MG HS review – great value, with an impressive electric-only range

Verdict – is the MG HS a good car?

The latest MG HS represents a huge improvement over its predecessor, offering extra practicality, a nicer interior and a very competitive 75-mile range for the plug-in hybrid, especially considering the price. It’s certainly not perfect, though, with a lacklustre driving experience and ride quality. While MG’s poor Driver Power rankings mean reliability is a worry, the brand does offer a competitive seven-year warranty for peace of mind.

MG HS models, specs and alternatives

MG has been releasing a slew of new cars of late, and this is the latest iteration of the MG HS, the brand’s largest SUV. It comes as somewhat of a surprise, given the last MG HS was only just facelifted in 2023, but this is an all-new model that hopes to build on the popularity of the last one, which regularly charts in the list of the UK’s best-selling cars.

In terms of size, the MG HS goes head to head with cars like the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage, but with the entry-level car's rock-bottom sub-£25k starting price, it actually costs around the same as small SUVs like the Ford Puma.

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The MG HS gets a sleeker, more adventurous look this time around. The headlights are slim and angular, while the large grille is a similar shape to that of the brand’s recent model, the MG3. At the rear the tail-lights are similarly slender, while a light bar positioned on the boot lid connects them together. The HS gets a more elegant shape than before, with – dare we say it – an air of Jaguar F-Pace about it from certain angles.

The latest model hopes to shake up the market by offering MG’s latest plug-in hybrid system, which consists of a 1.5-litre engine and electric motor – the most intriguing stat, however, is its impressive 75-mile range which comes thanks to a larger 24.7kWh battery. That means the MG HS PHEV has one of the best electric-only ranges for the price.

Alongside this there are also entry-level models with a much more conventional 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, and a self-charging hybrid will launch later in early 2025.
 

The MG HS gets off to a good start with its cheap entry-level price, plus the plug-in hybrid boasts a long electric range of up to 75 miles to charge. That low price also means you avoid paying the extra tax surcharge for cars costing more than £40,000. Read more about the MG HS's MPG, running costs & CO2 emissions...

This is where MG HS falters, because there’s not much in the way of feedback from behind the wheel. The problems continue when it comes to the ride quality, which is fine until you reach more serious imperfections in the road, which easily transmit into the cabin through the firm suspension. The petrol model is coarse and unrefined, but the plug-in hybrid is much better. Read more about the MG HS's engines, drive & performance...

The MG HS gets a much nicer interior than the last model, with plenty of soft-touch materials where it counts, and the brand’s focus on value for money is very apparent with the amount of equipment thrown in as standard. Read more about the MG HS's interior & comfort...

Practicality is much improved in the new MG HS because it’s grown in size. Most of this extra space has gone into the cabin and tall adults can travel in comfort thanks to great head and legroom. The boot is larger than before, although some rivals still offer more space here. Read more about the MG HS's boot space, practicality & dimensions...

MG performs poorly in terms of customer satisfaction in our Driver Power surveys, but there’s lots of safety kit thrown into the MG HS as standard and the brand’s seven-year warranty is very competitive. Read more about the MG HS's reliability & safety...

MG HS alternatives

While the MG HS may cost the same and even less than many small SUVs like the Ford Puma, its size is more comparable to mainstream mid-size SUVs.

• Nissan Qashqai
• Dacia Duster
• Skoda Karoq
• Kia Sportage
• Hyundai Tucson
• Ford Kuga

Should you buy an MG HS?

The MG HS is definitely an improvement over the model it replaces, with much improved practicality, an improved interior and an impressive electric range of up to 75 miles in the plug-in hybrid, which makes it look like even better value.

It’s not particularly nice to drive, though, with a vague feeling to the steering and a hard ride that, while it feels stable on the motorway, transmits bumps into the cabin quite harshly when upset. 

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The MG HS is certainly well equipped, too, although buyers should be aware that the infotainment system isn’t the slickest on offer, so you’ll be better off utilising its Android Auto or Apple CarPlay capability, which works as well as expected.

You’re getting a lot more car for the money this time around, quite literally because the MG HS is larger than before, so the interior space on offer is plentiful. The boot’s bigger, too, although some rivals still offer more.

What is the Carbuyer pick of the MG HS range?

While we’ll admit our time with the plug-in hybrid version of the MG HS was more limited than the entry-level petrol model, we found it a much more refined choice with a healthier dose of instant power to make overtaking more effortless. If your budget stretches to this version it’s great value given the competitive electric range on offer – we’d even suggest paying extra to upgrade from SE trim to Trophy because it’s only £2,500 more, but the base trim is still well equipped.

How we tested the MG HS

We’ve tested the 1.5-litre entry-level petrol model and the plug-in hybrid of the MG HS in July 2024 on UK roads.