The MG HS is a great choice if you want a family-friendly SUV that costs relatively little but loses nothing to pricier rivals in terms of passenger space, comfort, standard equipment or quality. There’s also the option of ultra-efficient plug-in hybrid power.
The HS has been sold new since 2019 when it replaced the older MG GS SUV. It’s available with a 1.5-litre petrol engine or with plug-in hybrid power, which lets you do short distances on zero-emission electric power. Some petrol models have an automatic gearbox and the plug-in is automatic as standard. There are no diesel or four-wheel-drive models though –all models are front-wheel drive to keep fuel costs down.
You can choose from three trim levels called Explore, Excite and Exclusive, which are very well equipped for a car of this low price.
All HS models have a large touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, air con and adaptive cruise control among a long list of standard features. The mid-range Excite model also has sat nav and a rear-view camera, which makes manoeuvring much easier. The top-of-the-range Exclusive trim adds leather seats, a 360-degree parking camera system and a glass sunroof.
According to official figures, petrol HS models with a manual gearbox can give you an average fuel economy of up to 37mpg, and petrol models with an automatic gearbox can reach 36mpg. CO2 emissions are 148g/km with a manual and 157g/km with an automatic, so Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) won’t cost much. The plug-in hybrid can give a much better fuel economy of 155mpg, with lower CO2 emissions of 43g/km. That means smaller fuel and tax bills.
If you’re looking at the HS, you may also want to consider the wide range of other mid-size SUVs, including the Ford Kuga, Citroen C5 Aircross and Hyundai Tucson. These cars feature more options than the MG HS range, which has no diesel or four-wheel-drive models. However, the HS offers passenger space similar to its rivals, and gives a comfortable ride too. But mostly it’s the MG’s low cost that sets it apart.
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