The MG HS was launched in 2019 as the British manufacturer’s flagship SUV, exhibiting the very best of MG motors. It lived up to its status, becoming the UK’s best-selling car in January 2023. For this year, the HS has more attitude with dynamic styling and power to match. It’s one of the best value-for-money SUVs, boasting modern technology at an affordable price, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement.
This review was written after living with the new MG HS Trophy for seven days, and will cover everything you need to know about the family SUV, plus highlight some obvious flaws to watch out for.
The MG HS facelift introduces a menacing front grille, bigger 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, and sporty dual exhausts to amplify its road presence.
New ‘SE’ and ‘Trophy’ specs were also named, adding LED headlights with sequential indicators, rain sensing wipers and various drive modes. The new daytime lights are a huge improvement, giving a sleek appearance to keep up with luxury cars.
2024 Highlights
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Bi-function LED lights
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New front grille and bumper
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Revamped dual exhaust
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Urban Grey paint colour
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Two trim levels
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18-inch alloy wheels
Engines and Performance
The MG HS and HS hybrid share a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 162PS and reaches 0-60 in 9.6 seconds. The eco-friendly version completes its sprint in just 6.9 seconds, thanks to the added 90kW electric motor boosting the total power output to 258PS, and allowing up to 33 miles of pure electric driving.
The plug-in hybrid is only offered with a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the traditional petrol engine uses a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Since most families just need a spacious car, MG decided against all-wheel drive systems to keep costs low.
Engine Specifications
| MG HS | MG HS Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
|
Engine |
1.5-Litre Petrol |
1.5-Litre Petrol |
|
Driveline |
Front-wheel drive |
Front-wheel drive |
|
Horsepower (PS) |
162 |
258 |
|
Torque (NM) |
250 |
370 |
|
0-60mph (secs) |
9.6 |
6.9 |
|
Top Speed (MPH) |
118 |
118 |
MG HS Interior Technology
Best Features
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Keyless entry
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Push button engine start
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Digital driver info display
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Leather steering wheel
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Electric parking brake
On top of the above standard features, every MG HS has a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, satellite navigation and reversing camera.
Prioritising safety, MG Pilot also brings a suite of advanced driver assistance features, including lane keep assist, active emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. Upgrading to the Trophy spec gains heated front seats, leather upholstery, rear privacy glass and drive modes with super sport button on the DCT automatic.
Interior space is another strong point. There’s plenty of leg and headroom for everyone, and the 463 litres of boot space lets you pack everything you need for your adventure.
Solo travellers or pairs can carry even more luggage by folding the rear seats, increasing storage to 1454 litres. If this isn’t quite big enough, the Ford Kuga offers more boot space., but you’ll need to splash the cash for it.
2024 MG HS Review
The model tested here is the MG HS Trophy with the DCT gearbox. While the 1.5-litre engine proved to be powerful enough for everyday driving, it wasn’t designed for speed. Neither was the automatic transmission. It’s mostly fine, but, it gets confused and chaotically changes gears during dynamic driving, which is a bit embarrassing from the pinnacle car of the range.
Unfortunately, this sounds similar to other stories that recently made the news about MG drivetrain issues. That said, the manual version escapes these issues.
Another thing that feels wrong is the red super sport button mounted on the steering wheel. Rather than providing a surge of power (as we’ve come to expect from buttons like this) it simply engages sport mode and changes the interior lighting to red. It’s very underwhelming and slightly misplaced in a family SUV. Though, the soft, heated leather seats are very comforting, and the space is appreciated. The new exterior styling looks fantastic too, giving the HS some charisma.
Is it worth buying a 2024 MG HS?
The MG HS is an impressive family SUV with plenty of space and packed with tech, but it’s not without its flaws when it comes to driving. However, it’s near impossible to find a car of this size with so much standard equipment, making it a great choice if you need practicality without breaking the bank.
Plus, new MG cars come with a seven-year warranty for added peace of mind. Given the gearbox issues, my recommendation has to be the manual variant of the Trophy edition. It has all the tech you need, added creature comforts and is still more affordable than other similarly equipped SUVs.
How much does a 2024 MG HS cost?
Perhaps the main selling point of this family SUV is its affordability. Despite being the biggest and most luxurious model from the brand, the MG HS starts from just £23,495 on the road. That’s cheaper than an entry-level Škoda Karoq, which is much smaller.
Even if you opt for the range-topping MG HS Trophy plug-in hybrid from £33,595, you’ll still be less than an entry-level Škoda Kodiaq.
| Trim / Engine | 1.5-Litre Turbo (Manual / Automatic) | Plug-in Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
|
MG HS SE |
£23,495 / £24,995 |
£31,095 |
|
MG HS Trophy |
£25,995 / £27,495 |
£33,595 |