MG HS review
If you're after a family-sized SUV that gives you a lot of car for your money, the MG HS is a brilliant contender.
Author: Charlie Harvey
9th Dec 2025 – 8 mins read
The MG HS is a family-friendly SUV that stands out for its fantastic value and generous standard equipment. Since its launch in 2019, it has been tempting buyers away from more established rivals by offering plenty of space, a stylish look and a reassuringly long warranty. It’s a practical choice for families, with a roomy interior and enough boot space for daily life. You can find the HS with a petrol engine or as a plug-in hybrid, giving you options for different driving needs. While it might not be the most exciting car to drive in its class, its focus on comfort, quality, and affordability makes it an appealing and sensible package.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Practical and spacious interior
- Available as a plug-in hybrid
Cons
- Some rivals are better to drive
- Petrol engine can be thirsty
- Boot isn’t the biggest in its class
Interior
Dashboard & tech
Inside the MG HS, you’ll find an impressive and surprisingly upmarket cabin. A large 10.1-inch touchscreen is standard across the range, complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can easily connect your phone for navigation and entertainment. While the screen looks great, it can sometimes feel a bit slow to respond, especially when you're on the move.
All models come well-equipped with features like keyless entry and a reversing camera. Higher-spec versions add even more luxuries, such as a full-length panoramic sunroof that floods the cabin with light, making it feel even more spacious.
Comfort
The seats in the HS are comfortable and supportive, which is great for long journeys. There’s plenty of adjustment for the driver’s seat and steering wheel, helping you find that perfect driving position. If you opt for the top-spec Exclusive trim, you get heated front seats and sporty leather upholstery that adds an extra touch of comfort on cold mornings.
The ride is generally smooth and pleasant in normal driving, soaking up bumps in the road without much fuss. It’s a car designed for relaxed cruising rather than sporty handling, making it a comfortable companion for the school run or a trip to the supermarket.
Quality
The interior of the HS is one of its strongest points and a real step up for the MG brand. The materials used feel high-quality and robust, easily matching what you might find in more expensive rivals. Little details, like the stylish air vents and solid-feeling switches, give the cabin a premium feel that you might not expect at this price point. It feels well-built and ready to handle the demands of family life.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
The HS really shines when it comes to interior space, especially for passengers. There’s loads of headroom and legroom in the front and back, so even tall adults can get comfortable in the rear seats without feeling cramped. This makes it a fantastic choice for families with growing teenagers.
Storage is decent too, with useful door pockets, cupholders, and a cubby under the central armrest for hiding away valuables. The two sets of Isofix points in the back are easy to access, which takes some of the hassle out of fitting child seats.
Boot space
With 448 litres of space, the boot in the MG HS is a good size, although some key rivals like the Nissan Qashqai or Skoda Karoq offer a bit more room. Still, it’s more than capable of swallowing the weekly shop, a couple of large suitcases, or a buggy. The plug-in hybrid model has a slightly smaller boot due to the battery, but it’s still very usable.
Versatility
For added flexibility, the rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split. This opens up a much larger load area for those occasional trips to the DIY store or for packing in bulky holiday luggage. The top-spec Exclusive trim also comes with an electric tailgate, which is a handy feature when you’ve got your hands full with shopping bags or small children.
Driving
Driving experience
The MG HS provides a pleasant and straightforward driving experience. It’s not a car that will get your pulse racing on a winding country road, but it feels safe, stable, and predictable. For everyday driving around town and on the motorway, it’s perfectly capable and comfortable.
Its competitors, such as the Ford Kuga or Seat Ateca, feel a bit more agile and engaging to drive. The HS prioritises comfort over sportiness, which many drivers will likely appreciate.
Performance
You have two main choices under the bonnet: a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine or a plug-in hybrid. The petrol engine produces 160bhp, which is enough for most situations. It can feel a little unrefined when you accelerate hard, but it’s fine for cruising. You can have it with a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed automatic.
The plug-in hybrid is the more powerful option, combining the petrol engine with an electric motor to produce a healthy 254bhp. This makes it feel noticeably quicker, with a 0-60mph time of just 6.9 seconds. It’s smooth and quiet, especially when running on electric power alone.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
Running costs are a mixed bag depending on which model you choose. The petrol version can be quite thirsty, with official figures around 37mpg. This means you might be visiting the petrol station more often than you would in some rivals.
The plug-in hybrid is the star for low running costs. MG claims it can travel up to 32 miles on electric power alone, which could cover many daily commutes without using any petrol. Official figures suggest it can achieve over 155mpg, though you’ll need to charge it regularly to get close to that. Its low CO2 emissions also make it an attractive option for company car users. Charging the battery takes about three hours with a home wallbox.
Value for money
This is where the MG HS really excels. New and used prices are significantly lower than most of its main competitors. When you consider the amount of standard equipment you get, it represents outstanding value. Even top-spec models packed with features feel like a bargain.
Reliability & Warranty
The HS is a relatively new car, but all new MGs come with a fantastic seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty. This provides excellent peace of mind and is one of the longest warranties available, showing the brand's confidence in its products. This cover is also transferable to subsequent owners, which helps keep used values strong.
Safety
Safety features
Safety is a key consideration for any family car, and the MG HS performs very well. It was awarded a top five-star rating by safety experts Euro NCAP when it was tested in 2019, with high scores for protecting both adults and children.
All models come with an impressive suite of driver-assistance features called MG Pilot. This includes adaptive cruise control, which automatically keeps a safe distance from the car in front, lane-keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
MG keeps things simple with two main trim levels: Excite and Exclusive.
Excite is the entry-level model, but it’s anything but basic. Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera, and rear parking sensors.
Exclusive adds more luxurious touches. You get leather upholstery, heated front sports seats, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic opening sunroof, and bi-LED headlights for better visibility at night. It’s a lot of extra kit for a relatively small increase in price.
Engines
There are two engine options for the HS. The first is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 160bhp, available with either a manual or automatic gearbox. It offers adequate performance for day-to-day driving.
The second is the Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV). It uses the same petrol engine but adds an electric motor and a 16.6kWh battery. This combination delivers 254bhp, making it the most powerful and efficient option in the range. It comes with a 10-speed automatic gearbox as standard.