Car of the Year Awards 2025: Best family SUV for value
Cars in this class must obviously provide sufficient space for families. However, the best also offer a comfortable ride and tidy handling, and blend gutsy performance with wallet-friendly costs...
MG HS 1.5 SE auto
Bearing in mind that MG was traditionally a sporting brand and began making SUVs only recently, it hasn’t taken long to produce a winner.
Fair enough, the HS isn’t an outright winner in this class, because it isn’t as polished as the Kia Sportage in quite a few areas, but it rises to the top like cream in a bottle of milk as a great value alternative.
Just think about this: the HS is a roomy family SUV – one that’s big enough to transport four tall adults and their luggage easily. Yet a private buyer can get their hands on one for about the same cash outlay as a Volkswagen T-Cross.
Now, the T-Cross is a good car, but it’s a lot smaller. If you want an SUV that’s a size match for the HS, you’ll need a heap more cash. Despite the low price, the HS isn’t spartan inside. Even the entry-level SE – our pick – comes with keyless entry and a rear-view camera, while the list of standard safety equipment is longer than Mr Tickle’s arm.
The 1.5-litre petrol model should return a real-world average of around 40mpg, which isn’t too shabby, and while MG’s reliability record isn’t distinguished, a seven-year warranty should keep services as the only outlay at the dealer
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