2025 MG HS revealed: New RAV4 rival due in Australia this year with plug-in hybrid option

The 2025 MG HS has been revealed as the growing brand’s next challenger to the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5, ahead of Australian arrivals due before the end of this year.

The new HS follows less than five years after its predecessor arrived in Australia, and continues to offer a choice of petrol-only or plug-in hybrid power.

As previously reported by Drive, it is heavily based on the Roewe RX5 sold by MG’s parent company in its domestic market, but gains unique front-end styling, a different interior, and other design changes to make it a “real MG”, according to the car maker.

Prices are likely to rise over today’s $30,990 drive-away HS to account for the larger body and new technology – but the relatively modest increase of about $1000 to $2000 applied to the new model in the UK bodes well for Australian showrooms.

Measuring 4636mm long, 18900mm wide and 2750mm in wheelbase, the new HS is 26mm longer overall, 14mm wider and 30mm longer between the front and rear wheel – as well as 30mm lower.

Design changes compared to the MG’s Roewe donor car include a restyled front fascia with an MG 3 and MG 5-style grille, as well as conventional door handles in place of more complex pop-out units.

LED headlights are standard in overseas markets, with 19-inch alloy wheels on top-of-the-range models.

Inside, there is a pair of 12.3-inch displays for instruments and infotainment, the latter running MG 3 and 4-derived software with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite navigation and Amazon Music integration.

There’s a new three-spoke steering wheel, as well as a compact gear shifter. Boot capacity in UK models has grown by 44 litres to 507 litres.

Available features include wireless smartphone charging, six-way driver and four-way front passenger power-adjustable seats, eight-speaker stereo, 360-degree camera, and keyless entry and start.

A full suite of advanced safety technology is available, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and door exit warning.

Powering the regular petrol version is a “new-generation” 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 125kW and 275Nm in the UK – up from 119kW/250Nm today in Australia – matched with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

In the UK, it is available with a six-speed manual transmission on base models, but this will not come to Australia.

Australian government approval documents have revealed a 2.0-litre turbo engine option will be available locally, matched with a conventional nine-speed automatic.

Meanwhile, plug-in hybrid HS models in right-hand-drive markets combine a 105kW 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 154kW electric motor for a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.8 seconds, against 9.4sec in the non-hybrid.

In the UK, it uses a 24.7kWh battery (up from 16.6kWh) claimed to enable up to 120km of electric-only driving range.

MG HS SUVs sold in left-hand-drive markets are fitted with less powerful electric motors and smaller battery packs. The 2025 MG HS is due in Australian showrooms by the end of this year.

The 2025 MG HS is due in Australian showrooms by the end of this year.