An introduction to the 2025 MG HS Plug-In Hybrid
MG has had a HS-badged SUV model on sale since 2018. The previous generation was one of MG's better Euro-friendly efforts, although from some angles it did look a bit like an ersatz first-gen Mazda CX-5. Nonetheless, it was affordable, decently built, fine to drive and had the option of a plug-in hybrid powertrain at a time when many rivals didn't offer such a powertrain (and some still don't).
Now, for 2025, the MG HS is all-new and distinctly sharp looking. It's perhaps not the most distinctive mid-sized SUV around, and in the metallic grey of our test car you're likely to lose it amid the hordes of similarly-specced cars in the supermarket car park, but there's no denying that it's a handsome thing, with clean lines, slim headlights and a faint sense of premium-ness about the whole operation.
Along with the (surprisingly good) electric Cyberster roadster, the HS is a clear sign that MG wants to leave the bargain basement behind and strike out for the heartlands of mainstream motoring.
It helps that the HS has an impressive plug-in hybrid system. We'll get into more detail on that below but suffice to say that an official 120km electric driving range and a 299hp power output from a combo of 1.5-litre petrol engine and a chunky electric motor is good going. Almost hilariously, the gearbox is a simple two-speed automatic affair, but the fact that the electric motor forms an integral part of the drivetrain means that those two speeds can cover all bases, thanks to the motor's instantly variable speed.
Can an MG HS really compete with such sales giants as the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage?
Irish Pricing & Rivals of the 2025 MG HS Plug-In Hybrid
• Undercuts most PHEVs of its size
• Only two specifications to choose from
• Generous level of standard equipment
The HS is really well priced, especially considering that we don't get the basic 1.5-litre petrol-only version that's on sale in some parts of Europe. A base price of €40,995 for the Excite plug-in hybrid model undercuts the likes of the Toyota RAV4 PHEV by €11,000, and even the higher-spec HS Exclusive that we're test driving here has a totally reasonable price tag of €43,995.
Standard spec for the Excite includes twin 12.3-inch digital screens (one for instruments, the other for infotainment), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, a rear-parking camera, MG Pilot (which includes adaptive cruise control and intelligent speed limit control, lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring) and MG iSmart (which is MG's smartphone connection which allows you to lock and unlock the doors, send navigation instructions to the car, allows you to remotely monitor fuel levels and electric driving range, and which can instruct the car to warm itself up and turn the seat heaters on while it's plugged in and charging).
Exclusive trim adds to all of that an eight-speaker sound system, a powered tailgate, heated front seats, a 360-degree parking camera, wireless phone charging and dual-zone climate control.
There is no shortage of rivals from well-established brands for the MG HS, including the aforementioned Toyota, Hyundai and Kia plug-in hybrid SUVs. You could also throw in the Ford Kuga and the incoming new Opel Grandland PHEV, and there's fresh Chinese-built rivalry in the shape of BYD's Seal-U DMI (although the MG undercuts that car on price).
Performance of the 2025 MG HS Plug-in Hybrid on Irish Roads
• Well-sorted chassis
• Adequate performance
• Really quiet to be in
If there's one thing that's truly surprising about the MG HS, it's how it steers. Now, I'm not going to claim that this big, 1,880-odd-kilo plug-in hybrid SUV has steering like a Lotus Elise, because it doesn't. The steering is light and doesn't have the kind of palm-pattering feedback that true driving enthusiasts love.
However, there's... something... something about the HS's steering and the way the nose responds to inputs, the way the body stays largely flat when cornering, the sense that there's plenty of front-end grip, and the overall sense that someone, somewhere within MG's organisation planning chart knows how to make a car that feels engaging to drive.
Again, this is not a dramatic BMW-baiting experience, but in a week with the HS, I never got tired of driving it and never failed to enjoy its general dynamic deportment. It feels much better to drive than any affordable family SUV has any right to. That's a big green tick in the MG box.
Apparently, the Euro-and-UK-spec 1.5 petrol versions of the HS have much softer suspension, and some stiffness is the price you pay for the impressive body control in the plug-in hybrid, especially around town.
Performance is absolutely fine - with a relatively low top speed, you can tell that the HS isn't a powerhouse in spite of the 299hp system power output, but it gets along nicely and never feels slow. It's also fairly refined, helped by the fact that it can spend an awful lot of time on battery power. Which brings us to...
How Economical is the 2025 MG HS Plug-in Hybrid?
• Excellent all-electric range
• Not thirsty when battery charge depleted
• Could do with faster charging
It's very economical. Charge it up, and the official 120km electric range seems achievable. We easily managed 90km, and that was without trying to drive in anything like an economical fashion. This indicates 100km should be pretty doable by anyone, and you might stretch it to 110km with a bit of care, assuming you stay away from motorway speeds.
Over a mixed week's driving, with minimal charging up of the battery we averaged 5.9 litres per 100km, although average consumption does creep up to more like 7.0 litres per 100km on 120km/h motorway runs, which isn't unreasonable at all by the standards of the class.
What's the MG HS's Interior Like?
• Lots of space front and rear
• High in quality and equipment
• Infotainment takes some learning
MG has seriously gone to town with the interior of the HS, and it both looks and feels like a major step up in quality, compared both to previous models.
The seats are plump and, in our Exclusive model, covered in a nice synthetic leather. The door cards have an intriguing, quilted pattern on them, and pretty much everything you touch - especially the likes of the steering wheel and gear shifter - feel pleasantly un-costed. It's truly impressive.
Space in the back is excellent too, and while there's no seven-seat option, there are reclining seats for those in the rear. There's almost enough space to get three adults sitting comfortably across the back, too. The boot is usefully large as well, at 507 litres up to the luggage cover.
It's a shame the infotainment system feels unfinished, and the main touchscreen is fiddly to use. There is a multi-function button on the steering wheel, which is meant to help you navigate more quickly around various on-screen options on both screens, but the fact that it changes function depending on which menu you're looking at just ends up being a bit confusing. Sometimes it controls the stereo volume, and sometimes it doesn't, for instance.
On the upside, the main instrument display is really impressive, with slick graphics and some useful customisation options for which information it's displaying. An owner of the car will no doubt get used to all the other quirks.
Does the MG HS Nail the Brief?
Absolutely it does. The MG HS looks good, drives well, has a seriously impressive cabin and delivers a useful combo of decent electric range on a full charge of its battery and decent fuel economy when you need to go further afield. Add to that highly competitive pricing and a lengthy warranty, and you've got a real winner from MG.
Ask Us Anything About the MG HS
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