MG HS Reviews

Read Caroline’s MG HS review to find out everything you need to know about buying MG’s new plug-in hybrid SUV.

MG Motor Ireland ends the year with the launch of two hybrid models – the new ZS and HS. While both models have been on sale in Ireland for a few years, the new versions represent a significant leap forward in design and technology.

While the brand’s most popular model remains the all-electric MG4, MG has been building out its hybrid offering with the launch of the MG3 Hybrid supermini last summer.

The new MG HS, the subject of this review, is only sold in Ireland as a plug-in hybrid. It is the brand’s compact SUV and goes up against rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, Opel Grandland and BYD Seal U.

Let’s take a closer look.

design

The new MG HS has style when it comes to bucket loading. It’s definitely grown compared to the previous model. Wider and longer, it hosts many examples of the brand’s new design direction, as seen on the latest MG4 and ZS. It has very elegant proportions and is a solid car with plenty of appeal. At the front, it sports the brand’s new look, with LED headlights as standard. Silver roof rails add a bit of sparkle, as does chrome accents around the window line. The wheel arches and lower sills are finished in black. The test car also came with running boards, but they looked a bit worn and didn’t really add anything to the car.

There are two trim levels available in the Irish market: Excite and Exclusive. Both feature 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and rear privacy glass.

There’s an elegant light bar around the rear and the whole thing looks classy for a mid-size SUV in this market.

MG HS interior

There’s a completely new cabin, which is a big improvement. It feels more stylish and modern than before. It’s cheap in some areas, like the hard plastic on the doors and glovebox lid. But most of the parts you touch frequently, such as the steering wheel, gear selector and door handles, feel good. Opt for Exclusive and get fancier black leather seats, or upgrade to tan seats for an extra few hundred euros.

There’s a new three-spoke steering wheel, fully digital driver display and large central touchscreen with improved graphics. It still takes a few clicks to complete, but there’s a row of shortcut buttons underneath that can be used for things like defogging the rear window or returning to the home screen. It could use more buttons, for example for changing vehicle settings such as driving modes, but the star buttons on the steering wheel can be customized to do just that.

Unfortunately, there’s no wireless smartphone connection, and I couldn’t connect to Apple CarPlay using a cable. It is worth noting that the USB ports on the car are USB-A instead of USB-C.

Exclusive adds some nice features like wireless smartphone charging, a 360-degree camera, heated front seats with power adjustment, and lumbar support and memory functions for the driver’s seat.

Practicality

The MG HS has a longer wheelbase than before, so the cabin feels roomier for passengers. Even for middle-seat passengers, there’s plenty of legroom to stretch out. There are separate air vents in the rear, USB-A ports, and a center armrest with cup holders—but not a pass-through loadout. The rear seats can be split 60:40 and have Isofix on the two outer seats.

The boot size is also generous at 507 liters, now some 44 liters more. Exclusive models come standard with a power tailgate.

drive

The new HS plug-in hybrid uses a 1.5-liter petrol engine paired with an electric motor and a 24.7 kWh battery. The total power output is 220hp, the torque is 350Nm, and the 0-100 acceleration takes only 6.8 seconds. The hybrid is mostly responsive to drive, especially in Sport mode, which is ideal for quick overtakes or joining the motorway. The engine runs great and there’s never too much noise in the cabin.

The battery is quite large for a plug-in hybrid, and the pure electric range is now up to 120 kilometers, up from 52 kilometers in the previous generation. The battery can be fully charged at home using a 7.4 kW wall box in just 4 hours.

It’s certainly worth keeping the battery topped up, as the HS gets thirsty when the battery dies. This is a heavy vehicle after all. It’s not a dynamic star when the roads get twisty, but it’s still solid, secure, and the steering does feel connected, so it’s easy to put on the road.

It’s quiet at highway speeds and fairly comfortable to cruise on, although it does feel solid on inclines or any cracks in the road in urban settings.

MG HS Pricing

The entry-level Excite starts at €40,995. The Exclusive with more equipment is priced from €43,995.

judgment

The new MG HS is one of the most improved cars this year. It’s a huge step forward in design and technology, and it really has never looked better. It is located in a very busy area of ​​the market, with many competitors and different forms of propulsion systems – hybrid, electric, petrol and diesel.

The HS is priced competitively with many of these products, although it doesn’t bring it down significantly. It is one of the best plug-in hybrid SUVs in the pure electric range. But that’s really the best thing about it, so it only makes sense for buyers who can easily recharge and take advantage of the range of an electric car. This makes it very cheap to run while offering a variety of style and practicality. It’s a competitive segment, but the MG is definitely worth a look.

MG HS video review

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Screenplay by Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Irish Car of the Year Judge

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