MG HS Hybrid+ Essence 2026 Review

While increasing the size of a lithium-ion battery costs money, so does improving an overall package. And considering the metamorphosis MG has achieved with its second-generation medium SUV, there’s little wonder it’s now more expensive.

The $44,990 2026 MG HS Hybrid+ Essence we’re testing gains more kit and sits above the $40,990 Excite. It’s important to note that MG runs with drive-away pricing, which makes those figures instantly more attractive.

Although if you want a HS, you’re spoilt for choice in terms of powertrains. The model walk starts at $33,990 with the turbo-petrol Vibe, before topping out at $52,990 for the in-vogue Super Hybrid (PHEV). All HS variants are front-wheel drive.

The competition is abundant and fierce, especially from within China, from the likes of BYD, Chery, Geely and GWM, which all have sales hits with the Sealion 5 and 6, Tiggo 7, EX5 and Starray EM-i as well as the H6 respectively.

Not to mention legacy brands like Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Toyota, which all have strong medium SUV contenders. And yes, given it’s one of the most hotly contested segments, there are myriad more options.

MG covers the HS with its 10-year/250,000-kilometre warranty – the caveat being you must service with an authorised MG dealer to gain the full period. If you don’t, you aren’t hung out to dry with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre plan still applying.

Roadside assistance is also included for up to seven years, while servicing intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first). Seven years of capped-price servicing costs $2828.

Getting bums in seats and cars in driveways often comes down to aesthetics. And luckily for the 2026 MG HS Hybrid+ Essence, it looks the part.

The design has matured between generations, with the HS growing into its own skin as a medium SUV that appears more premium than its monetary value would suggest. Although, it remains good value, too. The drive-away structure helps here, with customers knowing what they’re up for from the outset.

The Essence isn’t short on kit, riding on 19-inch alloy wheels to fill out the guards. It also has LED head and tail-lights, daytime running lights and fog lights, proximity keyless entry with push-button start, panoramic sunroof and a hands-free powered tailgate.

Inside there’s swathes of synthetic PVC leather, while the powered front seats (six-way adjustable for the driver with lumbar and memory; four-way for the passenger) are heated. The Essence gains dual-zone climate control and, oddly, a sunglasses holder.

All four paint colours (Black Pearl, Arctic Blue, Lunar Grey and Diamond Red) command a $700 premium.

The 2026 MG HS Hybrid+ Essence packs a host of active safety tech, which is bundled into what the brand calls MG Pilot.

It includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, driver monitoring and road-sign recognition.

Aiding parking are front and rear sensors, a reversing camera and a 360-degree monitor – although, it’s more like a top-down view. It’s also fitted with seven airbags, dual ISOFIX points and a trio of top-tether anchorages.

The HS range is covered by a five-star ANCAP safety rating (2024).

Budget-friendly pricing doesn’t mean you miss out on tech with the 2026 MG HS Hybrid+ Essence.

Dual 12.3-inch displays sit proudly within the dash, with a central touchscreen unit and a digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver. The operating system for the infotainment could be snappier, but it doesn’t take too long to wrap your head around how the menus work – especially the handy swipe-down shortcut.

Striking a balance between the day and night options can involve some juggling with the brightness levels, yet it’s great to see wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now included. The Essence also adds a wireless charge pad and an upgraded eight-speaker sound system.

Other highlights are native satnav, USB ports, DAB+ digital radio and voice activation. A year of complimentary connected services is included with the MG iSMART system, with it being about $50 per annum thereafter.

According to the brand, the Hybrid+ powertrain provides the “largest and most powerful” battery pack and electric motor of any plugless hybrid medium SUV.

That battery in question is a 1.83kWh lithium-ion unit with water cooling, which delivers current to the 146kW and 340Nm e-motor found in the 2026 MG HS Hybrid+ Essence. That joins a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with 105kW and 230Nm.

Combined, the powertrain totals 165kW and 340Nm, which are healthy figures against its competition. The ‘big’ battery allows for meaningful EV-only driving, too, with the petrol engine dormant at low speeds and while coasting on the highway.

Transitioning between the power sources is relatively imperceptible. There can be a slight hesitation/delay in conjunction with heavy throttle inputs, but once everything is working in unison, the Hybrid+ doesn’t struggle for acceleration. MG’s offering matches up well against similar rivals in the segment.

The collective output is sent solely to the front wheels via a two-speed hybrid transmission and there are three levels of regenerative braking. Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes mainly manipulate the throttle response and steering weight.

On paper, the 2026 MG HS Hybrid+ Essence claims 5.2L/100km and a bold prediction of more than 1000km to a tank.

Through extensive highway, city and suburban driving, our figure rests on 5.8L/100km. While that’s a little thirstier than MG’s projections, the HS is an efficient offering and you don’t need to change your driving habits to achieve it.

For reference, the new Toyota RAV4 sipped 5.4L/100km in previous test. And it’s also worth noting that the turbo engine requires 95 RON premium unleaded to fill its 55-litre tank.

If about 100km of EV-only driving sounds appealing, it might be worth considering the more expensive Super Hybrid (PHEV) options within the HS range.

Really quite well. And while this might be a back-handed compliment, some of the Chinese offerings in the medium SUV segment could take notes from the 2026 MG HS Hybrid+ Essence.

There’s little in the way of engine noise or drone, and the outward sightlines are generally clear and the ride quality is very agreeable. The odd big suspension hit can be heard within the cabin, yet the slightly firmer setup is appreciated on the open road as the HS displays positive body control.

Apart from some on-centre play, the steering is amenable and the light nature is valued around tight streets and car parks – just avoid the Sport mode. With 360-degree cameras, the HS is easy to place, too.

Although, as you might expect, at times the 165kW/340Nm can overpower the front axle and Bridgestone Alenza tyres, with wet-weather conditions providing the most issues. The driveline would benefit from an AWD setup to enhance traction and add all-weather confidence. However, that would increase costs, rendering it a hard sell.

What is appreciated is the Custom mode for the MG Pilot safety systems. A shortcut for it is also handily placed within the infotainment screen’s swipe-down menu and it allows you to quickly access your preferences.

While it’s frustratingly required every time you start the HS, leaving the tech active is even more annoying. Visual and audible alerts are present for the driver attention monitoring and speed zones, while the emergency lane keeping can be intrusive without the Custom mode activated.

Hill-descent control is part of the package. Yet, being FWD-only, running road-focused tyres and with only 167mm of ground clearance, the HS Hybrid+ Essence isn’t an off-roading medium SUV. The 1500kg braked towing capacity could be useful to some owners.

Your $45k is working hard for you inside the 2026 MG HS Hybrid+ Essence. It does a commendable job of looking and feeling as though it’s from a higher price point.

The design is pared back, but the HS doesn’t follow the same-same styling a lot of Chinese offerings can have. Yes, they might be man-made materials, yet the faux leather dash is tactile, and the stitching is nicely done. Even the polyurethane steering wheel has a level of plushness to it.

However, it isn’t all rosy. There’s an overuse of fingerprint-catching piano black accents, the unmarked steering-wheel controls aren’t immediately intuitive and too much of the functionality is buried within the central touchscreen – five physical buttons are on the dash.

Compounding this is the fact that the infotainment display isn’t responsive and requires purposeful prods to action inputs. The graphics don’t have the clarity of the instrument cluster, either. It feels like a cost-cutting unit in comparison.

Storage is covered with a glove box, central bin, cup holders and bottle holders in the door cards. However, they’re all adequately sized rather than ample. It would be nice to see a blackout shade for the panoramic glass roof as the cabin can get quite warm in direct sunlight.

Overall, it’s a pleasing space to be in. To gain the spec level and niceties within the HS Hybrid+ Essence in something like a Toyota RAV4, you’ll be paying a lot more for the privilege. Even the sound deadening is appreciably good for a budget-friendly medium SUV.

The exterior silhouette does a great job of disguising the MG’s true dimensions. It’s longer (4670mm) and wider (1890mm) than a RAV4, meaning space in the back is bordering on palatial. Affording plenty of legroom is the 2765mm wheelbase, while headroom is spacious despite the panoramic sunroof.

Rear-seat occupants gain amenities such as directional air vents, USB-C ports, map pockets, bottle holders and a fold-down centre armrest. The door cards also gain some soft-touch material, but it’s a shame the backrest doesn’t recline for longer journeys.

They do feature 60/40-split folding to increase loading options, while the 507-litre boot provides competitive cargo capacity (1484L maximum). Despite being a hybrid, it’s also nice to see a space-saver spare underneath the flat floor, while the cargo cover is easy to extend, retract and remove.

The 2026 MG HS Hybrid+ Essence makes a strong case for itself.

You’re getting a lot of metal for your money, with the added benefit of a frugal powertrain and upmarket aspirations. For reference, the Toyota RAV4’s lineup starts at $1000 more than the MG – and that’s without on-road costs, too.

It isn’t without detractions. A test drive is a must to see if you can tolerate the active safety systems and the process of disabling them every time you drive. The MG HS isn’t the only offering to fall foul of this, especially products originating from China.

Yes, efforts have been made to rectify this via the custom mode, but the HS is ultimately a software update away from being recommendable without reservation.

As it stands, the top-spec Hybrid+ Essence makes a mighty strong case for itself. It’s a pleasing medium SUV, and not solely because of its price.

2026 MG HS Hybrid+ Essence at a glance:
Price: $44,990 (drive away)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol electric
Output: 105kW/230Nm (electric motor: 146kW/340Nm)
Combined output: 165kW/340Nm
Transmission: Two-speed hybrid transmission
Fuel: 5.2L/100km (ADR combined)
CO2: 119g/km (ADR combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2024)

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