MG HS review

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The MG HS enters its second generation with a redesign, interior revamp and more technology

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In its century-long history, MG has launched several cars that changed the face of the company.

Cast your mind back to the MG B, deemed by many to be the first ‘modern’ MG, and to the MG F, which revitalised the brand’s sporting image.

MG was deemed the eighth most unreliable brand by What Car? last year, but the firm offers the HS with an eight-year/80,000-mile warranty to ease your worries
Jack Warrick
Staff Writer

The MG HS SUV hasn’t quite institutionalised itself in quite the same way, but the Chinese-owned brand is pinning its hopes on the model’s continued success here in the UK.

It has even described this new, second-generation version as the most important car it has ever launched.

Arriving six years after its predecessor, the new HS brings a complete exterior design overhaul, a heavily updated interior and a suite of technology updates – all of which, MG hopes, will cement the car’s position as an alternative value option in the ever-competitive B-segment.

MG sees the HS as a rival to the more expensive Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Qashqai. It usefully undercuts those cars, with a starting price of £24,995. 

MG HS range at a glance

VersionPower
HS SE168bhp
HS Trophy168bhp
HS SE PHEV258bhp
HE Trophy PHEV258bhp

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DESIGN & STYLING

MG HS review front quarter

The redesigned HS shares many of its visual cues with the new MG 3 hybrid supermini, including slimmer headlights and a revised front grille.

Changes at the rear introduce a new light bar and reworked bumpers. MG offers the HS with five colours: black, white, grey, silver and red. 

The MG badge moves from the centre of the grille onto the bonnet and takes a more flattened look in line with the brand's new design ethos. 

The car’s stature has also grown. The Mk2 HS is 30mm lower, 26mm longer and 14mm wider than its predecessor, while its wheelbase increases 45mm to 2756mm.

Under the bonnet sits either a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 168bhp and 203lb ft of torque, as tested here, or an improved plug-in hybrid.

The latter uses an enlarged, 24.7kWh battery and a 151bhp electric motor for a total of 258bhp and 273lb ft. It hits 62mph in 6.8sec. 

However, the key selling point of the PHEV is its electric range of 75 miles, which puts rivals including the Kuga, Tucson and Kia Niro to shame because all offer fewer than 45 miles.

A mild-hybrid HS is also due at the start of 2025. MG expects the petrol car to be the biggest seller in the UK.

INTERIOR

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MG HS review full cabin

The larger dimensions of the Mk2 car lay the foundation for passengers to enjoy a practical, airy cabin.

The dashboard also looks reasonably premium, adorned with soft-touch and leather-like materials, although closer inspection reveals they’re more of a plastic nature, as you would expect at this price point. 

There’s also generous space for tall passengers in the front and rear, and the boot measures a respectable 507 litres – 44 litres more than the previous car.

It’s also notably more capacious than the Kuga (412 litres), but beaten hands down by the Tucson (620 litres).

A 12.3in digital driver’s display is paired with a 12.3in touchscreen infotainment system. Both are clear to read and responsive, but they’re also a source of frustration.

They house the MG Pilot assisted driving system, which is included as standard. Some functions work intuitively, such as adaptive cruise, but the driver awareness monitor, which uses a camera mounted on the A-pillar to track the driver’s eye movements, is far too reactive. 

Take your eyes off the road for a split second – for example, to look at the infotainment, speedometer or even when you’re looking back to reverse – and it will warn you to keep your eyes on the road.

It’s an unnecessary distraction, though it can be switched off, albeit only temporarily, as it reactivates itself whenever you restart the car.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

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MG HS dynamic driving 2

The MG range opens with the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which produces 168bhp and 203lb ft. 

It’s not as quick as the PHEV, reaching 62mph in 9.4sec, but this engine is nevertheless responsive and quiet around town. 

A six-speed manual transmission is standard, though our car was equipped with MG’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

In general, it’s a responsive ’box and, if anything, is let down by the engine’s disappointing mid-range performance.

The lack of shove is accompanied by a gruff engine note. Once you’re up to cruising speeds, though, with less being asked of the engine, progress becomes more serene.

The PHEV meanwhile, allows an electric-only drive. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.8sec and comes with a 24.7kWh battery. 

That's quite a sizable unit and it returns a class-leading 75 miles of electric range. Few cars in the segment come close to that figure, with the Kuga and Tucson offering fewer than 45 miles on a charge. 

In use, the PHEV's additional power is welcome and deals with the extra weight of the battery well. The transition between electric and petrol power is pretty seamless.

The engine kicks in with little noise too, which makes for a more relaxing drive, and we can confirm that MG's predicted range of 75 miles is accurate when driven with care. 

RIDE & HANDLING

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MG HS rear

The HS's steering has three modes, ranging from Comfort to Sport, and these vary the weight of the action to some extent.

There’s a dullness to the set-up that makes the HS harder to place than we’d like in the standard Normal mode. Certainly, a Qashqai or Tucson is easier to dart down streets in.

Comfort mode lightens the handling of the HS and this is the mode we prefer for day-to-day driving. 

Elsewhere, the new HS is more comfortable than its predecessor, offering a compliant ride over most surfaces. 

Certain rivals deal better with more threadbare road surfaces but, for the most part, the HS is well isolated and refined. There is noticeable road noise when you're travelling at higher speeds, though. 

The plug-in hybrid weighs 200kg more than the petrol car and you can certainly feel that weight when circling a roundabout or navigating sharper corners. The PHEV also exhibits noticeably more body roll. 

The driving position is slightly odd in our view and you might need to spend some extra time adjusting your position, but the seats are generally quite comfortable. 

MPG & RUNNING COSTS

MG HS review front lead image

An eye-catching HS selling point is its hyper-competitive price, which starts from £24,995, while the PHEV begins at £31,495. 

For those prices, both specifications that MG offers – SE and Trophy – are well equipped, with Trophy including 19in wheels, a powered tailgate, a 360deg reversing camera and wireless smartphone charging.

Its rivals are more expensive. The Peugeot 3008 costs almost £10,000 more, for instance, and the Qashqai in its most basic form starts from just over £30,000, as does the Tuscon, at £32,000. 

The PHEV lands in the 5% benefit-in-kind band, but we're not quite convinced it will be the option that people choose when there are arguably more desirable plug-in hybrids available. 

VERDICT

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MG HS static parked 2

While the new MG HS is more affordable than its rivals, it’s not quite as good to drive.

Its handling, ride comfort and performance in petrol form are generally bettered by rivals, such as the Qashqai and the Tucson. 

We have to chalk that up as a disappointment, given that MG has previously shown that it knows how to make a car that’s quietly satisfying to drive.

However, if you’re after a well-equipped, robust family SUV with practicality at heart, it’s certainly one for the shortlist.