MG HS review

Is the MG HS a good car?

The MG HS will appeal to drivers who like getting their money’s worth, or perhaps are on a tight budget but still want a practical SUV for their next family car. Value for money is still front and centre with MG’s mid-size SUV, which comes generously equipped, feels spacious and has a starting price that’s less than the best-selling Ford Puma.

However, we’d strongly recommend waiting for the hybrid model, rather than settling for the noisy pure-petrol version. If you can’t wait, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) HS is much more refined and will appeal to company car drivers because it offers a huge EV range of 75 miles. Handily, the PHEV is no less practical and has a starting price of £31,495 which is not that much more than a regular petrol-automatic version.

How much does the MG HS cost?

MG has really been keeping us on our toes in 2024 with a new car blitz that’s included the simply excellent MG3 supermini, which we recently crowned as our Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year, and the long- and feverishly-awaited MG Cyberster sports car.

But while the second-generation MG HS might not capture the imagination the way a pure-electric roadster with scissor doors can, it’s more important for the brand. The out-going model was MG’s biggest-seller in the UK, and so far this year, is mixing it with the top-10 best-selling cars in the country.

It appealed, first and foremost, to budget-conscious motorists by dramatically undercutting the competition in the very popular mid-size SUV class, and so does the latest HS. Prices start from just under £25,000, which is less than £1,000 more than its predecessor. 

Like before, a generous standard kit list sweetens the deal. The entry-level SE trim comes with dual 12.3-inch displays, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, LED headlights, keyless entry, a reversing camera and 19-inch diamond-cut wheels. Plus, every HS features the ‘MG Pilot’ suite of driver assistance tech.

Most buyers are expected to upgrade to Trophy specification though, as it only costs £2,500 extra and adds a wireless charging pad, an upgraded sound system, a 360-degree surround-view camera, dual-zone air-conditioning, a powered tailgate and heated front seats with black leather-style upholstery as standard – or tan for an additional £600.

In addition to the two trim levels, the MG HS is currently available with either a pure-petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrain, and a full-hybrid version is coming early in 2025. All of them incorporate a 1.5-litre petrol engine, with the hybrid versions adding assistance from an electric motor. 

The plug-in hybrid MG HS starts from just under £31,500 – another impressive feat of pricing, and not much more than a regular petrol-automatic version. The forthcoming full-hybrid will hopefully split the difference between the PHEV and basic pure-petrol models, delivering a more refined and slick driving experience than the petrol. 

MG HS alternatives

The MG HS is about £5,000 cheaper than the most basic Nissan Qashqai or Kia Sportage, and roughly £7k less than the opening price for a Ford Kuga or Hyundai Tucson. Cars much closer in price to the HS are small SUVs like the Ford Puma. However, the larger, more family-oriented MG even manages to undercut that car’s near £26,000 starting price.

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While the sub-10 second 0-62mph time for both the manual and automatic 167bhp petrol version is respectable, the 366bhp plug-in hybrid with its 6.8 second acceleration time is downright speedy. The plug-in hybrid is also the most refined and satisfying HS to drive, whereas the petrol sounds gravely when accelerating, and the automatic isn’t as responsive as we’d like. The steering of the HS is vague, the ride can be bouncy on B roads, and the brake feel doesn’t inspire confidence. Read more about the engines, performance and drive of the MG HS…

The 38.2mpg (37.2mpg for the automatic) fuel economy figure of the petrol MG HS looks old-fashioned and we expect from a modern petrol car, so this version won’t be a good option for those counting pennies. The plug-in hybrid version’s long electric driving range should be the most efficient version, provided you keep it charged and use electric power as much as possible. Read more about the MPG, emissions and running costs of the MG HS…

Value for money is a huge selling point for the MG HS, and you get loads of kit for your money here. We were impressed with the car’s interior quality given its low starting price, too; it feels like a more expensive car than it really is. The sharp exterior looks help to give that same impression from the outside. It’s let down by a clunky infotainment system that owners will be only too happy to bypass using their smartphone through the standard Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connections. Read more about the interior, design and technology of the MG HS…

The latest MG HS is slightly bigger than before with even more space inside, meaning it should be ideal for families. The ISOFIX points are easy to access, and there’s a decent amount of space in the 507-litre boot. Plus, the plug-in hybrid is just as practical as the regular petrol, and doesn’t loose any boot space despite its large battery pack. Read more about the boot space, comfort and practicality of the MG HS…

The MG HS comes with an impressively long warranty, which will appeal to buyers looking to hang on to their car, although the brand’s last-place finish in the manufacturer’s table of the 2024 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey doesn’t paint a particularly rosy picture. There isn’t a crash test safety rating from Euro NCAP yet, but the HS has many standard safety and driver assistance features as standard, so we expect it to do well. Read more about the reliability and safety of the MG HS…