Honda CR-V vs MG HS

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 km/l
VS
MG HS in South Africa

MG HS

2.0T AT Luxury Petrol 9-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 665,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 170 kW 🔧 370 Nm ⛽ 11.63 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Honda CR-V vs MG HS: the short answer

CR-V and HS are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

HS starts ZAR 190,000 cheaper CR-V from ZAR 689,900 · HS from ZAR 499,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification CR-V HS
Maximum Power CR-V204 kW HS170 kW
Maximum Torque CR-V335 Nm HS370 Nm
Engine Size CR-V1993 cc HS1986 cc
Combined Fuel Economy CR-V20 km/l HS11.63 km/l
Ground Clearance CR-V198 mm HS145 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

CR-V

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

HS

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

CR-V

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

HS

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CR-V HS
Model Introduced Year 2023 2025
Generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety Current five-seat HS on MG's SIGMA-A architecture with 1.5T DCT and 2.0T automatic powertrains.
Facelift History Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology Current-generation HS introduced locally in 2025; four petrol derivatives remain active.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV Five-door mid-size SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2025
Production Status active active
Segment SUV Mid-size SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1750 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CR-V HS
Length 4690 mm 4655 mm
Width 1860 mm 1890 mm
Height 1690 mm 1655 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2765 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 198 mm 145 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 198 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity 57 l 65 l
Boot/Cargo Space 497 l 507 l
Kerb Weight 1750 kg 1590 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2250 kg 2065 kg
Payload Capacity 500 kg 475 kg
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 750 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m 5.65 m
Front Headroom 970 mm 968 mm
Rear Headroom 970 mm 964 mm
Front Legroom 1049 mm 1044 mm
Rear Legroom 1041 mm 980 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This CR-V and HS comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: CR-V 77 vs HS 70.

Efficiency index: CR-V 80 vs HS 46.

Safety-equipment index: CR-V 91 vs HS 98.

Practicality index: CR-V 66 vs HS 57.

Ownership-cover index: CR-V 60 vs HS not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

CR-V leads by 7 points

CR-V and HS are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 94% source coverage
76
#1 Evidence leader

CR-V

94% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Ownership 60
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 91
Practicality 66
Ownership 60
Leads by 7 points
69
#2

HS

78% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 70
Efficiency 46
Safety 98
Practicality 57
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CR-V +7 Efficiency CR-V +34 Safety HS +7 Practicality CR-V +9

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 60/100

HS

Performance 70/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 57/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Honda CR-V leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 69 pts for HS

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, CR-V leads. However, HS may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

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CR-V vs HS questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.