Thoughts on warning noises

[ncha]

Hi all
I'm thinking of buying the phev hs trophy. I took one for a test drive and liked it a lot. Since doing some reading online about the car I see quite a few people complaining about the car beeping at them and having lots of annoying warning noises. There's also references to speed limit warnings sometimes caused by the car not recognising road signs correctly. Also, that these have to be turned off every time the car starts if you want to disable them.

I was hoping to get some thoughts about this from people who have the car. I do get weirdly annoyed by unnecessary warning noises and beeps so just wondering what this is like in real life. Minor irritant or constant nuisance?

Thanks

 

[HStrophyPHEV2025rc]

First of all, keep in mind that I have been married over 26 years, and one of my wife's many fantastic qualities is her amazing ability to find fault with every single part of my driving. In other words, I am used to being told off for being 3 miles an hour above the speed limit, being too close to the car in front etc. Experience has taught me to simply obey her will for a 'quiet life'. In truth, this has made me into a rule-obeying driver, who does not mind being warned when I could drive 'better'.

So, with the above caveat in mind, my honest view on the alert noises is:

• The least obtrusive noise is the 'keep your eyes on the road' reminder. It's very quiet and gentle, with an accompanying small text message on the dashboard. Very rarely occurs (unless you are looking for a radio station for too long, or whatever) and (let's face facts) it's good advice anyway. But (as I say) the 'bong' is very quiet and actually (weirdly) rather likeable (nice tone)
  • Also, if you wear sunglasses it will give a very quiet bong to warn you that it can't see your eyes very well. But it's quite a pleasant noise in my view!
• Compared to my old X-Trail, I find the MG's "warning that the car in front is stationary and you are about to hit it" noise is a little too quiet for my taste! My old Nissan used to have a high-pitched bing that really jolted you alert. So therefore I would say that the MG alert for 'getting too close' is not annoying
• However, to be honest, I would say that the speed alert is a little annoying! It will start binging at approx 2-3 mph over the limit (e.g. 32-33mph in a 30mph zone), which (in my view) is a little aggressive. I think that 4mph+ over the limit would be more sensible.
  • That said, I compared the speedometer accuracy of my old Nissan to the new MG and (in fact) 70mph in the Nissan is about 68mph in the MG, so therefore driving to the speed limit in my MG is a little faster (in real life) than in the Nissan, so I don't mind too much

However, all of the noises/alerts are fairly 'gentle' in volume/pitch, so it is not something ear-shatteringly awful

• I certainly don't bother to switch off the alerts before I set off to drive, because (overall) I don't mind them at all.

In fact, I reckon that the reason why 'professional reviewers' mention these audible alerts as a 'problem' is because they have to complain about something, otherwise all car reviews will just sounds like "this is great, this is great....". Same with armchair 'keyboard warriors' who will criticise (e.g. in YouTube comments sections) Chinese cars like the MG without ever actually having driven one. Sure, if you own an MG and don't like it, then feel free to tell everyone. But if you've just got a 'bee in your bonnet' about not liking a type of car/brand etc. (but without ever owning one) then I'll choose to ignore your views.

That's my two cents anyway!

 

[ncha]

Thank you for this reply. Great to get the opinions of an actual driver of the car. Does the speed alert bing constantly when you're over the speed limit, or is it just once? And if it's constantly, how often, eg every 30 seconds, every minute?
Do you have any issues with it mis reading road signs and altering when you're not over the limit?
Also is it quite easy to turn off? I'm not driving like a maniac but it sounds like something I would want to turn off on a long journey.

 

[FMAJ]

I’ve had a new HS Trophy PHEV since 1May and have covered over 2500 miles. Switching off the audible warnings is pretty easy and takes a matter of seconds. I usually switch off the speed audible warning and driver distraction monitoring when I get in the car. Just a couple of touches on the infotainment display and you’re done. But honestly, I don’t have any issues with the driver assistance warnings.

I had a Kia EV6 company car before I bought the MG and that had a lot of audible warnings too.

 

[BarrieG]

I've had my car for three weeks now and I live with the bongs on short journeys and turn them off on longer journeys. The speed warning sounds three times when you go 2-3mph over the limit but then stops, it will stay off until your speed drops below this speed when it resets itself.
One thing I've discovered is that the screen in front of the driver is not visible to the front seat passenger unless they lean across, so the speed is not apparent until the system's bongs sound the alert.

 

[aerofurb]

The overspeed alert bongs three times, then remains quiet until the next overspeed event. The speed sign in the display blinks until the speed goes within 1mph of the limit.

I normally run Google Maps for navigating and it's amazing how many times the speed limit displays differ. The MG display is more right than Google. Doesn't help with all the 20 mph limits around Oxfordshire.

Given the many speed limits about, I live with the transient overspeed bonging.

All I do at the journey start is switch 'lane departure assist' to 'alert' only and the 'driver distraction monitoring' gets turned off as I do find that one annoying.

For those that assume it's only MG, it isn't, it's all part of the NCAP rating safety game with all new cars.

In reality, it's 15 seconds to put it into 'sport' and then the two MG Pilot choices.

The speedo is much more accurate than any of my previous Skodas that all overread by 5% - the MG seems to be 1mph over.

 

[HStrophyPHEV2025rc]

@BarrieG - Glad to hear that the passenger cannot read the current speed on the dashboard. Perhaps this will prevent my otherwise-fabulous wife from being able to spend most of the our future journeys checking my speed!

 

[adeace]

I’ve had a new HS Trophy PHEV since 1May and have covered over 2500 miles. Switching off the audible warnings is pretty easy and takes a matter of seconds. I usually switch off the speed audible warning and driver distraction monitoring when I get in the car. Just a couple of touches on the infotainment display and you’re done. But honestly, I don’t have any issues with the driver assistance warnings.

I had a Kia EV6 company car before I bought the MG and that had a lot of audible warnings too.

similar click the car bit then mg pilot tab, turno off top audible warning bit then scroll to the bottom and turn off the distraction audible and fatigue audible !! job done.about 20-30 seconds in total.
Its not a massive issue, a shame they cannot give you an ability to save default settings but guess it is part of the european ratings regulation - seem overkill for me but at least you can turn off. Hoping eventually they fix it and also allow me to communicate with my EV and set charging directly for my ohme home pro.

 

[BarrieG]

Has anybody tried turning off these warnings using the voice control?

 

[adeace]

Has anybody tried turning off these warnings using the voice control?

good idea I might try later

 

[Eponemuss]

good idea I might try later

Any joy?

 

[BPM06]

This should probably not be taken as advice but purely an observation.
I also drive the 2025 HS PHEV. To honest the driver fatigue bong does not activate that often so I tend not to deactivate it. (The only time it creates a problem is if I am wearing sunglasses and driving directly into the sun, then it bongs all the time)
I have noticed in the passenger compartment fuse box, something labelled “Driver Fatigue Detection” at position F09 and a 5amp fuse protecting the circuit.
I have no idea what would happen to other components of your electronic systems if this fuse was removed, but it might be worth a try IF the bongs are driving you to distraction and in-so-doing distracting you from driving sensibly. As I mentioned only an observation, NOT advice.

 

[Eponemuss]

This should probably not be taken as advice but purely an observation.
I also drive the 2025 HS PHEV. To honest the driver fatigue bong does not activate that often so I tend not to deactivate it. (The only time it creates a problem is if I am wearing sunglasses and driving directly into the sun, then it bongs all the time)
I have noticed in the passenger compartment fuse box, something labelled “Driver Fatigue Detection” at position F09 and a 5amp fuse protecting the circuit.
I have no idea what would happen to other components of your electronic systems if this fuse was removed, but it might be worth a try IF the bongs are driving you to distraction and in-so-doing distracting you from driving sensibly. As I mentioned only an observation, NOT advice.

Good shout! I shall bear that in mind. I'm guessing the downside might be if you make an insurance claim for an accident which might have been avoided for want of that fuse being in position.

 

[BPM06]

Also a point worth considering. Insurance companies will find any reason to not pay out.
I have also seen advice, to sick blue tackle over the sensor.
Personally I would leave alone and see how you get along with it. We are all different and all have our own opinions regarding the bings and bongs of all modern cars.
After a couple of weeks you will make your own decision what to turn off or leave on.

 

[Eponemuss]

The overspeed alert bongs three times, then remains quiet until the next overspeed event. The speed sign in the display blinks until the speed goes within 1mph of the limit.

I normally run Google Maps for navigating and it's amazing how many times the speed limit displays differ. The MG display is more right than Google. Doesn't help with all the 20 mph limits around Oxfordshire.

Given the many speed limits about, I live with the transient overspeed bonging.

All I do at the journey start is switch 'lane departure assist' to 'alert' only and the 'driver distraction monitoring' gets turned off as I do find that one annoying.

For those that assume it's only MG, it isn't, it's all part of the NCAP rating safety game with all new cars.

In reality, it's 15 seconds to put it into 'sport' and then the two MG Pilot choices.

The speedo is much more accurate than any of my previous Skodas that all overread by 5% - the MG seems to be 1mph over.

Does switching to 'sport' mode affect fuel consumption, or does it just adjust the 'ride'?

 

[Herandnu]

I actually find the Google speed signs are more accurate than the MG ones in my area.

 

[BarrieG]

In Milton Keynes, famous for its roundabouts, there are some larger roundabouts that have a 40mph speed limit. When you come off the roundabout onto a 60mph grid road there is a large radius bend and the car's camera will pick up the derestriction sign on the island separating the incoming traffic. However, if that sign has been demolished in an accident the car is looking straight ahead and does not pick up the one on the inside of the bend. A common situation where the bongs are wrong and Google is correct.