Honda HR-V 2023 alternatives

[Guderian]

17 hours ago, Madgee said:

I got 36,000 baht worth of extras thrown in of all Toyota accessories including front and rear dashcams

Interesting. I asked the Honda salesguy about installing a dashcam and no way was he going to throw it in for free. It wasn't expensive, a bit over 4K Baht, but it would be installed to the left of the mirror, so that the driver couldn't see it. There were no playback controls so you had to download the footage from the dashcam to your phone to view it. And there was no option for a rear dashcam. As I said earlier, they seem to be almost completely inflexible in what they are willing to offer you.

 

Where was the dealer you used located? From what I've seen and heard, the dealers in the Pattaya area are pretty stingy with freebies.

[Kinnock]

23 hours ago, Guderian said:

I know nothing about Subaru cars, nor do I know anyone who's owned one. It might be a good idea but it would be a step in the dark from my viewpoint.

I've also been looking at the Subaru, but I have no direct experience of the brand.  The Forester looks like excellent value .... it's a class above the HR-V being closer to a CR-V in size, it's very well equipped and has four wheel drive.  Prices start at 1.2M.

[SiSePuede419]

I've had a car with a sunroof.  A Honda CRX, by the way. Totally useless.  Don't get one. 

 

It destroys the structural integrity and makes it more dangerous in rollovers.

 

Don't get a new CR-V.  They have turbos now.

 

Turbos wear out faster than aspirated engines and cost more for maintenance.

 

Would second the Corolla Cross Hybrid. 

 

Naturally aspirated, 5th generation hybrid, reliable, dependable Toyota.

 

My wife went to the Honda dealership here to get some wipers for our old CR-V.  Said customer service was uppity and said we should get a Toyota to replace our CR-V.

 

But was just at a Toyota dealership a couple weeks ago and there weren't any Corolla Cross (Hybrid or regular) on display.

 

Suspect there's a 6-12 month waiting list.  BOOM. ????

Edited August 1, 2023 by SiSePuede419

[DavisH]

2 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Don't get a new CR-V.  They have turbos now.

 

Turbos wear out faster than aspirated engines and cost more for maintenance.

Except the top spec cr-v is hybrid non-turbo. 

 

Post some links for your second statement. It turbo engines fail, that is mainly due to abuse or poor maintainence. 

[DavisH]

2 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Naturally aspirated, 5th generation hybrid, reliable, dependable Toyota.

Boring AF...that's the toyota motto. 

[Guderian]

I found this review of the Honda HR-V compared with the Toyota Corolla Cross.

 

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2023-honda-hr-v-vs-2022-toyota-corolla-cross-comparison-test-review/

 

It's an Australian review, so the models aren't exactly the same as the Thai versions, but I guess the conclusions are still relevant:

 

Verdict: What the Corolla Cross lacks in sportiness, refinement, and equipment it makes up for in commendable fuel economy.

 

To be honest, fuel economy isn't very high on my list of the most important things here in Thailand. With petrol being roughly half the price it is in the UK, I can live with a bit of a gas guzzler. Anyway, they're both hybrids so the fuel economy for town driving, which is what I mostly do, must be pretty good. The Cross has got 17" wheels like the Honda EL, and its front grille is more like the RS and to my eyes better than the EL's. OTOH, for what it's worth, I find the rear end of the Honda much nicer than the Toyota.

 

 

[AlexRRR]

On 7/29/2023 at 12:16 PM, Guderian said:

 

The Mazda CX-30 was originally my preference, but when I saw how small it is compared with the HR-V, and for roughly the same money, I got put off. I also didn't feel that the finish and  accessories were anything like as good as in the 2023 HR-V.

 

I looked at the Corolla Cross and it might do the trick but the reviews I read weren't very favourable. I like Honda as, back in the 1990's, I had the old Honda Civic in Europe and it was a great car, very sporty. A good point, though, maybe that one does merit a bit more investigation.

 

I don't know anything about the Kicks or 2008, in fact I have no idea where the nearest Nissan or Peugeot dealers are. You don't seem to see many of them around Pattaya, anyway.

Beg to differ, CX30 way more classy and same size as the HRV, have one and looked at the HRV and mind you Honda brand was going to be my prefered so there you go...

[Guderian]

I booked a test drive of the Toyota Corolla Cross and the test vehicle was the GR Sport, which wasn't even in the catalogue I had. It's the top-of-the-range, so has everything, including a wretched sunroof. At least it's just a normal sunroof with a solid partition you can use to completely block it off, not an entire glass roof as with the HRV RS. To avoid a sunroof you have to go two models down, and so lose a lot of the nice bits and pieces that come with the top model. I was impressed by the performance, anyway, just touch the throttle and it's off. Another nice feature lacking on the Honda is front and rear view cameras, plus a 360° camera. The only option on the Honda was a rear view camera. The Toyota saleslady also agreed to install a front and rear dashcam free of charge, Honda wanted 4,100 Baht just for a front dashcam, with no rear option. I'd also looked at the Subaru's, but they really don't fit my needs at all. At the end, then, it was an easy choice, and I've ordered the Corolla Cross GR Sport. Here's a couple of links to it:

 

https://www.facebook.com/toyotamotor.th/videos/2178236809006130/

 

https://www.toyotalibra.co.th/Corolla_Und_Cross_Und_GR_Und_Sport

 

 

 

[Madgee]

14 hours ago, Guderian said:

I booked a test drive of the Toyota Corolla Cross and the test vehicle was the GR Sport, which wasn't even in the catalogue I had. It's the top-of-the-range, so has everything, including a wretched sunroof. At least it's just a normal sunroof with a solid partition you can use to completely block it off, not an entire glass roof as with the HRV RS. To avoid a sunroof you have to go two models down, and so lose a lot of the nice bits and pieces that come with the top model. I was impressed by the performance, anyway, just touch the throttle and it's off. Another nice feature lacking on the Honda is front and rear view cameras, plus a 360° camera. The only option on the Honda was a rear view camera. The Toyota saleslady also agreed to install a front and rear dashcam free of charge, Honda wanted 4,100 Baht just for a front dashcam, with no rear option. I'd also looked at the Subaru's, but they really don't fit my needs at all. At the end, then, it was an easy choice, and I've ordered the Corolla Cross GR Sport. Here's a couple of links to it:

 

https://www.facebook.com/toyotamotor.th/videos/2178236809006130/

 

https://www.toyotalibra.co.th/Corolla_Und_Cross_Und_GR_Und_Sport

 

 

 

I've had mine for about 6 weeks now. Well impressed with the performance, economy and general 'feel' of the car.
I got 36k baht worth of extras free. If you're a technophobe, don't buy this car because the dash is so customizable it's like a cockpit but there again, most top of the range motors are the same.

 

Not deal breakers but:
No vanity lights in the footwells.
Official Toyota cargo net supplied needs holes drilling in the side! (I politely turned the option down)
Needs a usb port below the infotainment system. (USA version has one)  I got a 12v port flush fit fast charge usb adapter (lazada) to fit under the armrest.
Horn sounds like it came off a Scoopy scooter! (Now got Toyota premium twin horn fitted)
A must is to fit mud flaps as the slightest damp conditions causes spray to cover the rear tailgate making it so dirty. (Lazada) Also, order a manual from the dealership in English, should be supplied free.

 

Sometimes I couldn't get the hatch to open using the kick sensor, eventually I discovered it won't work if the drivers door is open! My bad and I'm still getting to grips with the infotainment system! (manual supplied in English) 

[Guderian]

2 hours ago, Madgee said:

I've had mine for about 6 weeks now. Well impressed with the performance, economy and general 'feel' of the car.
I got 36k baht worth of extras free. If you're a technophobe, don't buy this car because the dash is so customizable it's like a cockpit but there again, most top of the range motors are the same.

 

Not deal breakers but:
No vanity lights in the footwells.
Official Toyota cargo net supplied needs holes drilling in the side! (I politely turned the option down)
Needs a usb port below the infotainment system. (USA version has one)  I got a 12v port flush fit fast charge usb adapter (lazada) to fit under the armrest.
Horn sounds like it came off a Scoopy scooter! (Now got Toyota premium twin horn fitted)
A must is to fit mud flaps as the slightest damp conditions causes spray to cover the rear tailgate making it so dirty. (Lazada) Also, order a manual from the dealership in English, should be supplied free.

 

Sometimes I couldn't get the hatch to open using the kick sensor, eventually I discovered it won't work if the drivers door is open! My bad and I'm still getting to grips with the infotainment system! (manual supplied in English) 

Thanks for the feedback!

 

I mentioned an extra USB port to the saleslady and she pointed to where it would go, so I'm sure i can get that added at a later date.

I already ordered the English language manual.

I went for the white with black trim option, so it sounds like mudflaps will be needed.

Feeble horn, noted, not something I had time to try out during the test drive.

 

I'm in Pattaya and, in my experience, there's not much chance of getting any cash off or a lot of freebies from the dealers here, so I was quite glad to get the dashcams for free.

[Wiggy]

Good feedback Madgee & Guderian. Thanks. 

 

I'm completely torn between the HRV & Cross. I like the HRV as it has more power and I prefer the look of it. The moon roof does put me off a bit though (especially the rear manual panels). The cross has USB ports coming out of the top infotainment screen with is just plain daft (and potentially dangerous) and might end up being a deal breaker. Did either of you test drive the HRV? Any other tips you might have on the Cross? Oh, and other than the 360° camera, does it have sensors? Thanks.

[Guderian]

29 minutes ago, Wiggy said:

Good feedback Madgee & Guderian. Thanks. 

 

I'm completely torn between the HRV & Cross. I like the HRV as it has more power and I prefer the look of it. The moon roof does put me off a bit though (especially the rear manual panels). The cross has USB ports coming out of the top infotainment screen with is just plain daft (and potentially dangerous) and might end up being a deal breaker. Did either of you test drive the HRV? Any other tips you might have on the Cross? Oh, and other than the 360° camera, does it have sensors? Thanks.

In the course of a 10 or 15 minute test drive there's not much you can really try out, I immediately felt comfortable in both cars and they handled fine. I was impressed by the acceleration in the GR Sport, though the engine was a bit noisy when you put your foot down. There are three different drive options, though, as with the HRV, so I think it will be a question of finding out which one works best for the situation.

 

I saw the USB slot in the infotainment screen simply as somewhere to put a USB stick if I wanted my own entertainment, so I'm not sure why you think that's dangerous. The usual 12V DC charger is between the front seats and that's what I'd use to charge the phone, I think. Of course, the RS has a wireless phone recharger if your phone supports that, mine doesn't so it's not something I'll miss.

 

For me, the deal breaker with the Honda HRV RS was simply the front sunroof. You can block off the rear part of the roof but they only have that pathetic roll-up gauze cloth thing to cover the front sunroof, and it's useless. I'm a swimmer and spent too many hours in the sea and pool under the tropical sun without UV protection in my early years, and now I have to get pre-cancers burned off my skin and scalp every year. No matter what they claim about the roof glass, I'm not paying good money to have the sun shining down on my head.

 

The deal maker, OTOH, on the GR Sport was the camera system. I've only seen that on the high-end full-size SUV's, I'm sure the front camera will be very useful but less certain about the 360° one, though I've never had that feature in a car before. The Honda has a wider range of colours, at least by the somewhat Spartan Thai car colour selection standards. Both the RS and GR Sport have 18-inch alloys and electric driver seat controls, I don't think in terms of interior and exterior finish there's much to differentiate them, though obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And the oomph I felt in the GR Sport when I touched the throttle seemed far more responsive than the RS, though again in the context of a short test drive it's impossible to say anything conclusive.

[Madgee]

4 hours ago, Guderian said:

The cross has USB ports coming out of the top infotainment screen

Nope, it has one USB port at the bottom right-hand side of the infotainment system and your phone has to be plugged in to get the best from android auto or apple car play. 

The camera system on the Cross is excellent. if you want to quickly put the front camera on for parking, just stick the indicator on! Also, the side mirrors will automatically tilt down when reversing to help see the kerbside etc. These can be adjusted or turned off easily. 

Performance wise, the Cross GR Sport is quicker than the HRV RS and is far superior in ride and handling according to a friend who got the HRV and now regrets it after having a go in mine! Lol.

 

After running mine in sensibly for 1500 km I took it for a good run from Roi-Et to Khon Kaen, it's a good road and not busy at the weekends. Used the power mode for overtaking and cruised comfortably at 120 kmph . The radar cruise control works faultlessly but not good with the lane assist function so that got turned off!   Covered 250km overall, mostly highway driving at speed and returned 21.6 kmpl ... Not bad.

I drove my friends HRV for a few days when he went back home and IMHO, the extra baht for the GR Sport is well worth it .... He agrees! 
 

[Wiggy]

2 hours ago, Madgee said:

Nope, it has one USB port at the bottom right-hand side of the infotainment system and your phone has to be plugged in to get the best from android auto or apple car play. 

The camera system on the Cross is excellent. if you want to quickly put the front camera on for parking, just stick the indicator on! Also, the side mirrors will automatically tilt down when reversing to help see the kerbside etc. These can be adjusted or turned off easily. 

Performance wise, the Cross GR Sport is quicker than the HRV RS and is far superior in ride and handling according to a friend who got the HRV and now regrets it after having a go in mine! Lol.

 

After running mine in sensibly for 1500 km I took it for a good run from Roi-Et to Khon Kaen, it's a good road and not busy at the weekends. Used the power mode for overtaking and cruised comfortably at 120 kmph . The radar cruise control works faultlessly but not good with the lane assist function so that got turned off!   Covered 250km overall, mostly highway driving at speed and returned 21.6 kmpl ... Not bad.

I drove my friends HRV for a few days when he went back home and IMHO, the extra baht for the GR Sport is well worth it .... He agrees! 
 

Thank you so much. Very useful information. My wife just bought a Yaris Ativ, and I must say I’m impressed with the camera system. I guess the Cross has something similar, if not the same. 

[Furioso]

Interesting how well the Cross GR Sport compares to the HR-V. I'll probably drop the HR-V from my short list of new vehicles to buy.

 

Right now I am looking at the Honda City RS e:HEV for 850,000 as the 40L tank might go over 900KM.

Edited August 19, 2023 by Furioso

[Wiggy]

16 hours ago, Guderian said:

In the course of a 10 or 15 minute test drive there's not much you can really try out, I immediately felt comfortable in both cars and they handled fine. I was impressed by the acceleration in the GR Sport, though the engine was a bit noisy when you put your foot down. There are three different drive options, though, as with the HRV, so I think it will be a question of finding out which one works best for the situation.

 

I saw the USB slot in the infotainment screen simply as somewhere to put a USB stick if I wanted my own entertainment, so I'm not sure why you think that's dangerous. The usual 12V DC charger is between the front seats and that's what I'd use to charge the phone, I think. Of course, the RS has a wireless phone recharger if your phone supports that, mine doesn't so it's not something I'll miss.

 

For me, the deal breaker with the Honda HRV RS was simply the front sunroof. You can block off the rear part of the roof but they only have that pathetic roll-up gauze cloth thing to cover the front sunroof, and it's useless. I'm a swimmer and spent too many hours in the sea and pool under the tropical sun without UV protection in my early years, and now I have to get pre-cancers burned off my skin and scalp every year. No matter what they claim about the roof glass, I'm not paying good money to have the sun shining down on my head.

 

The deal maker, OTOH, on the GR Sport was the camera system. I've only seen that on the high-end full-size SUV's, I'm sure the front camera will be very useful but less certain about the 360° one, though I've never had that feature in a car before. The Honda has a wider range of colours, at least by the somewhat Spartan Thai car colour selection standards. Both the RS and GR Sport have 18-inch alloys and electric driver seat controls, I don't think in terms of interior and exterior finish there's much to differentiate them, though obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And the oomph I felt in the GR Sport when I touched the throttle seemed far more responsive than the RS, though again in the context of a short test drive it's impossible to say anything conclusive.

Thank you so much.
 

I was merely thinking that having the phone plugged into the high level USB port for map guidance and/or to use Apple CarPlay, and having a cable being in the way as a tad dangerous, but I rarely use CarPlay, except on longer journeys, so not a huge issue. 
 

That said, the 12V DC charger being between the seats is where I need to plug my current dash cam in, so that might be awkward. On my current car it’s under the dash and well out of the way. 
 

I’ll give it some more thought. I currently drive an RS Civic, but it’s just too low, hence the change to a taller vehicle. 

[Guderian]

1 hour ago, Wiggy said:

I currently drive an RS Civic, but it’s just too low, hence the change to a taller vehicle. 

Yes, that's one of my drivers too. I don't want to slump down into the car seat like I do now, or climb up via a running board as you do on the big SUV's and trucks. These compact SUV's are perfect for me from that viewpoint, just slide in and out with minimal bending or effort.

[Madgee]

3 hours ago, Wiggy said:

That said, the 12V DC charger being between the seats is where I need to plug my current dash cam in, so that might be awkward. On my current car it’s under the dash and well out of the way. 

The GR front / rear Toyota dashcam is all wired in, nothing to plug in. It can be operated via wifi from your phone to take videos or download dashcam footage. If you can't twist the dealers arm to get it free, it costs 6000 baht. Well worth it for the expert fitting, quality and standard 3 year guarantee on all Toyota accessories.

[Wiggy]

9 hours ago, Madgee said:

The GR front / rear Toyota dashcam is all wired in, nothing to plug in. It can be operated via wifi from your phone to take videos or download dashcam footage. If you can't twist the dealers arm to get it free, it costs 6000 baht. Well worth it for the expert fitting, quality and standard 3 year guarantee on all Toyota accessories.

Excellent. Good to know. Thank you. 

[Jitar]

I'm surprised the Corolla Cross GR Sport feels faster than the HR-V since it appears very similar and uses the same powertrain as the other Hybrid version tested by headlight magazine.  YMMV. 

Edited August 20, 2023 by Jitar

[Madgee]

14 hours ago, Jitar said:

I'm surprised the Corolla Cross GR Sport feels faster than the HR-V since it appears very similar and uses the same powertrain as the other Hybrid version tested by headlight magazine.  YMMV. 

That's the standard HRV petrol and standard Cross without hybrid.

The Honda HRV hybrid is 1498cc. 

 

Detail All NEW Honda HR-V e:HEV Thai Version 9xx,000 - 1,1xx,000 THB (1.5 Hybrid i-MMD) - HeadLight Magazine

Worth noting that the Honda hybrid battery has 5 years warranty vs 10 years on the Toyota. 

[Wiggy]

7 hours ago, Madgee said:

Worth noting that the Honda hybrid battery has 5 years warranty vs 10 years on the Toyota. 

One reason for this is that Toyota use a Nickel-metal Hydride battery vs. Honda’s Lithium-ion battery. My understanding is that the former performs better in hot climates.

[Jitar]

9 hours ago, Madgee said:

That's the standard HRV petrol and standard Cross without hybrid.

The Honda HRV hybrid is 1498cc. 

 

Detail All NEW Honda HR-V e:HEV Thai Version 9xx,000 - 1,1xx,000 THB (1.5 Hybrid i-MMD) - HeadLight Magazine

Worth noting that the Honda hybrid battery has 5 years warranty vs 10 years on the Toyota. 

The Hybrid versions are also further down in the results from Headlight Magazine. 

 

Also worth noting the Toyota electric motor and battery are smaller than the Honda, but the Toyota transmission is mechanically more complex and should allow the petrol and electric power to be combined more effectively over a broader speed range.  The Toyota spec sheet states combined power of 122hp,  https://www.toyota.co.th/model/corollacross_grsport/specification

Honda don't quote a system total power but their transmission is going to limit power close to 131hp from the electric motor at low to medium speed.   

[poobear]

My two cents on a 2018 HRv Rs top model was I purchase with 18000k. The pick up and drive was great for me but the seats were so uncomfortable that even after get the leather seats modified twice and every kind of seat pad I could find I constantly was moving around for a comfortable position.  The sides of the deat are way too high and to tight for me. In the end I sold the car within 4 months at a $5000 loss and was never so happy to se that car and my money go. The other two issues wwas I'm 6 feet tall the sunroof that I would never even use took way too much head room for me and the touch sreen radio controls suck. Before that I had a 2002 Honda city and now a 2017 Jazz and both while the seats are not the best, the are much bigger and more comfortable.

[Patong2]

On 7/30/2023 at 6:13 PM, Guderian said:

Glad to hear a positive review! From what the salesman told me, the only differences between the RS and EL are:

 

17" instead of 18" alloys

manual seat adjustment controls

no sunroof (hurrah!)

no fancy chrome front grille

no wireless phone recharging pad (that doesn't bother me at all)

 

Is that really the lot or did he miss anything out?

 

The other thing is that he claimed apart from these relatively minor things, the body and engine are exactly the same. So in principle, if I wanted to spend the money, I could replace the 17" alloys with 18". Is that right?

Yes that looks like the differences.

The 17" wheels ride better than I thought and that is around the crap roads in Phuket.

 

I'm back in NZ for a few weeks and are taking a ZRV out for a test drive this afternoon. Available in ICE or Hybrid. I'll look at the Hybrid model. There is a 6 month wait if I decide to get one.

To confess I really don't know the difference between the HRV and ZRV but I only have a few days left so I booked a drive yesterday.

 

I'll report back later

 

[Patong2]

On 7/30/2023 at 6:13 PM, Guderian said:

 

Sorry, double posted

 

Edited August 22, 2023 by Patong2

[Furioso]

I went to MG today with a friend test drive the MG VS Hybrid. 

The VS is a subcompact crossover. During the test drive the ride was a big surprise. The VS handled very well, the 200Nm torque electric engine was very quick, actually frightening at times. My best guess is 8 seconds from start to 100km/h. 

 

The interior is sharp, I won't buy a car with bad seats but these were top notch. Two big touchscreens in the front, makes the car look very modern/upscale. I'm not too fond of the front grill but not too important to me. Also, the VS is a little small compared to the HS but it can be an advantage driving here in Thailand. 

 

I was very impressed, will test drive the HS PHEV next week.

The search continues. 

[Wiggy]

On 8/24/2023 at 5:31 PM, Furioso said:

I went to MG today with a friend test drive the MG VS Hybrid. 

The VS is a subcompact crossover. During the test drive the ride was a big surprise. The VS handled very well, the 200Nm torque electric engine was very quick, actually frightening at times. My best guess is 8 seconds from start to 100km/h. 

 

The interior is sharp, I won't buy a car with bad seats but these were top notch. Two big touchscreens in the front, makes the car look very modern/upscale. I'm not too fond of the front grill but not too important to me. Also, the VS is a little small compared to the HS but it can be an advantage driving here in Thailand. 

 

I was very impressed, will test drive the HS PHEV next week.

The search continues. 

Interesting, thanks for posting. I must say I do like the look of some of the MGs, and there are a lot of them on the roads. My two big concerns are reliability and resale value. I’m not knocking Chinese-made vehicles per se, but a friend bought a BYD, and he said almost nothing works on it. It’s four months old. I’m guessing that’s the exception and not the rule though otherwise the word would be out. 

[Furioso]

2 hours ago, Wiggy said:

Interesting, thanks for posting. I must say I do like the look of some of the MGs, and there are a lot of them on the roads. My two big concerns are reliability and resale value. I’m not knocking Chinese-made vehicles per se, but a friend bought a BYD, and he said almost nothing works on it. It’s four months old. I’m guessing that’s the exception and not the rule though otherwise the word would be out. 

I ride in my neighbor's 2021 HS several times a week. Very smooth, no problems at all and a ton of great features..all for under a million baht. We also test drove the MG 5 sedan, decent but not great I would not recommend it. The new M4 electric has quite a few bugs in the software but YouTubers like Bjorn are very impressed with the smooth ride, overall handling, and fast acceleration. It's a first year model so I don't think it's ready for primetime, maybe in 2 years. 

 

I did a post on resale value on another thread. I estimate a Toyota/Honda are worth 75% after 5 years. MG probably around 60% so either way you go you lose the same amount of money. The big plus is during those 5 years 400k-500k you save can be invested and make out like a bandit. 

 

The MG website has a lot of promotions(HS PHEV, VS, MG4, etc) they usually will install a home charger for free. If you pay cash you can probably get 10%-15% off plus tint and 1 year free insurance. Lot's of things to consider but for sure first year models are the one's I'm steering away from. 

[Wiggy]

32 minutes ago, Furioso said:

I ride in my neighbor's 2021 HS several times a week. Very smooth, no problems at all and a ton of great features..all for under a million baht. We also test drove the MG 5 sedan, decent but not great I would not recommend it. The new M4 electric has quite a few bugs in the software but YouTubers like Bjorn are very impressed with the smooth ride, overall handling, and fast acceleration. It's a first year model so I don't think it's ready for primetime, maybe in 2 years. 

 

I did a post on resale value on another thread. I estimate a Toyota/Honda are worth 75% after 5 years. MG probably around 60% so either way you go you lose the same amount of money. The big plus is during those 5 years 400k-500k you save can be invested and make out like a bandit. 

 

The MG website has a lot of promotions(HS PHEV, VS, MG4, etc) they usually will install a home charger for free. If you pay cash you can probably get 10%-15% off plus tint and 1 year free insurance. Lot's of things to consider but for sure first year models are the one's I'm steering away from. 

Thanks again for the information. Very useful. I’ve just been looking at the MG VS X, and it does look to be a very nice vehicle. I think it’s been around for about a year or so now. I’m particularly interested in the total (combined) power of 177PS, whereas Toyota and Honda equivalents are down around 120-130PS, which is a bit low for me. I currently drive a Civic RS which has around 180. I’m not a fast driver, but I do like to have a bit of power when overtaking or even getting out of a situation. Definitely food for thought.