2024 MG HS Review

The MG HS aims to undercut its more established rivals in the midsize SUV world with attractive drive-away pricing, a generous features list and long warranty coverage and, so far the recipe has been working.

In recent years, the MG HS has outsold a number of its key rivals, but does the driving experience, cabin practicality and safety of the HS stand up to its competitors? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

MG HS Competition

Starting Price: $32,990

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How Much Does It Cost?

The MG HS range is priced from $32,990 drive-away for the entry-level HS Vibe, with drive-away prices moving to $35,990 for the HS Excite.

From here, the range moves to the HS Essence, priced at $38,990, while the range-topping HS Essence X is priced at $42,990 drive-away.

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MG HS (EXCITE) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the MG HS Have?

MG’s entry-level HS Vibe comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys and receives halogen headlights with LED daytime running lamps, adaptive cruise control, leatherette upholstery with a leather-wrapped gear lever, roof rails, front and rear fog lights, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors and keyless entry. 

Stepping up to the HS Excite adds a set of LED head & tail lights, dynamic indicators, dual-zone climate control, a powered boot lift and satellite navigation.

Finally, the range-topping HS Essence & Essence X pick up a panoramic sunroof, leather-upholstered and heated front sports seats, welcome lighting and LED interior ambient lighting. 

Does the MG HS Have Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

On the technology front, the MG HS range boasts a 10.1-inch infotainment system that comes packing both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and is paired with a six-speaker sound system.

MG HS Range Features

• 17-inch alloys

• Halogen headlights with LED daytime running lamps

• Adaptive cruise control

• Leatherette upholstery with leather-wrapped steering wheel

• Front & rear fog lights

• Roof rails

• Rear-view camera with rear parking sensors

• 10.1-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

• LED head & tail lights, dynamic indicators (Excite)

• Powered boot lift (Excite)

• Panoramic sunroof (Essence)

• Leather upholstered sports seats with seat heating and power adjustment (Essence)

• LED ambient lighting (Essence)

• Larger turbocharged engine (Essence X)

• All-wheel drive system (Essence X)

What are the Engine Options for the MG HS Range?

Most of the MG HS range is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 119kW of power and 250Nm of torque.

The Vibe, Excite and Essence receive a front-wheel drive layout and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Stepping up to the range-topping HS Essence X adds a larger 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 168kW of power and 360Nm of torque, powering all four wheels via an AWD system and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Is the MG HS Comfortable to Drive?

While there’s a noticeable gap in terms of pricing to its more established rivals, the overall driving experience on offer in the HS is closer than you might expect.

Around town, the HS provides drivers with a simple, user-friendly driving experience that makes it a great companion for the urban jungle, largely thanks to the lightweight steering and decent visibility.

Low-speed turns and acceleration are somewhat stuttered by the dual-clutch transmission, though this is a common gripe of DCT units, rather than the HS specifically.

On the road, the HS is able to handle small and moderate bumps with confidence thanks to its soft suspension, though this means it doesn’t quite over the same stability in the corners and overall refinement of its main competitors.

The base engine is perfectly fine for those looking for a simple A-to-B car, though the added performance of the larger 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot powering the Essence X is no doubt the pick of the engine bunch for performance.

All up, the HS can’t match the versatility and refinement of its more established peers, though it has done well to close the gap while undercutting them on price.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The majority of the HS lineup, including the Vibe, Excite and Essence come powered by a relatively fuel-efficient 1.5-litre four-cylinder that is rated at 7.3L/100km on a combined cycle.

Stepping up to the more powerful Essence X also brings a considerable hike in fuel consumption, with combined cycle figures of 9.5L/100km.

How Much Fuel Does the MG HS Use Around Town?

The MG HS Vibe, Excite and Essence are rated at 9.2L/100km on an urban cycle, while the more powerful HS Essence X is rated at 13.1L/100km on city fuel consumption tests.

How Much Fuel does the MG HS Use on the Highway?

The entry-level HS Vibe, Excite and Essence return highway consumption figures of 6.2L/100km from their 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, which rises to 7.5L/100km in the case of the more powerful Essence X with its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Overall, MG has done an impressive job with the design and layout of the HS to ensure it meets important benchmarks families are looking to tick in the midsize SUV segment.

In the front of the cabin, there’s a relatively clean centre console design that keeps things simple while offering some practical touches.

Storage options include a retractable storage area sitting behind the gear lever, a pair of cupholders and a narrow tray to accommodate smartphones, added storage inside the folding armrest and a pair of bottle holders in each door.

Taller drivers won’t have much of a problem getting comfortable in the front of the cabin, though visibility is somewhat impacted by the bulky A-pillars.

Move to the rear of the HS’ cabin and you’ll find a reasonable amount of legroom for adults in the second row, with no issues for legroom other than the need for more under-thigh bolstering and a potential lack of headroom for extremely tall guests.

The MG HS picks up a pair of ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts to accommodate a variety of forward and rear-facing child seats.

How Big is the MG HS’ Boot?

The MG HS range offers a boot measuring in at 463L with the rear seats standing, expanding to 1287L with the second row folded to help accommodate sports gear and bulky cargo.

You’ll also find the MG HS comes with some added boot storage and a luggage cover as standard.

Is it Safe?

As standard, the MG HS range picks up a long list of active safety gear, which is a particularly nice touch for buyers looking for an entry-level variant that comes packed with clever safety tech.

All members of the MG HS range receive autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, forward collision warnings, lane-keep assist, speed limit assist and curtain airbags.

Does the MG HS Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The MG HS has picked up a five-star ANCAP safety rating after testing in 2019. In those tests, the HS scored:

• Adult Occupant Protection: 92%

• Child Occupant Protection: 83%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 64%

• Safety Assist: 77%

What Warranty Does the MG HS Come With?

The MG HS range is packaged with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty which puts it very much at the top of the leaderboard when it comes to long-standing peace of mind.

Service intervals are capped at 12 months or 10,000km, with the company offering ten years of capped-price servicing that varies between 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre engines.

Our Verdict: Is the MG HS Worth it?

While the MG HS range doesn’t necessarily blow its rivals out of the water in any material way on the road or inside the cabin, it’s hard to deny its impressive value proposition for midsize SUV buyers.

As a result, we’d encourage you to put the MG HS on your midsize SUV shortlist and compare it directly with its rivals to see which you like best.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new midsize SUV, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.

Five MG HS Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Ten years of capped-price servicing

3. 12-month/10,000 service intervals

4. 7.3 - 9.5L/100km fuel economy figures

5. 463L boot expands to 1287L