2025 MG HS Vibe review

There are MG models out there that are more technologically advanced, and there are MGs that are more affordable for Australians, but no other MG model is more important for the brand than the fresh-faced MG HS medium-sized SUV.

It reinserts into Australia’s most popular buying category that’s filled with the likes of the Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sportage, Nissan X-Trail, and Toyota RAV4, but it’s sporting a price tag with a significant discount on those established models.

Last year MG also upgraded its warranty to a tantalising 10-year plan – arguably one of the best offerings on the market considering rival manufacturers Mitsubishi and Nissan place the stipulation that you need to service within their respective dealer networks to extract the full 10-year arrangement.

In any case, with low-priced servicing and simple drive-away pricing, the MG HS appears to be shaping up as a compelling option for families that continue to face a cost-of-living pinch.

With that in mind, we picked up the most affordable variant to see how it fared over the course of a week.

The 2025 MG HS range starts from $33,990 drive-away, which is the Vibe variant on test here, but spend more money and you can upgrade to the Excite or Essence variants.

Its model range tops out at $40,990 drive-away – still far below the cost you’d pay for an equivalent Kia Sportage GT Line petrol ($49,920 plus on-road costs), Toyota RAV4 Edge hybrid ($58,360 plus on-road costs), and Nissan X-Trail Ti-L ($53,990 plus on-road costs).

Initially, petrol-only powertrains make up the model range. However, a plug-in hybrid and ‘plug-less’ hybrid variants are expected in 2025.

Prices are up by between $4000 and $7000 compared to the final run-out drive-away prices for the previous MG HS, but the increases are offset by additional equipment in what is a whole new car.

Each variant gets LED headlights, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and 12.3-inch screens running the infotainment and digital instrument cluster, plus wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Power is supplied by a new version of the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that was used in its predecessor, now outputting 125kW and 275Nm.

There is no all-wheel-drive variant available – all cars are front-wheel drive. The MG HS uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

MORE: 2025 MG HS price and specs – new-generation SUV up to $7000 dearer for more tech, space

The cabin of the entry-level MG HS Vibe is a no-frills place to be, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. That’s because the space is functional, feels sturdy, and offers enough in the way of practicality and amenity.

The driver and front passenger sit on a pair of cloth-upholstered seats that have a comfy base, but ultimately lack side support to keep you in tight through corners.

There is plenty of room in the first row for the driver to get comfortable, and easy adjustment between the seats and the steering wheel to get a good driving position.

Materials used inside the cabin are decent quality – there’s red stitching around the seats, centre console and dashboard, and glossy inlay panels cover the dashboard.

Cooling down the cabin on a hot day seemed to be a tall order for the HS – the system lacked properly cool air, and the adjustment of the system was tricky given the controls were buried within the infotainment screen.

There’s good storage about the centre console – there are twin cupholders in front of the gear selector, a centre console compartment, and glovebox. There are twin USB-A ports to connect devices. I’m surprised they weren’t updated to USB-C throughout the new model launch.

Room in the second row is comfortable for tall adults with ample head room and good knee room behind my own driving position. I’m 194cm tall and found it a spacious second row side-to-side too.

A fold-down centre armrest houses a pair of cupholders.

MG says the HS fits 507 litres worth of storage in the boot. This compares as mediocre with rivals such as the Nissan X-Trail, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson – which all claim around 580L of space. Fold down the rear seats and that space expands to 1484L.

The MG HS’s twin 12.3-inch displays are housed within a singular panel. It’s a good size in that they’re available from the base variant, whereas many competitors' screens will start below 10 inches.

In any case, the functionality of the system is simple and without flair. There are shortcuts alongside the right side of the screen to skip between phone, audio, and settings, for example, while the home screen shows air-conditioning controls and phone connectivity.

There’s a button below the screen to jump back to the main menu – but there is no dedicated shortcut to get to the air-conditioning controls. This is super annoying.

The driver’s display shows information such as the speedometer, trip data, and the adaptive cruise-control system. The display can’t be changed with different graphics or screens, and the overall presentation is about information rather than customisation.

Important functions such as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity are covered off, though only through a cable. This base-spec MG HS misses out on native satellite navigation and MG ‘iSmart’ connected services found in the Excite and Essence grades.

The MG HS was awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating in August 2024 – this is applicable to all petrol variants.

It earned individual scores of 90 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 83 per cent for vulnerable road users, and 74 per cent for safety assistance systems.

MORE: 2025 MG HS receives five-star ANCAP safety rating in non-hybrid guise

The MG Pilot collection of safety assistance technology is applied to all model grades in the HS range, including the entry-level Vibe specification.

This is good for the most part – it includes helpful systems such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert and lane assistance.

However, other systems don’t help the driver stay safe on the roads. A particular call-out goes to the Driver Monitoring System that uses a camera to detect inattention.

I often turn my head to check what cars are in lanes behind me and will regularly look at the infotainment screen to change settings (like the air conditioning). But the car beeps and bongs and suggests that this is me not paying attention. This is counteractive.

Likewise, the MG HS comes with traffic sign recognition that often picked the wrong speed limit and audibly alerted that I was going overspeed – when in actual fact I wasn’t. Further calibration for these active safety measures is needed to make driving the MG HS less annoying.

The base model HS Vibe is fitted with a reverse camera, but all other grades are equipped with surround-view 360-degree cameras.

MGs now come with an impressive warranty that stretches 10 years or 250,000km, whichever of these milestones is reached first.

The roadside assistance program continues for the full 10 years too, so long as buyers service within the MG network.

Maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000km, with three years’ coverage costing $1144 and five years priced at $2354.

For the cheapest Vibe variant, insurance costs are $1901 for 12 months of coverage. This is a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

MORE: MG introduces Australia’s longest new-car warranty – 10 years or 250,000km

In bad news for budget buyers, the MG HS can only accept a minimum of 95-octane petrol for its 55-litre fuel tank. This means fill-ups at the service station are going to be more expensive.

MG suggests the HS returns a fuel consumption of 6.9 litres of petrol for every 100 kilometres driven. That’s about average for a car of its size in terms of the claim, but it didn’t equate in the real world throughout my testing.

I found the MG HS Vibe to run at around 7.6L/100km over a week spent driving on freeways, suburban streets, and some country roads.

The MG HS has come a long way in this generation, primarily with respect to its engine and gearbox.

MG made changes with the dual-clutch transmission, changing it from a dry- to a wet-clutch design. The preceding unit felt jerky and gruff, but the updated seven-speed system is far more refined and shifts much smoother than before.

The computers generally know when to exact a gear change and kick-down throttle application is rewarded with decisive power to the ground.

It’s only in certain situations where the combination becomes unstuck – such as reversing up hills or manoeuvring into a parking spot.

Otherwise, the powertrain produces enough oomph to keep the mid-size SUV body out of trouble – whether you’re driving it around town or overtaking on freeways.

The 125kW/275Nm outputs don’t stand out on paper, but there’s enough of a turbocharged torque wave to ride so that quick overtakes or zips up to the speed limit aren’t a tall order.

That said, it’s not accompanied by the nicest sound – it can whirr like a hairdryer and carry on more than you’d expect.

The ride comfort leans soft and floaty, and doesn’t do a lot to help the feeling of wallowing through quicker corners. It’s nice when you’re rumbling over speed humps and absorbing impacts around town, but the body control at higher speeds isn’t comfortable and I ended up having to brace myself through bends.

MORE: 2025 MG HS Essence review

The MG HS is rated to tow 1500kg braked or 750kg unbraked. It's not enough to tow a caravan, but a small trailer should be fine.

On the whole, the MG HS experience is best summarised with a series of pros and cons.

It starts off really affordable. At around $34,000 drive-away nationwide, there are few other cars in the country that can match the MG HS Vibe for space, features, and comfort. It’s affordable on servicing and is matched with a long 10-year warranty.

You don’t feel shortchanged in the way this car feels inside the cabin, either. It’s easy to get comfortable and you’re kept occupied with the included kit and features.

The driving experience is not the most refined. The transmission can be jerky and the engine lacks refinement. Then comes the troublesome driver assistance technology.

Overall, the entry-level MG HS Vibe does very well for its price. But you’ll have to come to terms with some annoying aspects.