With its generation change, the MG HS has evolved from being an average yet affordable family SUV alternative to a thoroughly competent yet affordable family SUV competitor. It’s a huge improvement over the old car, even if MG still has a few teething problems to sort. If you can, we recommend you opt for the plug-in hybrid model as it offers the best blend of efficiency and pace.

What we like

Value for money remains the core reason to buy the HS. It’s around £5,000 cheaper than an equivalent Nissan Qashqai, and should prove affordable to finance too. The interior is a welcome improvement compared to before, as is the way it drives. But the plug-in hybrid is a revelation in terms of electric range and affordability. When the regular hybrid model arrives in 2025, the MG HS will be a very competitive car indeed. 

What we don’t like

The regular petrol engine remains a slight weakness of the HS. It lacks the refinement, smoothness and efficiency of many rivals, and when paired with the automatic gearbox, isn’t especially pleasant. Some of the driver assistance systems are overly annoying, while the touchscreen could be improved by having physical shortcut buttons and by being more responsive.