MG HS review

Despite finding fame as a sports car manufacturer, the MG HS proves that the British brand is far more interested in chasing volume sales than what has become a small niche these days. It also cements the firm’s current reputation for value. After all, this is a large SUV at a price that undercuts a fair few small SUVs.

The line-up is refreshingly simple, with one engine and three trim levels to choose from, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox being available as an option on the top two trims. But let’s start with the engine. It’s a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol unit with a healthy 160bhp – enough power to take you from 0-62mph in a smidge under 10 seconds.

That healthy power output also means the HS can tow up to 1750kg regardless of trim and gearbox – news that will no doubt be of interest to caravanners up and down the land. However, the downside is that the engine’s CO2 emissions are on the high side; the manual emits 148g/km, while the auto produces an even higher 157g/km.

There’s no accusing the HS of being meanly equipped. Regardless of trim level, you get keyless entry and go, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. Importantly for a family car, automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, blindspot monitoring and even a rear cross-traffic alert system (to help when reversing onto a busy road) are standard. Opt for the automatic gearbox and you also get adaptive cruise control, complete with a traffic jam assist feature that can steer the car in slow-moving traffic.

Although MG cites the Skoda Karoq, Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage as rivals, it’s bigger than any of those cars by a fair margin. Indeed, it’s actually longer than the Mazda CX-5 and Citroën C5 Aircross, placing it in the large SUV category among favourites such as the Peugeot 5008 and Skoda Kodiaq.

So, to find out if the MG HS should appear on your SUV shortlist, keep reading over the next few pages. And don’t forget to check out our New Car Buying pages for useful savings on whatever you decide should be your next car.