MG Motor UK HS review

Here’s where the HS wins back some respect. Rather a lot of it, in fact. A medium SUV for the price of a small one is an arresting sell, and we can see the appeal when it’s also backed up by a stockier warranty than many rivals. Seven years/80,000 miles of cover is not to be sniffed at.

We reckon the best value comes at the extremes of the range; a manually shifted petrol has a simple, unpretentious charm and if you can live with the dozy air con system, the base SE trim brings all the equipment you could feasibly need. That gets you a HS at its £24,995 base and it’s hard not to argue that means plentiful space (and reasonable style) for the money.

The PHEV is a huge step up in both refinement and dynamic intrigue and we’d recommend it with either trim level. But going for the Trophy tech uplift and the (£500) tan leather certainly brings a stronger sensation of luxe to match the hushed powertrain.

MG is hoping to attract abundant business customers with the hybrid, too, especially those who currently run an EV and feel frustrated. Its 75-mile range provides a five per cent BIK rate (versus the eight or 12 of its key PHEV rivals) which was a key target for MG in launching the car.

Even if that range figure doesn’t prove achievable in your typical usage – and with a maximum of 7kW charging, you mightn’t get the chance to top it up as easily as quicker-charging competitors – you’ll still feel a financial benefit. It’s also one of the few cars in its sector to claim over 50 per cent of retained value after three years, which will be key in carving out some tempting lease deals.

Will it win MG some new customers? At the rate the company has grown in recent years, it’s probably safe to assume ‘yes’, but we suspect the most satisfied demographic of this new HS will be those upgrading from an old one. If you’re looking to save money by trading in a Kuga, Karoq or any one of its vast swathe of rivals, we can’t guarantee you’ll feel quite as smug. You’ll strike a good deal while being left under no illusion about the driving factor of your decision.