MG HS review

The MG HS we're reviewing here is a world away from the two-seaters MG found fame with – but that's not been a bad thing for the car maker's bottom line.

Since the original HS was launched, this family SUV has sold in big numbers, and this second generation model has been through some radical changes.

As well as a new look, the HS has been given an updated infotainment system, more standard equipment and the choice of either a petrol, a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) engine.

MG HS video review

So can the MG HS match the value of the Dacia Bigster, the sportiness of the Ford Kuga and Mazda CX-5, or the comfort of the Citroën C5 Aircross? And how do we rate it against the best family SUVs, such as the Kia Sportage? Read on to find out…

What’s new?

- May 2025: new Hybrid+ version of MG HS announced, equipped with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to boost performance and economy over the pure petrol version.

- January 2025: double success for MG HS at What Car? Awards, as HS is named Plug-in Hybrid of the Year, and Best Family SUV for Value

- July 2024: MG reveals all-new version of HS SUV, with the choice of pure petrol or plug-in hybrid engines

How fast is it and which engine is best?

With 168hp, the pure-petrol 1.5 T-GDi option accelerates pretty strongly once you’re on the move, but there’s a frustrating delay between you pressing the accelerator pedal and the car deploying its power to get moving. The automatic version covered 0-60mph in 9.2sec during our testing. Officially, it's slightly slower with a manual gearbox (9.4sec). 

Speaking of which, the six-speed manual is not as slick as the equivalent in a Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage or Mazda CX-5 but it's more precise than the one in the Citroën C5 Aircross. Meanwhile, the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic changes through the gears quickly enough but is very hesitant if you ask for a sudden burst of speed, adding to the already slow input response of the engine. 

The full-hybrid version, badged the Hybrid+, is much better. With the help of a powerful electric motor, it makes the HS more responsive and effortless to drive. However, its power delivery and automatic gearbox still isn’t quite as smooth as the equivalent Kia Sportage Hybrid.

The MG HS Plug-in Hybrid has the same engine but has an even more powerful electric motor. When we tested it, it managed the 0-60mph sprint in just 6.1sec, beating the equivalent BYD Seal U (8.6sec) and Jaecoo 7 (7.6sec).

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

Ride quality in the MG HS depends on which engine you go for.

The 1.5 T-GDi has a set-up that’s best described as passable but uninspiring. It fidgets constantly over smaller imperfections, and larger bumps can catch it out, causing it to bounce fore and aft, and take a while to settle. It stops short of being uncomfortable but it lacks the serene composure of a Citroën C5 Aircross on A-roads and motorways.

More positively, the hybrids have firmer suspension to cope with the added weight of the battery and not to the detriment of ride comfort.

While sharper impacts like potholes and expansion joints still make their presence felt, it’s far better controlled and much calmer, overall.

The hybrids also handle undulating roads with a surprising level of poise, giving you the confidence to carry respectable speed on twisty backroads.

The HS’s relatively vague steering lets the side down somewhat, but the PHEV is more composed than the BYD Seal U and Jaecoo 7. However, if sharper handling and greater comfort are priorities, the equivalent Ford Kuga or Kia Sportage are good options.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The pure petrol version of the HS lurches forwards clumsily when you accelerate from stationary and the experience certainly isn’t as smooth as it is in a Citroën C5 Aircross or Dacia Bigster. 

The Hybrid models are much smoother to drive. The Hybrid+ is quiet as it covers short distances in electric mode with the engine off. Meanwhile, the PHEV can cover most commutes on battery power provided it has enough charge. In both versions, the petrol engine is quiet when it starts up and the transition to petrol power is mostly smooth. The engine remains pleasingly quiet even when revved hard – a total contrast to the 1.5 T-GDi petrol. Wind and road noise are acceptable at 70mph but the Kuga and Sportage are quieter still.

What’s the range and efficiency like and how quickly can it charge?

According to official figures, a fully charged MG HS PHEV can run on battery power for up to 75 miles, and it came close to matching that in our real-world testing, travelling 74 miles before the engine was forced to fire up. On the same day, the Seal U managed 45 miles and the Jaecoo 7 PHEV covered 51 miles. PHEV versions of the Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage officially manage around 40 miles.

“I'm properly impressed by the electric-only range of the plug-in hybrid MG HS, and I was chuffed that we got so close to the official figure during testing.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

A low starting price often implies rough edges and cut corners, but there’s an awful lot to like about the MG HS’s interior.

MG has made a real effort to lift its quality, adding tactile perforated leather on the steering wheel and huge swathes of soft-touch plastic and faux-leather on the dashboard and doors. It feels miles more luxurious than a Dacia Bigster.

When it comes to showroom appeal, the HS rates really highly, especially in Trophy trim with optional tan leather. It feels fairly high quality and easily a match for the Citroën C5 Aircross in terms of plushness, although the Mazda CX-5 beats both models.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

The driving position in the HS lines you up well with the steering wheel and pedals. Every version comes with a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat. Trophy trim upgrades the seat so you get built-in heating, lumbar adjustment and a memory function.

Visibility is a bit of a mixed bag. Forward visibility over the bonnet is good, but your view out at junctions is hampered by the angled front windscreen pillars and their positioning relative to the wing mirrors.

Rear visibility is pretty good, with small windows cut into the large rear pillars, helping you to see what’s over your shoulder. The entry-level MG HS comes with rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, while top-spec Trophy trim adds front parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

All versions come with a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen next to the impressive digital driver's display (also 12.3in) behind the steering wheel. The driver's display is a bit more configurable than many rivals,  with the ability to show a full-screen sat-nav map alongside the speedometer. 

The touchscreen looks clear but sometimes takes a moment to respond to your inputs. That’s not particularly helpful when you have to rely on it quite often, including to adjust the air-conditioning because there are no physical controls for the temperature and fan speed.

There are some buttons below the HS's touchscreen but they don't do much more than turn on the window de-misters. A lack of physical controls is a problem in many family SUVs but the Dacia Bigster, Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Qashqai are exceptions, and much more user-friendly for it. Even the pure electric equivalent, the MG S5, gets proper physical controls.

“The MG HS's new infotainment system is a step up in terms of screen resolution but it’s still a little slow to respond to your inputs and I found adjusting the air-con distracting because of the lack of physical controls.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

How much space does it have for people?

The MG HS has always been a big car, and the latest version is even bigger, having grown in length and width.

No matter which version you go for or how tall you are, you’ll have no issues when it comes to head or leg room in the front. What’s more, the interior is wide, preventing you from rubbing shoulders with your front seat passenger.

There’s a small lidded cubby in front of the HS's gearlever, with a couple of USB ports and a 12V socket. The cupholders are a good size and there’s more storage under the sliding centre armrest, although that does block the cupholders when you move it to its forward position.

In the rear, tall adults will find they have plenty of space between their knees and the backs of the front seats, and even a 6ft adult won’t feel too hemmed in by the HS’s roof. 

Fitting three people in the rear will be a little tight when it comes to shoulder room and the raised middle seat means head room is reduced, but it’s passable. Better news is that a relatively small transmission tunnel gives you more foot space than in rivals including the Dacia Bigster. 

Speaking of which, there’s about the same amount of space in the back of the HS as the Bigster, more than you’ll find in the Citroën C5 Aircross and a little less than in the Honda CR-V, which beats all three. 

How much room does it have for luggage?

All versions of the HS have 507 litres of boot space – an increase of 44 litres over the previous version, and more than you’ll find in a PHEV C5 Aircross. Even so, non-PHEV versions of the HS’s rivals offer more space, including the Dacia Bigster (over 600 litres), Honda CR-V (587) and Kia Sportage (562 litres).

You can drop the HS's rear seats in a 60/40 configuration, increasing the load space to 1,484 litres. That's handy – although the Bigster and Peugeot 5008 both have a more versatile 40/20/40 split. The HS’s rear seats don’t do anything else interesting, like sliding back and forth, and it’s a shame you don’t get any storage under the boot floor.

“While the boot space of the MG HS is big enough to take my wake-boarding kit, families with a couple of children will probably wish it was even more spacious.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

Price is where the MG HS comes into its own, with our favourite entry-level SE version costing only a little bit more than the Volkswagen T-Cross – which is a small SUV rather than a family SUV – and less than the Citroën C5 Aircross. Really, its only direct rival when referencing the starting list price is the Dacia Bigster.

Even the top-spec Trophy trim with a regular petrol engine costs less than the entry-level Kia Sportage and much less than the cheapest Hyundai Tucson.

The hybrids are priced so competitively that it undercuts the equivalent Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage or VW Tiguan by thousands of pounds.

Crucially its pricing puts it within reach of private buyers – a rarity for PHEVs, which have traditionally been the preserve of company car drivers due to their high list prices. In fact, at its current price the hybrids are an enticing alternative to the 1.5-litre petrol. 

All we’d say is that the Hybrid+ is expected to lose its value more quickly than an equivalent Kia Sportage HEV, which in turn increases its overall running costs and also results in higher monthly PCP costs.

SE trim comes with 19in alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control (adaptive cruise control if you go for the automatic gearbox), an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and lots of other kit.

We’d happily suggest sticking with the SE, but top-spec Trophy trim has merit. It doesn’t cost much more and adds dual-zone air-con, an upgraded eight-speaker stereo, a powered tailgate, driving modes, rear privacy glass and wireless phone-charging.

If you’re thinking of running the HS as a company car, the PHEV is the one to go for, because its electric range and low official CO2 emissions put it in a lower BIK tax bracket than many family SUV rivals – including the BYD Seal U and Jaecoo 7 PHEVs. That said, the pure-electric MG S5 is even cheaper to run.

The non-PHEV petrol engine managed 40.4mpg in our efficiency testing, which isn’t terrible. The PHEV managed 42.8mpg with a fully depleted battery and you’ll have to mainly run on battery power to maximise its fuel efficiency. The PHEV's battery takes four hours to charge from 0-100% with a 7kW home EV charger.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

The bad news is that MG came bottom out of 30 manufacturers ranked in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey. Hopefully, this latest model fares better than its predecessor, with the Hybrid version finishing in 43rd place in a class of 76 family SUVs. 

Fortunately, all MG car models come with a seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty. Kia gives you seven years too, and Toyota gives you up to 10 years with servicing conditions, but most brands give you a three-year warranty.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

In terms of safety kit, every HS has automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high-beam assist and rear cross-traffic alert. There’s also a driver attention monitoring system, but it’s very sensitive and we think it tells you off more than is necessary, which can get annoying.

Even so, the long list of standard safety equipment is really impressive at this price point, and helped earn the HS a five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating.

“If, like me, you appreciate value for money, the MG HS is very tempting. Not only does it manage to undercut almost all its rivals on price, but it also gets loads of standard equipment.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Buy it if...

- You’d like a plug-in hybrid with a long battery range

- You’re after a car with a well appointed interior for the price

- You like getting great value for money 

Don’t buy it if…

- You’re after a family SUV with really agile handling 

- You’re considering the pure petrol version

- You prefer using physical dashboard controls

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