HowreliableUsed car reliability from every MOT

MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

MG HS reliability: what the MOT shows

30,311 MG HS cars had an MOT in 2025. 88.1% passed first time, against 88.4% for other cars of the same age and mileage.

88.1%passed first time

−0.2points against cars of the same age and mileage

2.0×as many brake failures as comparable cars

Report card

MG HS MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often MG HS cars of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse

Year	Passed first time	Against same age and mileage	MOTs
2020	87.8%	+1.1	3,086
2021	89.9%	+2.2	8,256
2022	87.4%	−1.5	18,864

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

MG HS years to avoid, going by the MOT

Level2020+1.1 ptsMost common failure: brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick). 3,086 MOTs.

Ahead2021+2.2 ptsMost common failure: brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick). 8,256 MOTs.

Behind2022−1.5 ptsMost common failure: tyre pressure monitoring system (malfunctioning or obviously inoperative). 18,864 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

MG HS common faults at the MOT

3.0% of MG HS MOTs failed on brakes, against 1.5% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 2.8% on lights and electrics, against 2.4%.

Most common failures

Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.9%

Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative1.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.3%

Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.0%

Headlamp aim: too low1.1%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.5%

Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.6%

Washers: not working0.8%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.3%

Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn0.8%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.2%

Headlamp aim: too high0.7%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.8%

MG HSSame age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5.8×0.34% of MG HS MOTs (103) against 0.06% for cars of the same age and mileage

Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative5.6×1.45% of MG HS MOTs (439) against 0.26% for cars of the same age and mileage

Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn4.8×0.82% of MG HS MOTs (249) against 0.17% for cars of the same age and mileage

Washers: not working3.1×0.83% of MG HS MOTs (252) against 0.27% for cars of the same age and mileage

Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.6×0.45% of MG HS MOTs (135) against 0.17% for cars of the same age and mileage

Headlamp aim: too low2.1×1.06% of MG HS MOTs (322) against 0.51% for cars of the same age and mileage

Mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage

Against cars of the same age and mileage, in points: Under 30k: −0.7, 30–60k: +0.3, 60–90k: +2.4, 90–120k: +1.9, 120k+: −1.2.

MG HS, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid MG HS

Fuel	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)	Median miles
Petrol	25,929	87.9%	88.5%	−0.6	26,518
Hybrid	4,381	89.5%	87.7%	+1.8	29,235

Against rivals

MG HS against other family SUVs

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The MG HS ranks 9 of 17.

Model	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)
1. Honda CR-V	83,797	86.1%	76.6%	+9.5
2. Toyota RAV4	65,682	86.4%	80.2%	+6.2
3. Seat Ateca	46,430	87.5%	82.2%	+5.2
4. VW Tiguan	192,059	84.2%	79.0%	+5.2
5. Skoda Kodiaq	36,473	86.7%	82.0%	+4.7
6. Skoda Karoq	51,965	88.4%	84.3%	+4.0
7. Ford Kuga	237,391	81.3%	78.3%	+3.0
8. Mazda CX-5	58,978	80.8%	78.2%	+2.6
9. MG HS	11,447	89.2%	87.3%	+1.9
10. Hyundai Tucson	135,299	82.4%	81.0%	+1.3
11. Kia Sportage	224,667	79.1%	78.7%	+0.4
12. Vauxhall Grandland	67,355	83.2%	84.2%	−1.1
13. Nissan Qashqai	375,647	76.2%	77.8%	−1.5
14. Nissan X-Trail	65,456	74.4%	76.5%	−2.2
15. Peugeot 3008	98,935	76.8%	80.0%	−3.2
16. Renault Kadjar	68,595	73.5%	79.3%	−5.8
17. Dacia Duster	64,885	69.8%	80.5%	−10.7

Check these before you buy a used MG HS

What testers most often noted as advisories on MG HS cars in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened18% (4%)
Brake pads: wearing thin7% (5%)
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge5% (12%)
Condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing5% (5%)
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil2% (1%)
Condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords2% (2%)
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread2% (0%)
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively1% (1%)

Questions about MG HS reliability

Is the MG HS reliable?

At the MOT, 88.1% of 30,311 MG HS MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 88.4% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2020: level (+1.1 points). 2021: ahead (+2.2 points). 2022: behind (−1.5 points).

Which MG HS years should I avoid?

Going by 2025 MOT results, 2022. Those cars passed first time −1.5 points against comparable cars.

What is the most common MOT failure on a MG HS?

Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick: 1.7% of MG HS MOTs, against 0.9% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is the MG HS more reliable than the Nissan Qashqai?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Nissan Qashqai passed 76.2% first time, −1.5 points against comparable cars. The MG HS passed 89.2%, +1.9 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the MG HS's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a MG HS: 9 recorded model names, from "HS EXCLUSIVE S-A" to trims such as "HS EXCLUSIVE".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.