MG HS PHEV undercuts plug-in hybrid SUV rivals at $46,990

Hard-charging budget brand MG has unleashed the most affordable plug-in hybrid electric SUV on sale in Australia in the form of the HS PHEV.

Priced from $46,990 drive-away it’s about $5000 cheaper than its closest rival, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV that was the top-selling plug-in hybrid in the country in 2020. It’s officially a promotional price although it appears it may stick for some time.

Read our full review of the MG HS Plug-in Hybrid.

However, it is not the cheapest plug-in hybrid (PHEV); that honour goes to the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV, which undercuts the HS PHEV by a few hundred dollars.

The MG HS PHEV sits alongside the smaller ZS EV that is currently the most affordable electric car in the country, at $43,990 drive-away. It gives MG a two-pronged electrified attack in an era when dozens of new EVs are heading to Australia.

Utilising the body and basics of the MG HS mid-sized SUV, the PHEV mates a 115kW/250Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo with a 90kW/230Nm electric motor, something MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao describes as “the best of both worlds”.

The combined output is 189kW and 370Nm.

Power is sent to a six-speed automatic driving only the front wheels. There’s also a four-speed automatic for the electric side, for 10 ratios in total.

While the PHEV is about 250kg heavier than the regular HS, it still accelerates smartly to 100km/h, taking a claimed 6.9 seconds.

Like the MG ZS EV, the HS PHEV misses out on the seven-year warranty offered on other MGs – including other versions of the HS – instead getting just five years of unlimited-kilometre coverage.

The HS PHEV is the latest electrified vehicle to come out of China, which is shaping up to be a major EV supplier to Australia.

While it’s more expensive than the rest of the HS range – which is priced from $29,990 for the recently-added Core to $40,690 for the leather-clad Essence Anfield – the HS PHEV promises to lower running costs with its ability to run purely on electricity.

A 16.6kWh battery back provides a claimed 52km of electric range according to the newer (and more realistic) WLTP standard.

However, the HS PHEV can only be charged at up to 3.2kW using AC charging (either a regular powerpoint or a wallbox up to 7kW). The fastest time for a full charge is about five hours. It does not have faster DC charging capability like the Outlander PHEV and some Mercedes-Benz PHEVs, including the A250e.

With claimed consumption of 1.7 litres per 100km the HS PHEV uses much less than the 7.3L/100km of the regular petrol-only MG HS.

Crucially, the MG HS Plug-in Hybrid has the potential to use a lot less fuel than the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid that is significantly cheaper and by far the best selling regular hybrid (non-PHEV) in the country.

However, like all PHEVs that figure is all but unachievable; most drivers will likely utilise electricity for shorter daily duties, in turn using no fuel. And for those longer trips, once the petrol engine kicks in you can guarantee it’ll use many multiples of that 1.7L/100km figure.

Given the higher price tag, MG has predictably lavished plenty of equipment at the HS Plug-in Hybrid.

Its standard gear closely matches that of the HS Essence Anfield, suggesting the price premium for the PHEV system is about $6300.

Included in the price is a panoramic sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels, 360-degree camera, smart key entry, dual-zone ventilation, powered tailgate, ambient lighting, heated front seats and leather-clad powered front seats (the rear seats are covered in fake leather).

There’s also Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite-navigation embedded in the 10.1-inch infotainment screen as well as a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

One of the main differences between petrol-only and PHEV is the spare wheel; the PHEV doesn’t get a spare tyre, instead making do with a repair kit.

Safety is taken care of with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert.

As well as lower running costs, another area the HS Plug-in Hybrid has a notable advantage over its non-hybrid sibling is with towing. The HS PHEV is rated to tow up to 1500kg whereas the petrol-only models top out at 750kg.

MG HS PHEV specifications

Price: $46,990 drive-away

Drivetrain: 115kW/250Nm 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol and 90kW/230Nm electric motor, front-wheel drive

Power: 189kW

Torque: 370Nm

Battery capacity: 16.6kWh

Electric range: 52km (WLTP)

Fuel use: 1.7L/100km

0-100km/h: 6.9 seconds

Note: MG Australia originally claimed the HS Plug-in Hybrid had combined power and torque outputs of 209kW and 480Nm. However, the company later told us this was incorrect and the correct figures are 189kW and 370Nm. This article has been updated with the correct figures.