Compare the BYD Seal U vs MG HS

Simply styled, with impressive hybrid tech
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
7/10
Sensible on price, and surprisingly posh
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
8/10

AI generated from our expert reviews

Choosing between the BYD Seal U and the MG HS brings you face to face with two practical family SUVs built around a focus on strong value for money. Both models offer generous equipment lists, plenty of interior room for passengers, and sensible pricing that undercuts more established European alternatives. While neither car will set your pulse racing on a twisty road, they both deliver spacious cabins and useful features for everyday driving. The BYD Seal U leans into its plug-in hybrid efficiency and high standard specification, though it stumbles with an awkward ride around town and anonymous styling. The MG HS counters with a handsome exterior design, a clever interior layout that looks more expensive than it is, and plenty of luggage space, though its entry-level petrol engine feels thirsty and the infotainment system relies too heavily on the touchscreen.

AI results may contain inaccuracies. Please check the details before making any financial decisions.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

Choose it for

  • Its efficient plug-in hybrid powertrain, generous equipment list, and comfortable front seating with ventilation and heating included as standard.

Worth knowing

  • The suspension can feel unsettled and lumpy when driving around town, and the styling is rather anonymous.

Choose it for

  • Its roomy boot and back seat, handsome exterior styling, and smart interior dashboard design that looks more expensive than its price tag.

Worth knowing

  • The infotainment system is sluggish to respond and relies too heavily on the touchscreen for simple adjustments.

AI results may contain inaccuracies. Please check the details before making any financial decisions.

Standard kit

  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Heated seats
    Warms the seat itself on cold mornings.
  • Leather seats
    Leather (or leather-look) seat upholstery instead of cloth.
  • Parking Camera
    A rear (sometimes 360°) camera that shows what's behind you while parking.
  • Parking Sensors
    Beeps that get faster as you get closer to something while parking.
  • Touchscreen infotainment
    A touch-operated screen for media, settings and (often) navigation.
  • Tow hitch
    A fitted towbar for pulling a trailer, caravan or bike rack.
  • Android Auto
    Mirrors your Android phone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Apple CarPlay
    Mirrors your iPhone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Navigation
    Built-in sat nav on the car's own screen, no phone needed.
  • Parking Camera
    A rear (sometimes 360°) camera that shows what's behind you while parking.
  • Parking Sensors
    Beeps that get faster as you get closer to something while parking.
  • Touchscreen infotainment
    A touch-operated screen for media, settings and (often) navigation.

Key information

Body type SUVs Body type SUVs
Available fuel types Hybrid Available fuel types Petrol
Number of seats 5 Number of seats 5
Boot space, seats up 425 litres (3 suitcases) Boot space, seats up 507 litres (4 suitcases) Best
Boot space, seats down 1,440 litres Boot space, seats down 1,484 litres Best
External dimensions (L x W x H) 4,775 mm x 1,890 mm x 1,670 mm External dimensions (L x W x H) 4,670 mm x 1,890 mm x ?? mm
Towing capacity 750 kg Towing capacity 1,500 kg Best
First year tax rate £115 Best First year tax rate £1,410
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to how far an electric car travels on a given amount of energy, based on official tests. It is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).
3.7 miles / kWh
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to how far an electric car travels on a given amount of energy, based on official tests. It is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).
—
Fuel economy
This measures how much fuel a car uses, according to official tests. It's measured in miles per gallon (MPG) and a higher number means the car is more fuel efficient.
403.9 mpg
Fuel economy
This measures how much fuel a car uses, according to official tests. It's measured in miles per gallon (MPG) and a higher number means the car is more fuel efficient.
38.1 mpg
Battery size 18.3 kWh Battery size —
Drive type Front wheel drive Drive type Front wheel drive
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 32 · high
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 24 · average Best
Show full specs Hide full specs

Drivetrain & power

Engine name 1.5 DM-i Auto Engine name 1.5 T-GDI
Engine size 1.5 L Hybrid • 218 BHP Engine size 1.5 L Petrol • 169 BHP
Body type SUVs Body type SUVs
Fuel type Hybrid Fuel type Petrol
Transmission Automatic Transmission Manual
Drive type Front wheel drive Drive type Front wheel drive
Forward gears 1 Forward gears 6
Acceleration 8.9 s (0-60 mph) Best Acceleration 9.4 s (0-60 mph)
Battery size 18.3 kWh Battery size —

Dimensions & space

Number of seats 5 Number of seats 5
Number of doors 5 Number of doors 5
Boot (seats up) 425 litres Boot (seats up) 507 litres Best
Boot (seats down) 1,440 litres Boot (seats down) 1,484 litres Best
Length 4,775 mm Length 4,670 mm
Width 1,890 mm Width 1,890 mm
Height 1,670 mm Height —
Wheelbase 2.77 m Wheelbase 2.77 m
Turning circle 5.5 m Turning circle 11.3 m

Full features list

  • Additional Metallic paint
  • Vegan leather - Black
  • 3x3 point rear seatbelts
  • Anti-lock Brake System and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
  • Automatic emergency braking system
  • Brake override system (BOS)
  • Child presence detection
  • Comfort stop
  • Door open warning
  • Driver airbag
  • Electric parking brake
  • Force limiting pre-tensioned front seat belts
  • Front centre airbag
  • Front passenger airbag
  • Front passenger airbag deactivation
  • Front side airbags
  • Hill descent control
  • Hill hold control
  • Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
  • Hydraulic brake boost
  • Mechanical child safety lock
  • Rear middle seat force limiting seat belt
  • Rear seat belt pretensioners
  • Reflective vest
  • Side curtain airbags
  • Traction control system (TCS)
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
  • Vehicle Dynamics Control System (VDC)
  • Warning triangle
  • 12V power outlet
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • 8 way electrically adjustable drivers seat
  • Adjustable rear headrests
  • Boot parcel shelf
  • Driver and passenger sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors
  • Driver seat memory function
  • Front LED reading lights
  • Front centre armrest with 2 cupholders
  • Front passenger seat with 4-way electric adjustment
  • Front seat footlights
  • Heat pump
  • Heated front seats
  • Heated steering wheel
  • ISOFIX and i-Size for front passenger and outer rear seats
  • Integrated headrest in front seats
  • LED front door lights
  • Nylon floor mats
  • PM2.5 air filter
  • PM2.5 air purification system
  • Rear air vents
  • Rear armrest with 2 cupholders
  • Rear side LED reading lights
  • Rhythm-reactive multi-colour ambient lighting
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Split folding rear seats - 40/60
  • Vegan leather multifunction steering wheel
  • Vegan leather upholstery
  • Ventilated front seats
  • 2 x Smart keys
  • Alarm and immobiliser (Thatcham category 1)
  • Automatic door locking
  • Locking wheel nuts
  • 12.3" TFT full LCD instrument panel
  • 360 camera
  • Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
  • Automatic vehicle hold
  • BYD voice control assistant "Hi, BYD"
  • Blind spot detection
  • Controlled deceleration parking (CDP)
  • Drive mode select (Eco, normal, sport, snow)
  • Electric tailgate release
  • Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ELKA)
  • Forward collision warning
  • Front and rear parking sensors
  • Front cross traffic alert and front cross traffic brake
  • Head up Display
  • Indirect driver fatigue management
  • Intelligent speed limit control (ISLC)
  • Keyless system entry and start
  • Lane Departure Assistant (LDA) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
  • Lane change assist
  • Lane departure prevention
  • Lane keep assist
  • Power assisted steering
  • Predictive collision warning
  • Rear collision warning
  • Rear cross traffic alert and rear cross traffic brake
  • Rollover Control System (RMI)
  • Smartphone wireless charging, 2 x 15W
  • Traffic sign recognition (TSR)
  • Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function
  • e-Call (emergency call)
  • Aluminium roof rails
  • Auto dimming interior rear view mirror
  • Auto headlamps (on/off)
  • Dynamic welcome lights
  • Electric folding and heated door mirrors
  • Emergency tow hook
  • Exterior mirror footlights
  • Follow me home headlights (The headlights turned on in advance and delayed off function)
  • Front windscreen, UV protection, thermal insulation and sound proofing
  • High beam assist
  • LED 3rd brake light
  • LED Headlights
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED taillights
  • Metallic paint
  • One touch electric front/rear windows with pinch protection
  • Panoramic sunroof with anti-pinch sensor and electrically adjustable sunshade
  • Rain sensor windscreen wipers
  • Rear fog lights
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Rear window and rear windscreen with tinted glass
  • Rear wiper
  • 19" Bi-colour alloy wheels
  • Tyre nut covers remover
  • Tyre repair kit
  • 11kW on board charger
  • Home charging cable 3pin
  • Mode 3 Type 2 charging cable (3 phase)
  • 15.6" Electrically rotatable touchscreen
  • FM/DAB+ radio
  • Front USB ports, 1 x 18W Type C, 1 x 60W Type C
  • Infinity sound system with 10 speakers
  • Rear USB ports, 2 x 18W Type C
  • Body colour door mirrors
  • Cloth - Black
  • Metallic paint
  • Tri coat paint
  • 12V power sockets
  • 2nd row 60/40 split fold seat
  • 3 rear headrests
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • 4 way manually adjustable passenger seat
  • 6 way electric adjustable driver seat
  • Air conditioning
  • Cloth upholstery
  • Front and rear reading lights
  • Front centre sliding armrest with storage compartment
  • Front headrests
  • Height and reach adjustable steering wheel
  • ISOFIX restraints on outer rear seats x2
  • Leather multi function steering wheel
  • Single passenger seat
  • Driver attention alert
  • 12.3" Virtual driver information display
  • 12.3" colour touchscreen
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Blind spot detection
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Cruise control
  • Emergency call service
  • Forward collision warning
  • Lane change assist
  • Lane keep assist system (LAS) with Lane departure warning system (LDWS)
  • Power assisted steering
  • Rear cross traffic alert
  • Rear parking camera
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Satellite navigation system
  • Speed limit assist
  • Trip computer
  • USB mobile phone charging function
  • Automatic dimming rear view mirror
  • Automatic headlights
  • Black door mirrors
  • Electric adjustable heated door mirrors
  • Follow me home headlights
  • Front and rear aero wiper
  • Front and rear electric windows with driver's one-touch up/down
  • Front fog lights
  • Intelligent high beam
  • LED 3rd brake light
  • LED Headlights
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED rear lights
  • Rain sensing wipers
  • Rear privacy glass
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Silver roof rails
  • Solid paint
  • Vehicle to Load
  • Alarm system and engine immobiliser
  • Keyless entry and push button start system
  • Remote central locking
  • Speed sensing door locks
  • 3x3 point rear seatbelts
  • Active emergency braking with pedestrian/Bicycle detection
  • Anti rolling protection
  • Anti-lock Brake System and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
  • Door open warning
  • Drivers seatbelt reminder
  • Dual front airbags
  • Electric parking brake with auto hold function
  • Electronic Stability Programme
  • Front and rear passenger seat belt reminder
  • Front centre airbag
  • Front passenger airbag deactivation switch
  • Front seat belt height adjuster
  • Front seatbelts (3-point + pretensioner + load limiter)
  • Front side airbags
  • Hill descent control
  • Hill launch assist
  • Manual rear child locks
  • Rear outer seatbelt pretensioner and load limiter
  • Side curtain airbags
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system
  • 19" Blade diamond cut alloy wheels
  • Tyre repair kit
  • 4 USB A ports 2 front and 2 rear
  • 4 USB B ports 2 front and 2 rear
  • 6 speaker audio system
  • DAB audio

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

*Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term and 8000 miles annually, VAT included.