MG HS Review 2026

There’s very little in common between the octagon-badged cars of old and the current range of MG models, but for the majority of buyers that simply doesn’t matter. Today the brand stands largely for modern features and good value, both of which are present and correct in the HS. Find out more about those and other qualities in our full MG HS review.

The previous-generation MG HS was an undoubted success: in 2024 it was the eighth best-selling car in the UK, so the latest version of this family-sized SUV had some very big boots to fill.

The fact that the second-generation MG HS has grown in size to be closer to its competition on scale undoubtedly helps its cause. Among the very big sellers it’s up against is the excellent Kia Sportage, as well as its close cousin, the Hyundai Tucson: both cars share many of the same qualities, as well as engines and underpinnings. Together with the Ford Kuga, they match the MG by being available in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) guise.

Not available as a PHEV, but a strong seller all the same, is the Nissan Qashqai, which received a nip and tuck to freshen its appeal during 2024.

Despite its growth, the MG HS still represents strong value: it has similar dimensions to the Skoda Karoq, yet its pricing is closer to that of the smaller Kamiq.

It’s not hard to tell the new MG HS from the old version. There’s a much larger front grille with slimmer headlights, with a redesigned bumper and light arrangement at the rear. Whether you think it looks better than before is a matter of personal taste, but it’s certainly distinctive.

On the inside, the change in dimensions has freed up more space in what was already quite a roomy car in the front, back, and in the boot.

There’s a more sophisticated infotainment set-up that has a smarter appearance, although if you get up close, it’s clear that a few of the interior materials aren’t quite as fancy as they might first look.

The engine range has an impressive amount of choice: there's a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol that works alone, or it can come as part of a self-charging hybrid setup, or indeed in a plug-in hybrid arrangement.

The PHEV version has a WLTP Combined cycle electric driving range of 75 miles, so it should still be good for at least 50 in the real world.

Although the MG HS lags behind rivals in some areas, the reality is that it is spacious, well-equipped, decent to drive and — in its hybrid forms — cheap to run. With a price tag that undercuts much of the competition, its easier to forgive some of the car's slightly rough edges.

While MG does have some sporty cars in its range — the MG Cyberster being the most prime of examples — the MG HS is designed for more sedate driving.

Its ride quality is somewhat improved over that of the previous HS and is better equipped to deal with poor road surfaces. It does a good job of keeping passengers isolated from the asphalt beneath, which makes it comfortable whether you’re in town or on the motorway.

Drive a little more quickly and the shortcomings of the MG HS become more apparent. The steering does not offer a great deal of feel, whichever of the three driving modes you set it to, and at speed it can feel floaty over bumps and lean through the corners, particularly in the PHEV version, which is considerably heavier.

There is plenty of grip, however, and the car never feels anything other than safe and secure. However, there are better alternatives for anyone seeking a more enjoyable driving experience.

The cheapest MG HS model comes with a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, offering 169PS and 275Nm of torque and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Performance is sufficient, and in normal driving there is enough get up and go to keep pace with traffic. Ask more of it in terms of acceleration, though, and the engine’s noise levels go up, becoming raucous when pushed.

The six-speed manual gearbox works well enough, but the seven-speed transmission is slick and works better here, even though the engine noise at higher revs is more apparent when the gearbox is shifting for you.

The next rung up the powertrain ladder is the Hybrid+, which adds an electric motor and a 0.92kWh battery to the same 1.5-litre turbo engine, elevating the combined power output up to 224PS, channelled through a two-speed automatic gearbox. We haven't tried it yet, but it's faster on paper than the non-hybrid, its 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds equating to an advantage of around a second and a half.

Then there's the PHEV version, which offers an even healthier 299PS and 350Nm of torque, with an electric motor and 23.2kWh usable battery pack, plus that same two-speed automatic transmission. As well as offering better performance, with a 0-62mph time of only 6.8 seconds, the MG HS Plug-in Hybrid does well at getting around in EV mode only, and when the petrol engine does kick in at higher speeds, it isn't very intrusive in terms of noise.

Euro NCAP crash-tested the MG HS in 2024 and it achieved an impressive five-star rating. It scored a strong 90% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 83% for pedestrian mitigation and 74% for safety assist, which is competitive against key rivals and no doubt helped by the generous standard safety kit.

All versions of the MG HS offer a braked towing capacity of 1500kg. Not outstanding, but sufficient enough for trailering rubbish to the recycling centre.

The previous-generation MG HS was not exactly short on space, so the fact that this latest-generation version has grown a little is good news. Although slighter lower than the old car, the latest HS has a longer wheelbase, so passenger space within is greater than before.

Head- and leg-room up front are excellent, even for taller adults, while elbow-room is generous, too, so you get a good sense of space.

In the rear, legroom is also excellent, and while headroom is not quite as generous as in the front, a six-foot-tall adult should have no issues getting comfortable. Three adults can sit across the rear if you squeeze up slightly, but for two it’s perfect.

Boot space is 507 litres whether you go for the petrol, hybrid or PHEV version, which is 44 more litres than before. It’s a competitive figure, although some rivals without a hybrid powertrain offer even greater capacities, although they are also more expensive, too.

Fold the rear bench over and the total capacity expands to a small van-like 1484 litres.

The interior quality of the MG HS is a lot better than you're probably expecting given the car's bargain-basement pricetag and generous equipment levels.

There are plenty of soft-touch surfaces sprinkled around the cabin, plus fake leather finishes that do a good impression of the real thing. The dashboard is lifted further by the tasteful and cohesive mixture of textures and colours on display.

Prod around a bit, and it doesn’t take too long to find some cheaper-feeling plastics, but these don't ruin the overall effect and, in the main, it’s all pretty convincing. Cover up the MG’s badges, in fact, and your passengers would be forgiven for thinking they’re looking at the interior of something more expensive.

As standard all versions of the MG HS get a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen and a second panel forming the digital instrument display. These are both blended together behind the same pane of glass, which gives a classy look.

DAB, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth are all standard on MG HS SE models, together with a six-speaker audio system. Trophy versions add an upgraded eight-speaker system, live traffic information, Amazon Music and a wireless charging pad.

The displays are bright and clear with attractive graphics, but almost all functions have to be operated through the touchscreen, rather than some having their own physical controls. Something as routine as adjusting the air conditioning means navigating through several on-screen menus, which can be frustrating when on the move.

Also confusingly, given that Trophy models have a wireless smartphone charging pad, you’ll need your cable for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to work.

Prices for the MG HS start at just over £26,000 for the 1.5 SE model with a six-speed manual, while the seven-speed automatic equivalent costs around £28,000. The higher spec Trophy models are around £29,000 and £30,500, respectively.

Prices for the Hybrid+ model range between around £29,000 and £32,000 depending on trim level, while prices for the PHEV are more like £32,000 to £35,000.

These prices stand comparison with those of far smaller SUV rivals, and compared with cars of a similar size, they're quite a lot cheaper. And that's before you factor in all the standard equipment you're getting.

As ever, you can save even more by buying used. We've seen plenty of entry-level 1.5 SEs wearing between 3,000 miles and 10,000 miles advertised for around the £18,000 mark, a very useful saving on an already very affordable car.

The MG HS is unquestionably a cheap car to buy, but how cheap it is to run will depend on which version you go for, plus a variety of other factors.

The petrol-only version looks a wee bit thirsty, with an official WLTP combined fuel economy figure of 38.1mpg with the manual gearbox, or 37.1mog if you specify the automatic. The corresponding figure for the self-charging hybrid version is 51.3mpg, so it holds quite an advantage.

If you have somewhere to plug in, then the PHEV can get you a return of 705mpg according to the official figures, but that's only because the official tests are hugely over-flattering to such cars. Getting anywhere near this weighted figure in real life will be all but impossible. To give yourself the best chance, keep your battery topped up and your journeys short, so that the vast majority of your travel can be done on electricity alone. As soon as the petrol engine fires up, though, you'll do very well to get a real-world fuel return of 45mpg.

Insurance groups are middling for an SUV of this size, ranging from group 24 to 28 depending on powertrain and trim level.

No version of the MG HS is priced high enough to be troubled by the expensive 'luxury car surcharge' for VED road tax, meaning you have just the £195-per-year flat rate to pay on all versions.

Standard servicing has to be carried out every 12 months or 15,000 miles, whichever occurs first. MG's warranty arrangement is a big selling point, with cover for seven years or 80,000 miles.

MG HS Plug-in Hybrid: Range and charging

The MG HS Plug-in claims an electric-only driving range of 75 miles, which is among the better figures for a PHEV. This gives you a better chance of completing more journeys purely on electric power, as previously discussed, but in the real world, you should probably bank on more like 50-55 miles of EV range.

Its 23.2kWh net capacity battery pack can’t be charged using a rapid DC connection, but that’s unlikely to be too much of a drawback. Using a typical domestic wallbox charger at a 7kW flow-rate, a full recharge will take approximately four hours. On a standard three-pin domestic socket, you're looking at about seven and a half hours. Either way, that charge will probably cost you about six quid.

Whichever of the three powertrains you choose for your MG HS, you choose between either SE or Trophy specification.

As standard, the MG HS SE comes with:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• rear parking sensors
• reversing camera
• heated door mirrors
• air conditioning
• keyless entry and start
• cruise control (passive on manual versions, adaptive on automatics)
• 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen
• 12.3-inch digital instrument display
• DAB radio
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone connectivity
• six-speaker audio system

On the safety front you’ll find:

• Active Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Bicycle Detection
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning System
• Traffic Jam Assist (on automatic models)
• Speed Limit Assist
• Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist
• Driver Attention Alert
• Forward Collision Warning
• Active Rear Cross Traffic Alert plus a Door Open Warning

Step up to an MG HS Trophy model to add:

• electrically folding door mirrors
• dual-zone climate control
• electrically operated tailgate
• eight-speaker audio system
• 360-degree parking camera system
• live infotainment services
• wireless phone charging
• leather-effect upholstery
• electrically adjustable and heated front seats with a driver’s side memory function