New 2026 MG HS Review
- Feb 13
- 5 min read
Is the new MG HS the best luxury MG ever and can it beat its German rivals on comfort?
Exterior – Front
So, to start with we do get the new MG design language but, on this car, it is a lot more premium and upmarket. We get this huge grill that dominates the front and almost looks like an Aston Martin Zagato grill which is crazy on an MG. next to this we get these sporty side vents that have a purpose and it also gives this car a menacing look. We also get some fog lights lower down as well as a sporty central air vent. The headlights are very slim but sharp looking and house LED technology, and they are connected with this black and chrome bar. Just like the MG ZS I reviewed last week though I would like to of seen a light bar. Especially on something like this. Overall, it does give it a strong front-end look.
Exterior – Side
Moving round to the side and we get a very interesting and premium look. To start with we get a sharp crease down the sill and near the window line. We also get some more creases around the pronounced wheel arches of which are in gloss black, the same as the sills. We also get a lot of chrome and some sporty looking door mirrors. We also get this black panel that doesn’t do anything, but it does look like it should house a camera. Maybe something in the future. Anyway, it does look sporty. Even the wheels look great and typical MG. so far it does look and feel premium.
Exterior – Rear
Moving round to the back of the HS and it really does looks very good. To start with we get this ducktail spoiler design which I do like. Below this is a set of sporty taillights with triangle design in them. there is also a light bar, and this coloured bar which I personally think would of looked better as a silver or chrome bar but that is being a bit picky. The bumper design also looks decent with some fake diffusers and some fake exhausts sadly. Overall though this is a real step up from the previous HS. What do you think. Let me know in the comment section below and whilst you are at it don’t forget to like and subscribe. Right. Lets have a look and see what engine and gearboxes you can have with the new MG HS.
Car and engine specs and price
So, the MG HS can be had in 3 different flavours. You have the normal Petrol option, Petrol Mild Hybrid or Petrol Plug in Hybrid. Lets start with the normal Petrol version first. This uses a 1.5 Litre Turbo unit which has 169 bhp. this can do 0-62 within 9.4 seconds which isn’t too bad. This is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, and this powers the front wheels. The next version is the Mild Hybrid version, and this uses the same 1.5 litre Engine without a turbo this time, but the power has been increased to 224 bhp. this reduces the 0-62 time down to 7.9 seconds thanks to its electrified assistance. It can also move on electric at low speeds too. this is mated to a 2-speed automatic gearbox and again powers the front wheels. Efficiency is quite good though at 51 mpg compared to 38 for the regular petrol model. The final version is the plug-in hybrid version, and this uses the same 1.5 litre engine with an electric motor giving the HS 299 bhp which is very good. This also reduces the 0-62 time down to 6.8 seconds which is quite quick considering the size. This is mated to a 24.7 kWh battery pack giving it over 70 miles of electric only driving. This is more than any other plug-in hybrid that you can buy at the moment making it the best option overall. The price of the new MG HS starts at £26,245 for the normal petrol model. This isn’t too bad and does beat most of its rivals by £6,000 if not more which is something. Right, lets have a look and see what the interior is like.
Interior – Design
So, climbing inside the new MG HS and it is completely different to the previous HS. To start with the dashboard design feels very German. We get this winged leather dashboard shelf which is very premium. on this we get a row of buttons which is always nice and a dual screen setup with the latest MG infotainment system and a fully digital instrument cluster. As you know with my MG ZS video the infotainment system does work quite well and is fairly easy to use. The instrument cluster though is all new and houses the relevant information. It is customisable and you can have the map in front of you, but I would have liked to have seen more customisation options as it does feel a bit restrained, but it isn’t too bad. We do get a set of new indicator stalks taken from the MG4 which is nice to see, and we also get the usual MG steering wheel. The centre console is quite nice with a BMW inspired gear selector but there is a bit of piano black plastic and that won’t be to everyone’s taste. There is some silver elements though as well as a decent amount of storage. The centre console is also quite high up making you feel like you sit quite low down which is nice finally the seats are very comfortable and supportive but sadly there is no ventilated option which would have been very nice. What would have also been nice is ambient lighting. The previous generation had it but this one doesn’t which is a big shame. Anyway, let’s have a look and see what the rear seats are like.
Practicality
So, climbing into the back of the new MG HS and we get a good about of legroom and headroom. The materials are also very good too and we even get an armrest and a USB A port. Weirdly we do get a set of air vents for both sides, but they are connected for up and down but not left and right. It’s almost like 1.5 air vents. I would of have also liked a sunroof too like the previous one, but it is a nice place to be. Right, lets check the boot space out.
Boot Size
So, opening the boot electronically and you are welcomed with a 507 litre boot space which is quite decent. It also feels quite premium too and there is a bit of storage underneath which is nice. Folding down the rear seats 60:40 split and this extends to 1,484 litres. The seats also lie flat which is a bonus too.
Summary
So, in summary then what do I think of the new MG HS. Well, it is a huge step up from the previous model in terms of looks on the outside but also build quality on the inside. The previous one always felt like it could rival a Mercedes in terms of quality, and this new one definitely can and even beat it in some areas. 10 years ago, you wouldn’t have thought MG could even come close yet now they have beaten the Germans. You also get a 7-year warranty and a decent price too. you know I think Jeremy Clarkson was right about the Chinese cars.
Exterior 5/5
Interior 5/5
Practicality 5/5
Total 15/15
Model | MG HS Trophy |
Engine | 1.5 Turbo Petrol, 169bhp, 0-62 = 9.4 Seconds, Front Wheel Drive |
Transmission | 6 Speed Manual |
Price | £28,745 |
On Sale | Now |
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