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Quick overview
- Keen pricing
- Hybrid power option
- Seven-year warranty
- Lots of standard equipment
- Dull petrol engine
- Not as practical as some rivals
- Mediocre infotainment
- Choppy ride
The MG HS might just be that rare thing: a genuine bargain. You see, it offers much of the large SUV experience at a price most cars from the class below struggle to match, never mind better. Don’t think this is at the expense of things such as equipment, technology, comfort or quality, either, as the MG has these bases covered. All this and the car comes with a seven-year warranty to put it among the best covered in any sector.
The HS comes in two distinct options, with a petrol-only model using the 1.5-litre turbo petrol motor. You can also have a hybrid, which uses the same engine but with the addition of a 122hp electric motor. Quite apart from the benefits of the hybrid, such as its 32-mile EV range, lower emissions, and keen price, it’s also a very rapid car thanks to the combined power of the petrol-electric motors that deliver 0-60mph in a hot hatch-bating 6.9 seconds.
On a more practical level, the HS in either power option comes with a choice of two well-equipped trim levels. You can also pick between a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch automatic with the petrol model, while the hybrid comes with a 10-speed auto as standard. All of this means MG offers a bit more choice with the HS than first meets the eye.
Inside, the HS has plenty of space for people, though luggage room is a bit more limited than the class leaders on this front. The cabin is very well made and feels of good quality, which will disappoint anyone who thinks the MG’s keen pricing means corners must have been cut. The fact is, it’s up there with the better SUVs in the sector, though a Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5 still has the edge in overall style and build. Only the HS’s dull-witted infotainment really lets the side down in the cabin, which is a small penance to pay for a car that offers such a good deal.
Prices
The MG HS range gets going with the 1.5 T-GDI petrol model with six-speed manual gearbox in Excite trim. This version costs £22,995, while the Exclusive comes in at £25,495. Adding the seven-speed automatic gearbox to either trim level increases the price by £1500. Both of the Plug-in Hybrid versions have a 10-speed automatic gearbox fitted as standard and the Excite model costs from £31,095. Choose the higher spec Exclusive trim instead and the list price begins at £33,595, which is the same £2500 premium as with the petrol-only HS. Despite the MG’s keen pricing, you can find some deals on new cars and save as much as £3000. For those looking at a nearly new HS, prices begin at around £20,000 for a car with less than 5000 miles on the clock. A two-year old HS with average mileage will cost from around £17,500 for the petrol, while a Hybrid will cost from about £24,000.
Infotainment, comfort and practicality
While some rivals are styled as SUVs but feel like a hatch from the driver’s seat, the MG HS’s driving position delivers that much-desired high-riding position that many drivers want. It gives a good view to the front and sides, but rearward vision for reversing is compromised by the thick real pillars. To counter this, MG fits all HS models with rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera that gives a view from above the car to help slot it into tight spots. You also get electric adjustment for the seats in all models, and there’s lumbar movement too. Our only small complaint is taller drivers might find the seat doesn’t lower quite enough, but the steering wheel adjusts for tilt and depth. In the Excite model you have faux leather upholstery, while the Exclusive turns that into real leather. You also have heated front seats in all HS versions.
MG has gone for a fairly simple style for the HS’s dash and cabin appearance. It works well as the main instrument cluster is clear and easy to read with its digital display in between the round dials for speed and revs. The digital screen can be changed to show a variety of information using the steering wheel buttons, which also operate the hands-free phone connection and cruise control. There are a few buttons on the centre console, but frustratingly MG has used the 10.1-inch infotainment screen to run the heating and ventilation system. This makes it trickier to work than it should be as you drive when all you want to do is change the temperature. The rest of the infotainment set-up is also a bit behind the best on offer in rivals like the Skoda Kodiaq or Ford Kuga due to the slow responses of the MG’s system and slightly basic graphics. However, it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to let you connect your phone to the car easily.
Head into the rear of the MG HS and you find it’s just as generous with space for passengers as the front. There’s a good amount of head and shoulder room, though anyone with long legs might find the raised floor pushes their knees a bit higher than is ideal. Even so, the HS comes with a trio of three-point seat belts and Isofix mounts in the two outer seats to attach a child seat securely.
Coming round to the boot of the HS, MG provides a powered tailgate with the Exclusive trim. With the hatch open, there’s a big aperture and the load floor sits flush with the sill to make light work of getting heavy goods in and out. Space is reasonable but some way off the class best as the MG musters 463-litres of capacity with the seats up in the petrol-only model or 448-litrs in the Hybrid due to some space being given over to the battery pack. Tip the 60-40 split rear seat and you can free up a maximum of 1454-litres in the petrol HS or 1375-litres for the Hybrid.
Which 2020 MG HS model should you buy?
Entry point to the HS range is now the Excite trim, which comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and ignition, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors and camera, and MG Pilot that gathers together various safety aids such as lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, traffic jam assist, and adaptive cruise control with speed limiter. The Excite also has faux leather upholstery and electric driver’s seat adjustment, air conditioning, and the 10-1-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with four speakers. The Exclusive builds on this with bi-function LED headlights, power tailgate, rear privacy glass, and a driving modes selector. There’s full leather upholstery, along with heated front sports seats, dual zone air conditioning, and an extra pair of speakers for the stereo.
Value for money: how much does a 2020 MG HS cost to buy and run?
The petrol-only HS records an official combined fuel consumption of 37.9mpg with the manual gearbox, along with 168g/km carbon dioxide emissions. Go for the seven-speed auto and you get 36.6mpg and 174g/km. Those emissions mean you’ll pay first-year road tax of £585 and £945 respectively for the manual and auto models. This makes the Plug-in Hybrid far more attractive with its 155.4mpg combined economy and emissions of 43g/km, which brings road tax down to £10 for the first year. The Hybrid can also cover up to 32 miles on a single charge of its battery.
Verdict: Should I buy a 2020 MG HS?
MG has not had to make many compromises to come up with the HS. Yes, the ride is a bit unsettled next to the class leaders, and fuel economy and emissions for the petrol models lag well behind what we now expect from this sector. However, the Plug-in Hybrid model of HS makes a much stronger financial case and is the one to aim for.
With plenty of standard kit included in even the lower of the two trims on offer, the HS is an appealing prospect. It has lots of space for the family, though luggage room could be more generous. And while it’s not the most exciting SUV to drive, the MG gets you there and comes with a seven-year warranty for peace of mind.