Family SUV is tweaked inside and out in a bid to further polish its value credentials On sale Now Price from £23,995
Dan Jones dan.jones@haymarket.com
CHEAPNESS AND GOOD value don’t always go hand in hand; what looks a bargain on the shelf can prove to be a false economy when you get it home and find that it falls to bits or doesn’t work like it should. MG, though, has nailed the art of selling thoroughly decent cars at budget prices, and its updated HS is no exception.
It’s similar in size to large five-seat SUVs such as the Mazda CX-5, yet it undercuts not only those models on price but also some much smaller models, including the Volkswagen T-Roc. There’s nothing obviously cheap about how the HS looks, either, with the recent tweaks giving it more aggressive front and rear bumpers, redesigned LED lights front and rear, and new alloy wheel designs.
The cheapest engine offered is a 160bhp 1.5 T-GDI petrol that officially takes the HS from 0-60mph in 9.6sec, regardless of whether you stick with the six-speed manual gearbox or go for the optional seven-speed automatic. Either way, the HS’s engine is more than strong enough for everyday driving, although the rival Citroën C5 Aircross’s smaller 1.2-litre engine is more flexible, picking up quicker from low revs. The HS’s automatic gearbox responds to kickdown requests rather abruptly, too; a less aggressive driving style is rewarded with smoother progress.
The HS is also offered in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) form – one of the cheapest on sale. It can officially manage 32 miles on electric power alone, and company car users will find its 12% tax bracket makes it much cheaper to run than a conventional petrol car of similar price. It’s quicker than the regular petrol version, too, cutting the 0-60mph time to 6.9sec.
We’ve yet to drive the updated PHEV, but the petrol HS’s suspension manages to strike a good balance between ride comfort and handling. True, the ride isn’t as pillow-soft as it is in the C5 Aircross, but it still takes the sting out of most potholes and bumps, and its firmness results in less floatiness on undulating roads.
Likewise, the HS leans less when cornering than the C5 Aircross and, while it’s not as agile as the pricier CX-5, it’s easy and predictable to drive along a winding road.
The HS’s low price doesn’t mean a lacklustre interior, either. In fact, the tweaks have really lifted the sense of quality, bringing tactile perforated leather for the steering wheel, soft plastics at key touch poi
