MG has renewed its popular HS five-seat family car for the second generation. This top-range Essence is bigger and smarter looking. It’s also more expensive.

We rather liked the former MG HS in Excite mode when we tested it in 2020 and the latest second-generation model builds on that.

It may be ‘all new’ but you’d not mistake it for anything other than the latest HS, for the look is relatively similar. Only better proportioned, smoother. Up front is more purposeful with an MG3-esque grille and slim-line headlights.

At the rear is an LED lightbar and faux tail pipes emerge from the bumper. Also bogus are carbon fibre trim elements instead of flat black plastic mouldings.

We’ll take those any day as they don’t mark as easily. It’s a good look this.

Inside is familiar too. There are more soft plastics and piano black finishings.

Where once there was a three-part central screen it now has four, and where before ACC controls used to be hidden behind the wheel, they are now on the wheel for simplicity’s sake.

After pick-up I couldn’t work out why ACC wouldn’t activate. I’d have to say the handbook proved no help. And it wasn’t immediately obvious in the touchscreen either as system settings seemed to be missing.

Turns out I was using too much pressure to swipe the four-part central screen to the left. Pays not to be an animal. A gentle stroke is what’s required.

Anyway, it turns out ACC was turned off in the system settings! No wonder it wouldn’t go.

What models?

There are three distinct variants in the initial line-up, all with a turbopetrol powertrain. Hybrids are coming. So we have the MG HS Vibe, Excite and Essence, with the range kicking off at $36,990.

There’s a $3k boost in each model jump so this car, the range-topping Essence, goes for $42,990. Special features that the others don’t get include a panoramic sunroof, an eight-speaker audio system, heated front seats, dual-zone air, and wireless smartphone charging.

There are also powered seats with leather-like coverings up front and the driver’s seat moves in and out when entering and exiting the vehicle. Or not, depending on how you set it up.

It’s not like the Vibe is exactly threadbare either, with standard features like automatic LED headlights, 18-inch alloys, and a 12.3-inch Infotainment System.

This naturally has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Pay the extra $3000 for the Excite and you score 19-inch alloy wheels (as does the Essence), a 360-degree camera and the ability to control the air conditioner or heater via the MG iSmart app. We didn’t bother.

What’s under the hood?

This is more expensive than it was four years ago but so is almost everything. Back then it went for the low to high 30s. Now it starts in the high 30s and ends in the low 40s, for what is essentially your garden variety good value family runabout.

So far it’s a petrol-only offering, the 1.5T engine developing a sniff more power and torque than it used to, out to 125kW and 275Nm (previously 124kW and 250Nm). Back then it was rated to hit 100 in just under 10 sec and now they reckon 9.6sec.