What is it?

The MG HS is a C-segment SUV that you might think doesn’t exactly stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace. But in fact this is one car that MG is very pleased with indeed.

The HS is not only MG’s biggest-selling car but the biggest selling the brand has ever had, with 57,000 having found owners in the last four years. In January 2023, when an MG model topped the UK market’s best-seller list for the first time, it was the HS that achieved the accolade and currently it is the eighth most popular car on the entire UK market.

With the all-new version now launching, MG expects to do even better, because while it will eventually be available in petrol, full hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions, it’s the latter that is likely to attract a whole new clientele. At a time when the PHEV market is doing rather well, the new MG model offers an all-electric range of up to a practical 75 miles, more than double that of the outgoing version.

The PHEV mates a 154kW electric motor and 67kW generator to a new 1.5-litre petrol engine for combined power of 371hp, but also no more than 12g/km CO2 emissions, which tax-wise makes it very attractive to the business buyer.

The petrol model has arrived first in showrooms with the PHEV close behind – we won’t see the HEV until early in 2025. In petrol form it’s basically the same new 1.5 engine mated to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual clutch auto transmission.

Naturally with all that extra electric potency the PHEV leaves its petrol sibling standing in terms of acceleration, cresting 62mph from rest in 6.8 seconds, more than two and a half seconds quicker than the petrol HS.

In other areas it’s a case of useful evolution. The latest HS sits on a new platform which makes it 45mm longer plus a little wider but also slightly lower than the outgoing model. That extra 45mm is all between the wheels, which means more space inside, while boot space is also substantially improved by some 43 litres to 507 litres. And crucially there’s no longer a disadvantage in going plug-in, as the boot is no longer impinged upon by the battery – you get no less space than with the petrol.

The car’s exterior looks have been updated, matching the latest MG design language that debuted on the new MG3 launched earlier in 2024. Signature touches include the much slimmer headlights with an equally slim black front panel connecting them above the grille.

Inside has also seen a revamp with the dominant feature being what appears to be a single panoramic screen stretching from behind the steering wheel right across the front. In fact it is two 12.3-inch HD displays joined together – the driver has three modes, focusing on either digital information, the navigation map or ADAS features, and can choose a light or dark display appearance.

The central screen looks after all the infotainment, including live navigation services such as weather, live traffic updates, access to Amazon Music, and smartphone connectivity via both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. If you choose the upper of MG’s very simple two grade line-up, going for Trophy instead of SE, you also get a new 360-degree surround view camera and wireless smartphone charging.

MG prides itself on comprehensive specification and highlights on SE versions of the HS include full LED headlights with a follow-me-home function, rear parking sensors and camera, a six-way adjustable electric driver’s seat and keyless entry.

The Trophy, a price upgrade of £2500 over SE, adds several desirable extras including a powered tailgate, the surround-view camera and wireless smartphone charging, a more upmarket eight-speaker audio system, various live connectivity services and on PHEV models Vehicle-to-Load functionality which allows the car battery to power external electrical equipment.

No complaints on safety – MG groups its various ADAS driver-assistance technologies under the name of MG Pilot and all versions of the car are supplied with the full package, which now includes three new systems – a Door Open Warning, Active Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Driver Monitoring System. The latter uses a camera and is very efficient, possibly slightly too much – hold that thought…

The new MG HS has not undergone a Euro NCAP crash test at the time of writing. Its predecessor was tested in 2019 and scored a top five-star rating, and there is every reason to expect the new model to be equally successful.

In terms of prices, MG tells us that the substantial upgrading of the petrol models has come at a cost to the customer of £965, with prices starting at £24,995. The PHEV increase is £400, at a start point of £31,495. MG argues that rivals charge this kind of money for their smaller B-SUVs and certainly the new prices continue the brand’s long-proven mantra of great value.

What do we think of it?

At the launch event both the petrol and plug-in versions of the new HS were available to try out, with a longer road route for the petrol as the pre-production PHEVs were not so prolific in number for the attending media.

Visually the updates to the HS have not done it any harm at all, particularly at the front where the narrow panel across the base of the bonnet, joining the very slim headlamp clusters, serves to reduce the bulbousness of the grille. A slimmer glasshouse and lower overall height also serve to produce a more purposeful stance to the car.

Inside there are no complaints about comfort, the extra space freed up being welcome, and it’s easy to get settled in front or back seats. The fit and finish is up to the mark and belies the value-for-money price tag of the car.

One can’t escape the digital panel and the way it stretches across the front of the cabin, and generally it’s efficient though navigating through the menus can be quite fiddly.

On the road the new petrol engine is better than its predecessor, definitely in terms of its refinement, though rivals outperform it especially in terms of fuel economy. Work it hard and its audio note can become just a little intrusive.

The plug-in is definitely the engine to go for – the extended electric range makes it a practical business driving option, and it feels this way on the road with the electric motor input adding a solid element of smoothness to go with a reasonable amount of pace, including cresting 62mph in under seven seconds.

There is one rider, however – a lack of fast-charging options means a four-hour battery charge, so if you are doing many miles you’ll either spend a lot of time on a break or suffering the less than impressive petrol engine fuel economy.

On the road the MG is no better or worse than the majority of its opposition. The driver does not get a great deal of feeling though the steering wheel but generally the car is competent through corners and comfortable to ride in.

We mentioned fiddly menus and intrusive elements. Audible driver warnings, limiters and such are a necessary part of today’s motoring world, but MG’s could do with a little toning down – they can be irritating, especially when a speed limit monitor fails to recognise any changes to national speed limits. Your reviewer let out the briefest yawn while on the drive route and was immediately greeted by an instrument panel message reminding him not to drive while fatigued…

Overall however, these are minor irritations. The new MG HS is a great advance on the outgoing version, and with that model having done so well for MG, one can understand while the arrival of this one has MG’s personnel feeling very confident.