The MG HS needs to offer a lot, as it competes in a highly competitive space filled with established and new players. The old HS managed to do that by providing value without compromising on features and interior quality. With the new HS, MG is hoping to offer even more value for buyers. We drove a 2026 MG HS PHEV to find out whether the changes have worked and whether you should consider it over rivals such as the Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai.
When buying a used MG HS, start with the service history. The warranty is a big part of the car’s appeal, so check it has been serviced at MG on time and schedule. The newer 2024-onwards model is the better pick if budget allows, as it feels more polished than the first-generation car. Check the 12-volt battery, infotainment, reversing camera, parking sensors, tyres and brakes before buying.
Alexander Gur is a Roadside Patrol at The AA, with more than 20 years of hands-on experience across garage and roadside roles, as well as a strong personal interest in performance cars.
Read bioThe MG HS still benefits from generous warranty cover, so major repair concerns should be limited on newer cars with correct history.
Things to check include:
• Weak 12-volt batteries, which can cause starting or electrical issues
• Interior trim rattles on some earlier cars
• Infotainment screens freezing or going black
• Reversing cameras taking time to load
• Parking sensor faults or false warnings
• Charging or battery warnings on plug-in hybrid models
Most electrical issues are more likely to be software or battery related than major hardware failures. If the screen is slow, the camera fails to load or warning messages appear, make sure the dealer checks it before you buy.
The main thing with the MG HS is keeping the warranty valid. That means following MG’s schedule and using a MG certified dealer.
Typical maintenance includes:
• Oil and filter change every 12 months or 15,000 miles
• Cabin filter replacement during routine servicing
• Brake, suspension, tyre and fluid checks at each service
• Brake fluid replacement at the correct interval
• Air and fuel filter replacement when due
• Software updates for infotainment and driver assistance systems
• Charging checks on plug-in hybrid models
The MG HS should be a low-risk used buy if it has full history and remaining warranty cover. The newer model feels like a clear step forward, and most common issues are small electrical niggles rather than serious mechanical faults.
The MG HS does offer quite a lot, but that is only if you pick the PHEV version. It’s good to drive, refined, affordable to buy and run, has a great cabin, and offers everything you need from a family SUV. The fiddly infotainment aside, it is definitely worth a serious look.
Adithya is the Content Editor at AA Cars and a Motoring Journalist, with over 1,000 published articles across numerous publications.
Read bioPrices for the standard HS start from as low as £26,495 for the base non-hybrid petrol SE, with the price going up to £30,745 for the Trophy version. The HS hybrid models start from £29,495 for the self-charging hybrid petrol SE, rising to £31,995 for the Trophy. Meanwhile, our pick, the PHEV, starts from £32,495 for the SE, rising to £34,995 for the range-topping Trophy.
Looking at used MG HS models? At AA Cars, we have plenty of 2025- and 2026-plate used HS models priced from as low as £18,000, going all the way up to £30,000 at the time of writing.
• Petrol: 1.5-litre turbo petrol (167hp/275Nm) + 6-speed manual/7-speed DCT
• Hybrid: 1.5-litre turbo petrol (222hp/340Nm) + 2-speed automatic
• Plug-in hybrid: 1.5-litre turbo petrol (295hp/350Nm) + 2-speed automatic
The MG HS PHEV uses a 24.7 kWh battery pack, and it can do 75 miles of all-electric range. In our testing, we did see a real-world range close to that number. But, what immediately stands out is the refinement of the powertrain. The HS drives almost all of the time on electric power, and this translates to a smooth and relaxed drive. Even when the engine kicks in, it is so seamless and quiet that you hardly notice it. The acceleration is also entirely EV-like, with great throttle response and instant torque available on demand.
There are different drive modes on offer, and you can also tweak the brake regeneration intensity as well. Stick to comfort or normal, and the HS PHEV feels right with enough power and performance to keep you satisfied. It also accelerates confidently at high speeds and motorway slip roads, so it rarely feels short of performance.
Like the PHEV powertrain, the ride quality also feels accomplished. Overall, the HS offers an isolated ride that is compliant over most surfaces. At varying speeds, the ride quality is consistent and comfortable without becoming overly soft or edgy, striking a nice balance. It definitely leans more towards comfort than sportiness, as you can feel the weight around tight B-roads.
The steering is the weakest link in the handling department, as it is devoid of any feedback. It also doesn’t feel direct enough to make the HS particularly engaging to steer. Having said that, the HS PHEV definitely feels comfortable around bends, with decent body control. It is quick to turn into corners and certainly does a good job of masking its heft. Grip levels are also strong, while the brake pedal leaves some room for improvement. The brake bite is adequate, but the pedal can feel slightly inconsistent as the car blends regenerative and friction braking.
Manoeuvrability at slow speeds is easy thanks to the light steering and immediate throttle response. However, there’s a significant blind spot around both door mirrors, enough to block the view from that angle.
Perceived interior quality is the MG HS’s key strength. Once inside, you are greeted with soft-touch materials and a leather-clad steering wheel. There is no doubt that the HS feels more premium than what you’d normally expect in this segment, especially at this price point. The cabin quality is good enough that you might initially struggle to find lower-grade materials.
MG has done a great job, and it is certainly one of the nicest cabins in the space. In terms of design, the highlight is the dual 12.3-inch displays, along with some buttons below them. Although the cabin feels premium enough for the price, the same cannot be said for the infotainment system.
The MG HS offers a very useful boot, with 507 litres of space in petrol models and a slightly smaller load area in the PHEV due to the battery. Fold the rear seats, and that capacity expands to 1,484 litres. The wide opening and low load lip make access easy, too.
The cabin is practical, with thoughtful storage and flexible seating arrangements, while there’s a handy wireless charging shelf for mobile devices. The front seats are large and comfortable, although they are a tad too cushioned. You sit high enough to get a commanding view out, while legroom and headroom are more than adequate.
In the rear, the legroom on offer is really competitive, with enough room for large adults as well. A third passenger might struggle a bit due to the raised centre floor, but overall, the space on offer is certainly up there with that of the rivals.
All MG HS models come equipped with built-in navigation, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. We ran into CarPlay connection issues more often than we liked; the only workaround was to delete the device and connect it again. MG’s interior space and quality are offset by its touchscreen infotainment system and the tech on board.
For starters, the touchscreen is not a snappy unit, with touch responses taking a while to register. This, coupled with the integration of all essential features into the touchscreen, makes it not user-friendly. You often need to focus more on the touchscreen, and this can be distracting on the move. We wish MG offered physical controls for essential functions and media controls to eliminate this.
Other feature highlights include powered seats, heated seats, a 360° camera, an electric passenger seat, a powered tailgate, wireless charging, an 8-speaker audio system, dual-zone aircon, and the MG Pilot driver assistance system.
The HS is available in SE and Trophy trims for all three engine options. The colours on offer are Black Pearl (our test car), Dynamic Red, Hampstead Grey, Arctic White and Monument Silver.
Euro NCAP awarded the MG HS a five-star safety rating, with adult occupant protection rated at 90%, child occupant protection at 85%, vulnerable road user protection at 83%, and safety assist features scoring 74%.
The MG HS is equipped with the MG Pilot – a comprehensive suite of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, and adaptive cruise control. We found all the features to be working as intended during out time with the MG HS. We also found out that the HS bongs at you a lot and overall, the safety systems are a bit too intrusive. There is no shortcut button, and to disable these, you have to navigate through the touschreen, which can be daunting on the move.
The petrol version returns 37–38 mpg, while the self-charging hybrid variant is capable of achieving up to 51.3mpg, all based on the WLTP combined cycle. If you want the most fuel-efficient version, the PHEV comes in strong with a realistic figure of around 50mpg, according to our test cycle. Expect this to drop a bit once the battery is out of charge.
Insurance groups are 18 to 21, depending on model and trim level, all of which are reasonably modest and should ensure the car is sensible to run. CO₂ emissions range from 12 to 173g/km, depending on the version you pick. The plug-in hybrid, at 12g/km, qualifies for a low 7% company car tax bracket. But note that you cannot fast charge the HS, as it only supports a maximum rate of 7kW, which also means it does not support DC rapid charging.
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