MG HS Trophy 1.5 DCT (2025) Review
If you’ve ever wondered how much SUV you can get for under £30K in 2025, the answer might just surprise you—and it comes wearing an MG badge. Enter the 2025 MG HS Trophy 1.5 DCT, a midsize family SUV that punches well above its weight in value, comfort, and spec.
But the 2025 MG HS Trophy 1.5 DCT brings incredible value, solid quality, and family practicality to the table—without looking or feeling cheap.
Price & Value
Let’s start with the price, because it’s arguably the most jaw-dropping part. The MG HS Trophy 1.5 DCT starts at just £27,500, and if you opt for the base SE model with a manual gearbox, you can slide behind the wheel for under £25K. That’s family SUV territory with city hatchback money. And you’re not sacrificing much in terms of equipment either.
Performance & Engine Specs
This Trophy-spec model comes with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). It’s not a rocket ship—0–62 mph in 9.9 seconds—but it offers 162 PS and 184 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty for everyday driving. It can even tow up to 1,500 kg, making it surprisingly capable for camping holidays or a trailer load.
Want more power and plug-in economy? MG offers a PHEV version of the HS with 307 hp, a brisk 6.8-second 0–62, and a real-world-friendly WLTP electric range of 75 miles—plus lower emissions and better company car tax potential.
Driving Experience
Behind the wheel, the MG HS Trophy is best described as easygoing and smooth. Around town, the engine feels lively enough. On faster roads, you’ll need to work it a bit harder for overtakes, but the dual-clutch gearbox mostly plays along without fuss.
The ride is soft and forgiving, ideal for speed bumps and rough roads, though the trade-off is some noticeable body roll—particularly when cornering or changing lanes at speed. Still, it’s refined and quiet, and perfect for relaxed driving.
Interior Quality & Comfort
Here’s where the MG HS really surprises. For the money, the cabin is borderline luxurious. The design is clean, the build quality is excellent, and the materials—though not Bentley-grade—feel better than many rivals costing £10K more.
The 12.3-inch digital driver display and 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen are bright, responsive, and packed with features including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (though both still need to be plugged in). Climate control, navigation, media, and even weather are easily accessed from the home screen.
Downsides? Piano black trim (a magnet for fingerprints), and most controls are screen-based—so no physical knobs for the climate or volume, which might irk some traditionalists.
Seats & Space
In Trophy trim, you get power-adjustable seats with lumbar support, which are comfortable and supportive. They might not be class-leading, but for the price? Very impressive.
Rear seat passengers are equally well catered for, with tons of legroom and headroom, even for six-footers. The boot offers a generous 507 litres of space, and cleverly, this remains the same even in the plug-in hybrid model—thanks to a bit of well-placed polystyrene in the petrol version.
Tech & Safety
MG equips the HS with a suite of driver assistance features including lane keep assist, adaptive cruise, and driver attention monitoring. The systems work, but the warnings and alerts can feel a little over-sensitive and intrusive—to the point where some drivers might be tempted to switch them off.
There’s irony in a car that watches your eyes to ensure you’re not distracted, while forcing you to use a touchscreen to change the temperature. Still, the fundamentals work well, and customisable shortcut buttons on the steering wheel help.
Fuel Economy
If there’s a weak point, it’s fuel economy. The 1.5 petrol returns a WLTP figure of 37 mpg, which is a bit underwhelming in 2025—especially without any mild-hybrid assistance. That said, MG is bringing a non-plug-in hybrid variant soon, and the PHEV model is a great choice for those who do lots of short electric journeys.
Warranty & Final Verdict
MG wraps all of this in an impressive 7-year/80,000-mile warranty, giving peace of mind for buyers new to the brand and showing real confidence in the product.
Final Thoughts: The Best Value SUV of 2025?
There are faster and more fuel-efficient midsize SUVs on the market, no doubt. But the 2025 MG HS Trophy 1.5 DCT brings incredible value, solid quality, and family practicality to the table—without looking or feeling cheap.
You might spend more on a Qashqai or Sportage, but you’ll wonder why when the HS delivers 90% of the experience for far less money. If you’re after an SUV that’s budget-friendly but feels premium, the MG HS Trophy is absolutely worth a test drive.
Quick Specs Recap:
Engine: 1.5L Turbo Petrol
Gearbox: 7-speed DCT
Power: 162 PS
0–62 mph: 9.9 seconds
Torque: 184 lb-ft
Towing Capacity: 1,500 kg
Boot Space: 507 litres
Price: From £27,500 (Trophy)
Warranty: 7 years / 80,000 miles
To find out the latest lease prices for a MG HS Trophy, Click here.
