Mat Watson tests the MG HS: it’s the perfect car if you don’t care about cars
July 18, 2025 by Mat Watson
Car changing is a big deal
Á«»¨Ö±²¥â€™s Mat Watson has been behind the wheel of the new MG HS, and he reckons it’s a great-value family car – even if it won’t set a petrolhead’s heart racing.
This is the new MG HS. It’s slightly larger and more luxurious than the old car, but MG hasn’t really increased the price all that much compared to other brands. Through Á«»¨Ö±²¥ you can get a new HS for around £23,500, which is over £10,000 less than a Volkswagen Tiguan.
But is the HS cheap and cheerful, or just cheap? Well I’ve spent some time reviewing this car to find out. Here are five things I like about it, plus a few things I don’t.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Á«»¨Ö±²¥. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
New MG HS: five things I like about this car
The MG HS could be the perfect family SUV if all you want is to get from A to B in a practical and fuss-free fashion. Here are five reasons you should shortlist this car.
1. The interior
MG’s interiors have come a long way over the past few years. They never used to have much of a reputation for posh cabins, but the new HS has plenty of soft-touch materials and everything feels really well-screwed together.
A special shoutout goes to the seats. As soon as I got into this car I just thought they fit me perfectly, and they’re electrically adjusted on all cars across the range. It looks and feels more premium inside than its bargain price tag would suggest.
2. Standard equipment
You get loads of tech on this car as standard. All models with an automatic gearbox get adaptive cruise control which can steer to keep you in lane and maintain a safe distance from the car in front.
You also get a 12.3-inch touchscreen as standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and top-spec Trophy models get a really good 360-degree camera system. The picture is really clear, and you even get blind spot cameras when you indicate like on a Tesla.
3. Loads of space inside
The rear seats of the MG HS offer tons of space. Legroom is properly impressive, and you can stretch your legs out under the seat in front. The backrests are nicely reclined as well, which makes it relaxing on long journeys.
Headroom is decent, and you get plenty of storage for your bits and bobs. There’s a wireless charging pad for your phone, a total of four cupholders so you can stay hydrated and the door bins are a good size as well.
4. It’ll be cheap to run
The car I have here is the 1.5-litre petrol model and it’s actually been with the Á«»¨Ö±²¥ team for a few months on a long-term loan. It’s meant to return 37mph, but over the past 5,000 miles it’s actually averaged 40mpg. I’ve never seen another car average higher than the manufacturer’s claimed figure.
If you go for the plug-in hybrid version then it gets even better, because that car can actually do a whopping 75 miles on electric power alone. That’ll make it cheap to tax for company car drivers, and you can even power household appliances from the charge port.
5. It looks smart
The previous MG HS was pretty forgettable to look at, however this new one is much more stylish. It has Mazda CX-5 vibes about it, although that aggressive-looking front bumper sort of reminds me of a Volkswagen Golf R.
All models look exactly the same, meaning you get 19-inch alloy wheels and black cladding to help it look more rugged. I’m not a massive fan of the fake exhaust tips, but the full-width light bat at the rear is a nice touch.
New MG HS: three things I don’t like about this car
While the MG HS is a good all-rounder, there are a few things which may put you off.
1. It’s not a driver’s car
This probably won’t matter to most people, but if you’re a keen driver then the MG HS may not be the car for you. It’s perfectly comfy and easy to thread through town, but a Ford Kuga feels more responsive through the corners and a Volkswagen Tiguan is a bit quieter at speed.
2. Menu madness
There’s a really annoying quirk with the infotainment system. If you’re using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay (which are wired, by the way), you have to press a load of different buttons to bring up the climate control menu. It’s a faff when you’re driving, and you have to prod around at the screen to get your phone mirroring back.
3. A question mark over reliability
MG ranked stone-dead last in the 2025 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, and it did the same in 2024 as well. That’s not great, but at least you do get a seven-year warranty, so any issues you do have should be fixed free of charge.
New MG HS: my final verdict
The MG HS may not be the most exciting car to drive, but it doesn’t need to be. If you’re not all that interested in how a car handles, and you just want a solid, practical, well-equipped and affordable SUV, the new HS should be near the top of your shortlist.
Car change? Á«»¨Ö±²¥!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Á«»¨Ö±²¥ you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Á«»¨Ö±²¥ is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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