Used MG HS 2019-2024 review
The MG HS gets you lots of equipment and a plush interior for not a huge amount of cash. It has a poor reliability record, though.
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What's the used MG MG HS like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Alternatives
Reliability
George Hill
Updated: 13 January 2026
How we test cars
What's the used MG MG HS like?
SUVs are desirable products and, as such, can often bleed your wallet dry. Not the MG HS. It's honed the art of offering buyers as much value for money as possible – especially in used form.
That sounds intriguing, but surely it feels cheap, right? Well, not exactly, because this is a surprisingly plush, polished and well-rounded car, despite its extremely reasonable prices.
Overview
The MG HS offers generous equipment levels, a plush interior and a polished driving experience for relatively little money. It’s backed by a competitive seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty, but a patchy reliability record means there’s a higher risk of spending more time in the workshop than you’d want. There are more practical alternatives out there, too, even if they do cost more to buy.
Pros
- Plenty of equipment regardless of trim
- Impressively finished interior
- Good ride and handling balance
Cons
- Poor reliability record
- Rivals have roomier interiors and larger boots
- Engines are a little rough
Used cars available now
In partnership with
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£6,950
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£7,995
MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,250
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,450
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,495
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,590
MG HS HATCHBACK
1.5 T-GDI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,650
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Exclusive DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,750
MG HS HATCHBACK
1.5 T-GDI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,880
See all available cars
See used cars for sale
Engines and performance: The MG HS's two engine options start with a 162bhp 1.5-litre petrol unit, badged 1.5 T-GDi. When working hard, it can deliver keen acceleration – 0-60mph took 9.0sec on our damp test track. All models with this engine get a six-speed manual gearbox as standard from new, though examples with an optional seven-speed automatic are available.
The other choice is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 1.5-litre petrol variant that gets a 10-speed automatic gearbox and a total power output of 258bhp. It’ll take you from 0-60mph in 6.9sec, plus it feels a lot sprightlier than its non-PHEV counterpart in town and on motorways. It can run on electric power alone for up to 32 miles officially.
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Ride and handling: The non-PHEV HS’s suspension strikes a good balance between ride comfort and handling. The ride isn’t quite pillow-soft, but it takes the sting out of most potholes. It deals pretty well with undulating road surfaces too, with only a small amount of float occasionally.
It has less body lean and better-weighted steering than some roly-poly rivals, such as the Citroën C5 Aircross – although we should mention that that car is more comfortable. The HS’s brake pedal is easy to modulate, whether in start-stop traffic or pulling up from higher speeds.
The PHEV is a different animal. While the ride is still mostly smooth over gentler bumps and is settled at motorway speeds, there's a fair thump when you hit something sharper or more substantial. The extra weight of the battery affects the handling, with significantly more body lean and less grip.
Interior and practicality: Usually if a car’s been made to fit a modest budget, its interior will show it, but the HS’s interior doesn’t appear cheap at all. Overall, it’s almost on par with pricier rivals including the Mazda CX-5 and Peugeot 3008.
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The steering wheel is wrapped in tactile perforated leather, the switches work with pleasing precision and there are huge swathes of soft-touch plastic and faux leather on the dashboard and doors.
The infotainment touchscreen isn’t too tricky to navigate and even has a couple of physical shortcut buttons, but it’s not all good news. We found it frustratingly laggy, with a long delay between pressing an icon and anything actually happening.
Passenger space up front is plentiful, with only the tallest of the tall lacking room to spare. Rear space is good, although because of the high floor some passengers will find their legs forced up towards their chests. Head room is passable when the space-swallowing panoramic roof is fitted.
The HS’s boot is arguably rather small compared with the other cars we've talked about. We could fit in only six carry-on cases, whereas a Mazda CX-5 will swallow eight. Indeed, even the smaller Skoda Karoq has more room for cargo than the MG HS.
Trims and equipment: There are two trim levels to choose from for the HS. The first is named Excite and gets 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.
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The infotainment system includes a 10.1in touchscreen, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and sat-nav. As you can see, the HS comes very well equipped straight off the bat.
However, if you do crave more, there’s Exclusive. On top of the Excite's long list of features, it gets diamond-cut alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated and electrically adjustable sports front seats, two-tone leather upholstery, ambient lighting, a panoramic roof and an electric tailgate.
On facelift cars, the trim levels were updated to SE and Trophy, but they come with a similar level of kit to the pre-facelift models.
Facelift: The HS was given a facelift right at the end of its life in 2023. It added a new front end design, with a larger, more imposing grille, as well as a new infotainment system and revised trim levels (SE and Trophy). The engine line-up was unchanged.
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"I've driven a lot Chinese cars and many of them are poor to drive. Not the MG HS, though. While it's not perfect, it rides and handles well enough for a family SUV." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer
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If you're interested in finding a used MG HS or any of the other large SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.
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 MG HS will I get for my budget?
Around £10,000 to £12,000 will get you a 2019 to 2023 petrol HS with low to average mileage, either in Excite or Exclusive trim. Spend upwards of £12,000 for a PHEV of a similar age and mileage, with both trim levels available. If you want a 2023 facelift car, you'll need a budget of £13,000 for the petrol and £14,000 for the PHEV. For a 2024 model, expect to pay £14,000 for the petrol and £15,000 for the PHEV.
Check the value of a used MG HS with What Car? Valuations
Find a used MG HS for sale here
How much does cost to run a MG MG HS?
MPG
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The 1.5 T-GDi has an average fuel consumption of 37.9mpg, which isn't particularly terrific nor terrible. The PHEV promises 155.8mpg, although you'll be hard-pressed to replicate that figure in real-world conditions.
Road tax
As with all petrol (and diesel) cars registered after April 2017, the MG HS will incur a flat-rate road tax fee of £195 per year. To find out more about current road tax costs, click here.
Insurance
Insurance groups are generally quite low for the HS, although PHEV models push it towards average.
Servicing
Servicing costs for the HS are similar to its family SUV rivals. As part of a two-year service plan, we were quoted £404.82 for a four-year, 60,000-mile service and £282.64 for a five-year, 75,000-mile service. If you take your car for a service at an authorised MG dealer, you will receive 12 months’ MG Roadside Assistance provided by the AA.
Warranty
The HS comes with a seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty from new. That's pretty good, beating the cover from Dacia, Renault and Volkswagen, but falling short of Hyundai, Kia and Toyota's offering.
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Safety
The HS was awarded five stars out of five for safety by Euro NCAP in 2019. That's better than the Citroën C5 Aircross, which was given four stars for the standard car and five stars for cars with the optional safety pack.
Reliability
According to real-world owner reviews analysed in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey, the MG HS (2019-2024) is a risky choice. While its seven-year warranty provides some protection, owners reported frequent electronic glitches, crashing software and mechanical issues. Dealing with these faults was made harder by "atrocious" dealer service and long waits for repairs.
To find out more about used MG HS reliability, head to our dedicated reliability page.
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 MG HS should I buy?
Engine
Despite the added performance and fuel economy of the PHEV, the 1.5 T-GDi is cheaper to buy. Most will find the non-PHEV quick and economical enough, so we think it's best to save the cash.
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Trim
Excite is very well equipped, but we'd recommend going for the range-topping Exclusive trim. It's similar in price to Excite on the used market and you get some useful extras, like heated front seats.
Our favourite MG HS: 1.5 T-GDi Exclusive
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 MG HS?
If you have some extra money to spend, the Hyundai Tucson is a great choice. It's notably more practical than the HS, with a vast boot and more space in back seats. It's better to drive, too, and standard equipment is very generous.
The Citroën C5 Aircross is good value and great if you want a comfortable motorway cruiser. Like the HS, it's good value, but it can be had with petrol, diesel and PHEV engine options. It's a spacious and practical car, too, with flexible seating in the rear.
If you're interested in finding a used MG HS or any of the other large SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.
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MG MG HS owner reviews
Sort by: Most Recent Star rating
Anonymous
Mg Hs petrol
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
May 15, 2026 1:30 PM
Mg hs very reliable never let me down. Always starts first time, never have any problems.
Steve
Mg Hs 1.5 hybrid SUV
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Nov 6, 2025 11:30 AM
I only drive in pure electric mode as I have only driven short journeys since purchasing. The safety features can be annoying but I am reluctant to turn them off as they are there for a reason.
DAVID
Mg Hs 1.5 petrol SUV
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Jun 20, 2025 1:11 PM
Craig
Mg Hs 1.5 petrol estate
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
May 20, 2025 2:43 PM
We're a family of five, including three tall teenagers, plus my partner and me, so space matters. The MG is one of the few SUVs that truly delivers on comfort, especially for long trips. Its well-designed interior makes extended drives a pleasure. Beyond that, it's been impressively reliable and surprisingly kind on tyres—the last front set lasted 40K miles, a first for me. Features like variable cruise control, Android Auto, and excellent headlights make our 25K miles per year much smoother. Even the aircon feeds into the centre armrest, keeping my emergency can of Pepsi perfectly chilled!
Michael
Mg Hs 1.5 petrol estate
Likes: Value, Servicing
Dislikes: Running costs
May 5, 2025 10:41 PM
Very disappointed with this vehicle, broke down twice in first two months, infotainment+ GPS system is diabolically slow, radio display does not have station icons only station Hz!, drivers door never closes first time, dealer has no answers, seriously would not buy again
Load more owner reviews
How reliable is the MG MG HS ?
Reliability rating: 89.7%
MG MG HS
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£6,950
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£7,995
MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,250
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,450
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,495
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,590
MG HS HATCHBACK
1.5 T-GDI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,650
MG MG HS
1.5 T-GDI Exclusive DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,750
MG HS HATCHBACK
1.5 T-GDI Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£8,880
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: George Hill
Title: Used car writer
Follow George Hill on
George Hill first joined the What Car? team as a staff writer in 2021, before becoming a used car writer in 2024 and a reviewer in 2026. In his current role he writes new car reviews for What Car? magazine and whatcar.com.
If you follow What Car? on social media, you might see him presenting the odd video on new cars too.
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