Used MG GS 2016-present review
SUVs are expensive, right? Not so the MG GS. But does that make it a good used buy?
See used cars for sale
Large SUV
Jump to:
What's the used MG GS like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Alternatives
Reliability
Stuart Milne
Updated: 24 October 2018
How we test cars
What's the used MG GS like?
For those who are old enough to remember, MG used to exclusively produce sports cars, much like Porsche. Trouble is, there isn’t a huge amount of money in sports cars and what the buying public really demands are SUVs. Porsche relented over a decade ago and added an off-roader to its line-up and so did MG with this, the GS.
A used GS significantly undercuts its rival from Stuttgart on price, and competes with the likes of the Ssangyong Tivoli and Dacia Duster. However, unlike its rivals, you can’t have four-wheel drive with this MG.
Overview
Plenty of space for the money, but you pay for that in terms of a poor ride, low refinement and a cheap-feeling interior
Pros
- Spacious interior
- Long warranty
Cons
- Poor ride
- Cheap-feeling interior
- Rough engine
Used cars available now
In partnership with
MG GS
1.5 TGI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£3,390
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£3,795
MG GS
1.5 TGI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,290
MG GS
1.5 TGI Explore Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,393
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,450
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,595
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,795
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,850
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£6,490
See all available cars
See used cars for sale
The engine range is limited to just a 164bhp turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol unit. You can have either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, though. Despite having a turbo, the engine needs to be wound up to 3000rpm to reach its best and beyond 5000rpm it can sound coarse.
There’s no getting around the fact that the GS feels like a heavy SUV to drive due to plenty of body roll, a firm ride and a long-throw gearchange. The steering is pleasant enough, however, even if it is heavier than you’ll find in its competitors.
advertisment
scroll for more
Space up front is plentiful and you get to sit nice and high, which means you have a good view out, plus the bonnet is fairly flat so you can see the extremes of the car quite easily. Room in the back is up there with the best in class and there’s a virtually flat floor. The base of the seat is slightly too close to the floor so your knees will be bent a little more than they should be.
All the latest deals, offers and much more from the What Car? team. Don't miss out.
See our full privacy notice for more details.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
The boot is easily big enough for a holiday’s worth of luggage and the standard split-folding rear seats essentially lay down flat. The only issue is the boot opening, which narrows as it gets to the bottom, meaning that you have to be careful when loading items into the back.
Interior quality isn’t stellar, but given the low price of it new, that’s to be expected. The bigger issue is the design of it. The touchscreen infotainment is okay to use, but only top-spec cars have sat-nav and the system doesn’t have Apple CarPlay. MirrorLink is included for Android phones, but it’s not as good as the stand-alone Android Auto application. Then there are the stereo and air-conditioning controls that are grouped together, requiring you to divert your attention from the road because of its confusing layout and small symbols.
advertisment
scroll for more
Tips & Advice
How to test drive a car
There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Ownership cost
What used MG GS will I get for my budget?
Prices for an early MG GS start from about £11,500. Most have done fewer than 10,000 miles and come in mid-range Excite guise. £14,500 will find you a year-old top-of-the-range Exclusive model with under 10,000 miles, which is a useful saving over the £19,500 list price of a new one.
Check the value of a used MG GS with What Car? Valuations
How much does cost to run a MG GS?
With only one petrol engine option and no diesel, the MG GS is certainly not the cheapest large SUV to run on a daily basis. Manual versions have an average NEDC economy figure of 46.3mpg with automatic versions getting 45.6mpg. That difference doesn’t sound that great, but if you’re buying a GS registered before 1 April 2017, the yearly road tax figure is £140 for the manual and £155 for the automatic. Any GS registered after that date will be charged a flat-rate fee of £140.
advertisment
scroll for more
Servicing is due every 15,000 miles and you can set up a service plan if you need to spread the cost.
Tips & Advice
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Never miss a motoring date
Remembering to arrange insurance, book a service or buy breakdown cover can be a pain. Fortunately, My What Car? is here to help
Can I buy a car with cash?
Paying cash isn’t always an easy way to a new car – and you may not be able to get the big discounts you might expect
Protect your investment
GAP insurance allows you to get the full price for your car if it’s stolen or written off, but only a quarter of Brits buy it
Reduce your car finance bills
Refinancing your car effectively means taking out one loan to pay off another, which could help reduce your monthly payments, or reduce your finance term
What is hire purchase?
Hire purchase allows you to make monthly payments to buy your next car – although these will be higher than with a PCP
What is PCP finance?
Low monthly payments are key to the appeal of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements. But are there downsides?
Our recommendations
Which used MG GS should I buy?
Since there’s only one engine available, it’s really a choice of manual or automatic. We’d stick with the manual because it’s cheaper to run.
Of the three models on offer, go for mid-range Excite because you get cruise control, Bluetooth, DAB radio, an 8.0in colour touchscreen with MirrorLink and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera. The base Explore version may come with air conditioning and auto headlights, but it misses out on simple stuff such as remote central locking – which is odd.
Top-of-the-range Exclusive cars do get sat-nav and full leather, but the fact the interior isn’t that plush means it never feels that luxurious and, therefore, isn’t worth the additional expense.
Our favourite MG GS: 1.5 Excite
Tips & Advice
Which smartphone integration should I have?
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fantastic – and free – technologies. Here we show you the benefits, drawbacks and best apps
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used MG GS?
The Dacia Duster isn’t the most sophisticated of cars, but it is spacious, inexpensive and can even be found with a choice of a small turbocharged petrol or ultra-efficient diesel. There’s even a four-wheel-drive version for some light off-roading.
advertisment
scroll for more
Another good value SUV with the option of four-wheel drive is the Ssangyong Tivoli. The boot isn’t massive and it doesn’t have the nicest finished interior, but you do get a lot of equipment for not an awful lot of money – plus, there are even diesel and four-wheel-drive options available.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here
How reliable is the MG GS ?
MG GS
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
MG GS
1.5 TGI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£3,390
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£3,795
MG GS
1.5 TGI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,290
MG GS
1.5 TGI Explore Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,393
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,450
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,595
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,795
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,850
MG GS
1.5 TGI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£6,490
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: Stuart Milne
Title: Digital editor
Follow Stuart Milne on
Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.
News and advice
Feature
Used test: MG GS vs Suzuki Vitara
If you want an SUV but don't want to pay high running costs you could try the MG GS or the Suzuki Vitara. But which makes the most sense as a used buy?
Wed Sep 28 2022
Feature
Used test: MG GS vs Suzuki Vitara
If you want an SUV but don't want to pay high running costs you could try the MG GS or the Suzuki Vitara. But which makes the most sense as a used buy?
Wed Sep 28 2022