MG HS Hybrid+ 2026 review: Excite

MG’s HS is a mid-sized SUV rival to the likes of Toyota’s RAV4, and the new Hybrid+ version has arrived in the CarsGuide test garage.

So what is a Hybrid+? What does it cost? What’s it like to drive? Well, we tested the top of the range HS Hybrid+ Essence and have the answer to these and a few other questions you may not have considered.

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There are two grades in the HS Hybrid+ range and we tested the highest one - the Essence. The drive-away price at the time of publishing for the Hybrid+ Essence is $44,990. We’ll take a look at the features towards the end of the review.

But for now, back to the hybrid system.

The Hybrid+ combines a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine and a single electric motor. Together they produce 165kW/340Nm, which is enough grunt to see this SUV accelerate relatively briskly and responsively.

While the Hybrid+ doesn’t save as much fuel as the Super Hybrid, fuel economy is still excellent with the trip computer reporting 6.1L/100km. A little higher than the official 5.2L/100km combined cycle figure MG quotes.

For the most part my week with the HS Hybrid+ was pretty standard for a parent with two kids under 10 with some motorways thrown in. Mainly urban-based, doing the school and daycare runs, the grocery shopping as well as weekend sport and family catch-ups.

There are a lot of good things to say and only a few criticisms in terms of the way the HS Hybrid+ drives and the negatives aren’t deal breakers.

First, I found the driver’s seat a little uncomfortable. It could be more supportive and wider. Second, the A-pillars on either side of the windscreen are wide and obstruct the view occasionally. And last, the ride could be better.

But having said that, the ride is still comfortable, especially at lower speeds. The steering is well-weighted and accurate and, as mentioned, powertrain response is great.

Also great is practicality, with excellent head and legroom in the second row and a large for the class 507-litre boot. All HS SUVs are five seaters over two rows.

Cabin storage is also excellent with large door pockets and cupholders up front and in the rear. The way the phone charger angles back into the centre console is clever as it means a device can’t slip out.

The only downside to practicality is the lack of physical buttons for climate control which can only be accessed through the media screen.

The grade tested is the Essence which brings a 12.3-inch media screen, proximity unlocking, a power tailgate, dual-zone climate control, LED headlights and tail-lights, rear privacy glass and a panoramic sunroof.

And despite its budget-focused price point, the MG HS's design looks premium. The front styling is sporty and refined but it's the rear of the car, especially the tail-light treatment, which is stunning.

The cabin looks equally high-end and feels good. Yes, the upholstery is vinyl in the Essence grade, but what's missing in leather is made up for in nice details such as a raised pattern in the door trim.

Safety equipment is impressive with AEB, lane keeping assistance, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert with braking included. There’s a total of seven airbags onboard.

I should point out that the safety alerts in the MG HS Hybrid+ can be annoying, but they're not as intrusive as in many other brands.

The HS Hybrid+ Essence is covered by MG’s seven-year warranty which rounds out an excellent value-for-money SUV package.