Review: 2025 MG HS PHEV
Is this plug-in SUV a budget hero or an over-polished pretender?
If there’s one thing we love here at The Mud Life, it’s a bit of value for money — and MG has been dining out on that particular reputation for a few years now. The latest 2025 HS PHEV promises to be an affordable plug-in hybrid SUV that doesn’t look like it was ordered from Wish.com. But does it deliver the goods once you leave the dealership forecourt and face muddy dogs, camping gear, and North Yorkshire’s finest potholed lanes? Well, kettle on, let’s have a proper look.
On-Road Ride
First impressions behind the wheel of the HS PHEV are... surprisingly decent. It’s clear MG’s engineers have been busy with the suspension tuning because it no longer crashes into potholes like a tipsy uncle at a wedding. Around town, it’s soft enough to cushion the worst council neglect yet firm enough that it doesn’t wallow about like a barge on the motorway.
Motorway cruising is peaceful enough, with the electric motor giving a nice silent shove up to speed before the petrol engine mumbles its way into life. It’s no sports car, give it the beans and it’ll get noisy, but for most everyday driving it’s comfortable and composed. Think more "cosy pub" than "craft gin bar”.
Off-Road Capability
Let’s not kid ourselves: the HS PHEV isn’t about to conquer the Rubicon Trail. It's front-wheel-drive only, and while it does have a few drive modes (including a sort-of "snow" setting), this is firmly in the "soft-roader" category.
That said, it copes admirably with muddy green lanes, gravel tracks, and wet fields, the sort of places you'd realistically want it to go. Clearance is decent enough for occasional adventuring, and the traction control’s sensible rather than panicky. Just don't expect it to follow a Subaru into the sticky stuff unless you fancy getting properly mucky.
Interior Spec
Inside, MG has really pushed the boat out, and crucially, it hasn’t sunk. You get leather-effect seats, a decent-sized 10.1” touchscreen (more on that in a mo'), a fully digital dash, heated seats, and even ambient lighting for when you want to pretend you’re on the set of Tron.
It feels well screwed together, with soft-touch plastics in the right places and not too much scratchy trim where your elbows end up. Yes, it’s not quite Audi levels of plush, but then it doesn’t come with a bank-loan price tag either.
Comfort
The seats are squishy without being soggy, a bit like a good Victoria sponge, and there’s loads of legroom both front and rear. Long trips don’t leave you feeling like you’ve spent three rounds in a boxing ring, and there’s a decent amount of adjustment in the driving position too.
Road noise is pretty well suppressed at sensible speeds, though the tyres can hum a bit on coarser surfaces. That said, it’s more relaxing than you’d expect from something priced this keenly.
Practicality
Boot space in the HS PHEV is a bit of a mixed bag. Thanks to the battery pack, you lose a bit of capacity compared to the pure petrol version, 448 litres with the seats up, which is "okay" but not spectacular.
Loading a muddy dog? Fairly easy. The boot lip isn't too high, and the wide opening means Fido can jump in without making a fool of himself (or you). Camping gear and general tat? You might need to get a bit creative with your packing if you’re bringing half the house, but for normal weekends away it’s absolutely fine.
The seats fold pretty flat too, which is handy when you inevitably bring back more than you left with. And yes, you can squeeze in a couple of crates of ale alongside a tent and sleeping bags without feeling like you're playing Tetris.
Fuel Efficiency
Officially, MG claims up to 155mpg, which sounds more optimistic than my New Year’s resolutions. In real-world driving, using the electric motor for short trips and petrol for longer ones, you can get some cracking economy figures.
If you religiously plug it in every night and keep trips under 30 miles, you’ll hardly sip any petrol. But if you treat the PHEV system like an ornament and never charge it, expect mid-30s mpg, which is... fine. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Battery-only range is about 30 miles officially, and in our chilly, wet spring testing we managed 25. Not bad at all for running errands without waking the engine.
Driving Feel Across All Surfaces
Town, motorway, country lanes, the HS PHEV is easy to get along with. Steering is light, visibility is good, and the regenerative braking isn’t grabby or weird like some hybrids can be. It just feels normal, which is a blessing.
On twisty roads, there’s some body roll if you get enthusiastic, but most owners won’t be driving like they’re auditioning for Top Gear. Instead, it’s stable, relaxed, and happy to soak up ruts, potholes, and badly cambered lanes without complaint. And yes, you can definitely cruise down a farm track in comfort without fearing you’ll lose your exhaust halfway along.
Switching Off Lane Departure and Other Annoyances
Unlike some cars that have a dedicated switch for disabling these features, MG HS relies on touchscreen menus. Boo-hiss. You swipe down, go into MG Pilot, and turn them off. Just remember this rigmormall every time you start the car.
Proper Heater Controls?
Sadly, here’s where MG drops another couple of points. The heater controls are mainly on the touchscreen. There’s a shortcut button that brings up the climate menu fast, but yes, you’ll have to jab at a screen to adjust the fan speed.
On a cold morning with gloves on, it’s about as user-friendly as a chocolate teapot. A proper row of physical knobs and buttons would’ve made it bang-on perfect. Come on, MG, you were so close!
Verdict
The 2025 MG HS PHEV is a bit of a gem. No, it’s not perfect, the touchscreen heater controls and modest boot size mean it misses out on a Mud Life gold star, but for the money, it’s an absolute belter.
It’s comfortable, smooth, well-equipped, and properly cheap to run if you use it as intended. Plus, it’s got just enough soft-roading chops to get you to the good campsites without breaking a sweat.
It won’t win you many pub car park bragging contests, unless you’re comparing "who got the best bargain”, but it’s a genuinely good car for folk who want an affordable, practical SUV without selling a kidney.
And at the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want? (Well, that and a proper heater dial.)
