MG HS 1.5 T-GDI Excite 5dr Review
Category: Large SUV
Section: Version review
The model
Read full reviewThe MG HS offers excellent value for money and lots of equipment, and also has a classy interior and decent performance from the 1.5 T-GDi petrol engine (if you’re prepared to work it). The downsides are its laggy infotainment system, rather coarse engine and small boot by class standards. Still, the HS petrol is well worth considering. The plug-in hybrid model feels less polished and isn't as good value as the much better Ford Kuga PHEV.
The trim
See full equipmentEven entry-level Excite trim gives you such niceties as leather seats, adaptive cruise control with steering assist (auto only), keyless entry and start, automatic headlights and wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, power-folding door mirrors, alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, a six-way-adjustable electric driver's seat and dual-zone climate control. The infotainment system includes a 10.1in touchscreen, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto and sat-nav. That's enough for us, so it's our pick.
The engine
See full engine specsThe MG HS’s 1.5-litre petrol engine is flexible enough in normal driving, but the smaller 1.2-litre petrol in the Citroën C5 Aircross picks up quicker from low revs. That said, the HS is actually pretty brisk when you work the engine really hard, chalking up a 9.0sec 0-60mph time on our damp test track. It can be quite coarse when you rev it but drive it carefully and it can do a respectable 34mpg in the real world.
