’t particularly economical either.
Although the official figure is around 45mpg, in actual use, you’re more likely to achieve somewhere between 35 and 40mpg.
Reliability
In terms of reliability, MG are confident enough to give a five-year warranty on new cars which has to be a good sign.
The verdict
Interior
4/10
Performance
5/10
Practicality
6/10
Running costs
6/10
It might never be a classic like the old styles of MG but there’s plenty to recommend the GS, especially if you want the kind of affordable mid-sized SUV that you don’t see every day or even every week.
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