MG HS review - Engines, drive & performance

Let’s be honest here – the main reason you’d buy an MG HS over the competition is likely to be value for money, rather than down to the way it tackles corners. The HS is rather unremarkable in this area, and we found our test model with the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder and six-speed manual rather underwhelming to drive. 

Refinement was a low point, because the engine sounded very strained when we put our foot down and there was a bit of a delay between our pedal inputs and the surge or acceleration.

The brakes also felt quite unresponsive, with lots of travel in the pedal before you feel any reaction from them. The steering feels rather heavy in ‘normal’ setting, though putting it into ‘comfort’ made it much lighter, though still not as quick as we’d like. In general, the steering offers little in the way of feedback so it’s harder to gauge how far to turn the wheel when going round corners.

The brief time we got to drive the more powerful plug-in hybrid model proved it to be much better to drive – for starters, its electric motor makes power-delivery instant, so acceleration is much brisker like that of an EV. In fact, the 1.5-litre hardly had to take over, but when it did it felt a lot quieter in the PHEV. The regenerative braking technology also improved matters because it seems to fill in the gap in the pedal play and felt more natural as a result – the switch between mechanical and regenerative braking is completely seamless.

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We do have a gripe with the sheer intrusiveness of the safety systems. During our time with the HS we found them to be infuriating with constant alarms and warnings coming on which can prove to be quite distracting. The frustrating thing is that as we looked down at the instruments to see what the problem was, the driver attention monitor would also chime in to warn us to pay attention to the road. Turning these settings off can prove a hassle, too, because you have to navigate through multiple submenus and then confirm multiple times that you want them off – a button to quickly access your preferred settings would be great, like Renault’s ‘Multi-sense’ key.

Is it good to drive in town?

The MG HS’s high driving position will make it a good choice for those after a commanding view of the road. If you can afford to spring for the plug-in hybrid you’ll also get the benefit of electric power for shorter trips which could save you money in fuel, but it’s only worth it if you can keep the car regularly topped up with a home wallbox charger.

Is it good to drive on long journeys?

The HS is much better suited to relaxed motorway driving than it is in other areas. So long as it’s not under heavy acceleration, the HS is fairly quiet when cruising at speed, aside from some road noise making its way into the cabin. It feels stable thanks to its firm suspension, though it’s not uncomfortable either, unless you hit a particularly rough bit of road which can disturb the peace somewhat.

Is it good to drive on B-roads?

The petrol-powered HS is not the car for you if B-road blasts are a priority given how coarse the engine sounds in the regular deceleration and acceleration you’d need to ask of it on a twisty route. That, plus the vague steering doesn’t make for the most satisfying drive by any means. While the plug-in hybrid feels better to drive, it’s still no sports car, and better suited to more relaxed drives.

Petrol models

The MG HS range starts off with a single pure-petrol option which is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. While it offers a very affordable entry-way into HS ownership, its performance is just adequate, with 167bhp to haul the weight of the big SUV around. It feels lazy and more sluggish than even its figures suggest, given the delay between putting your foot down and feeling it kick in. It comes with a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission.

Plug-in hybrid models

The MG HS is launching with a plug-in hybrid model alongside the standard petrol. It uses the 1.5-litre petrol engine tuned to 142bhp paired with an electric motor with 206bhp that gives a lot more oomph, but despite those figures it’s not intended to be sporty. Acceleration is punchier, which will come in handy for overtaking, and the ability to move around town for up to 75 miles on electric power alone is the main benefit.

Later in early 2025 a full self-charging hybrid version of the MG HS will arrive, though full details are yet to be announced.

Carbuyer notes

“Taken as a whole, the petrol HS isn’t any fun on a twisty road. It's much better suited to the motorway where, aside from a fair bit of road noise, it’s a reasonably quiet place to be” Ellis Hyde, News Reporter