MG HS vs Skoda Octavia
What's the difference?

MG HS

$21,977 - $53,690

2025 price

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Skoda Octavia

$39,590 - $59,990

2026 price

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Chery Tiggo 8 PRO MAX

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Summary

2025 MG HS

2026 Skoda Octavia

By John Law

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.5L

Inline 4, 1.5L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.9L/100km (combined)

5.5L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Packed with equipment
Much-improved drive
Spacious cabin

Smooth driving
Packed with features
Impressive value-for-money

Dislikes

Beeping driver monitoring
Expensive servicing
No USB-C ports

Some lag in initial acceleration
Space-saver spare
Mild-hybrid adds little

2025 MG HS Summary

The meteoric rise of the Chinese-owned MG brand continues with the HS, a family-focused SUV stepping into the most hotly contested segment in Australia.

When the first generation HS arrived in December 2019, it should have been MG’s big sales driver, yet it sat in the shadows of the cut-price MG3 hatch and ZS small SUV as they lifted the storied MG badge into Australia’s overall top-10 sellers.

The HS has so far been MG’s missing link and that’s down to the segment being full of such strong name plates such as the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. The mid-size SUV has also been the focus of other strong value rivals that were better, namely the GWM Haval H6.

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2026 Skoda Octavia Summary

Once a solid mainstay on our roads, wagons have fallen out of favour somewhat as a result of the ever-growing popularity of SUVs and utes.

But is a wagon actually a better and more family-friendly daily driver than a bigger, taller SUV or ute? Perhaps.

And throw a mild-hybrid system into the mix and it could be an even more appealing purchase.

Skoda’s Octavia has built a strong following in Australia and now comes its new mild hybrid grade, available as a wagon or liftback.

So, what’s the Skoda Octavia Select mHEV wagon like as a daily driver for families?

Read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 MG HS 2026 Skoda Octavia

Verdict

There are a few niggles with the latest MG HS, for example the annoying driver-attention monitoring and expensive maintenance costs. We’ve not had a full sample of its open-road performance yet either, which may prove more telling.

Yet the HS is shaping up to be one of the most successful product updates of recent years, second only to, I don’t know, the MG3? The family SUV is also backed by a 10-year warranty and, despite the drastic improvements, doesn’t cost a whole lot more than before.

The entry-level Vibe is our pick, there's no need to spend more. It features all manner of safety equipment and a quiet drive but with cloth upholstery that doesn't get all sticky and sweaty in the Australian climate.

The end of 2024 is the tipping point where MG goes from cheap and cheerful to a real headache for established players. Perhaps not for the strongest in the segment like the RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail, but the HS is now an easy car to recommend for a family looking for a spacious SUV that drives their dollar further. The hybrid will boost appeal further when it arrives next year.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

Verdict

The Skoda Octavia has always been impressive in wagon guise and this mHEV variant is no different. While the mild-hybrid set-up adds little to the Octavia package there’s still plenty to like about this wagon. It’s smooth and refined to drive, packed with features and has ample appeal as a value-for-money buy.

It’s no surprise if this wagon is at or near the top of your vehicle shopping list.

MG HS vs Skoda Octavia What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

MG HS vs Skoda Octavia
What's the difference?