All-new MG HS revealed with turbo, PHEV powertrains
Second generation MG HS makes grand debut at 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed
After releasing several teaser images of its new compact crossover, MG has officially unveiled the all-new 2025 HS. Set to take on the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, the sleek & stylish crossover gets a brand-new look and will be available with a turbocharged engine as well as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.
Revealed at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the reveal of the next-generation MG HS is part of the brand's 100th anniversary celebration. Bigger and featuring a more aggressive design, the second-generation MG HS benefits from increased cabin space, a wide array of new features, and enhanced styling to make the compact crossover more appealing to customers.
Let's start with its hardware. Under the hood, the 2025 MG HS is available with two powertrain choices. First is an upgraded 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four that makes 169 PS with 275 Nm of torque. The engine now makes 3 additional horsepower along with 25 Nm of extra torque. Power is then sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission although a 6-speed manual is available in other markets. This allows the HS to sprint from 0 – 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds.
Next is the plug-in hybrid version which comes with a 1.5-liter engine that makes 142 PS and is paired with a 154 kW (209 PS) electric motor that draws power from a 24.7 kWh battery and 67 kWh high-efficiency generator. No combined system output was revealed although we won't be surprised if it makes over 300 PS. Also equally impressive is the HS PHEV's ability to travel on electric power for up to 120 km.
Style-wise, the all-new HS features a more sophisticated appearance with a longer wheelbase. This gives the vehicle a more prominent appearance and better cabin space which we'll get to later. It gets a new striking front grille that features MG's latest design language first seen on the MG3. It also comes with slimmer LED headlights, making it look sportier than the previous generation.
The LED taillights, on the other hand, echo the design of the LED headlights as a central motif links them while an X-shape gives the all-new HS a new light signature. In terms of size, the second generation HS measures 4655mm long (4670mm for PHEV) and 1890mm wide which makes it longer by 45mm and wider by 14mm. Height, meanwhile, has been reduced by 30mm, resulting in a sleeker roofline. Last but not least, the wheelbase is 2765mm long which gives it an extra 45mm of length compared to its predecessor.
Hop inside and the all-new HS greets occupants with a pair of 12.3-inch displays. The center screen serves as the touchscreen infotainment system and supports Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a 360-degree camera system for extra visibility. The other display is the instrument cluster and comes with three distinct modes – Map, Digital, and ADAS.
Each mode offers a unique layout on either a rolling navigation display, a simplified summary of the important driving information, or a real-time visualization of the vehicle and its surroundings. The 12.3-inch virtual display also comes with two themes – light and dark.
Other amenities available inside the 2025 MG HS include; power-adjustable front seats, a power tailgate, an 8-speaker sound system, a vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature for the PHEV variant, a 507-liter boot capacity, a wireless charging pad for smartphones, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a host of intelligent driver aids.
With the 2025 MG HS set to be available in Europe, it might not be long before it makes its way here in the Philippines. And since MG Philippines recently received approval for a new passenger vehicle with what appears to be a turbo plug-in hybrid powertrain, it might be coming sooner than we think. Fingers crossed our hunch is right.
