MG: 2025 HS PHEV to be better than new RAV4 

MG Australia reckons its new HS Super Hybrid will be better than the upcoming 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV. 

Not only is it promised to undercut the yet-to-be priced RAV4 PHEV in Australia, local CEO Peter Ciao says the new 2025 MG HS Super Hybrid’s drivetrain will also bring an array of other benefits, even if users don’t always plug it in.  

Speaking on the laid-back attitude of Aussie drivers who “don’t want to charge” their PHEV every day, Ciao says the HS Super Hybrid – which combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol with a 135kW e-motor and secondary generator motor – will still consume less than 5L/100km on a virtually empty battery.   

“Even if you never charge, the fuel efficiency is 4.5L/100km. That’s real world,” he said.  

“With RAV4, the homologation data is 4.7L/100km but real data is 5.5L.” 

MG’s official fuel consumption claim for the new plug-in HS is 0.7L/100km on the combined cycle, but while the incoming RAV4 PHEV’s consumption figures are yet to be published, the current plugless version brandishes a claimed average of 4.7L/100km.   

MG’s plug-in hybrid uses a larger 24.7kWh lithium-ion battery compared to the next-gen RAV4 plug-in's 22.7kWh unit which allows for a (targeted) EV-only driving range of around 100km.  

The HS, meantime, is claimed to offer up to 120km of pure EV driving contributing to a total fuel range of more than 1000km, the catch being it needs 95RON.  

Ciao admitted the new HS PHEV will perform in similar way to Toyota’s plug-in RAV4, but stipulated there would be some key differences, most significantly; the price. 

“HS, we are not number one [in medium-SUV sales]. I know this is a very competitive segment, but I’m only interested in top-three, in each segment. This [HS Super Hybrid] car, I think we’ve got the chance,” he said.  

“Toyota just launched the RAV4 [PHEV] and I’ve already checked all the data. Their data is very close with our HS Super Hybrid, but my battery is 2kWh more than Toyota and my car is bigger. 

“My car is bigger and the space is better. The fuel efficiency and range should be very similar. But price? Never similar. Our price will be much better. Our cars will perform in a similar way but the price [will be] totally different. 

“After I launch the [HS] Super Hybrid, I will be very aggressive in this segment. It’s the biggest and most competitive segment in Australia; lots of options. But a real value option? Not too much. Too many cars are similar.” 

Ciao believes the new HS Super Hybrid will help MG top the mid-size SUV sales charts, claiming the scalps of not only the best-selling RAV4, but the rest of the big-name contenders like the Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and Nissan X-Trail.  

“First generation HS, GS; the engine, transmission you know, [was] not perfect,” Ciao said.  

“But now I’m ready to go to competition with top three brands. Based on the product and the same or better performance, and then we will provide a much, much better price to customers.” 

Ciao said the average price of the incoming MG HS Super Hybrid will be on par with the current RAV4 Hybrid which starts from $42,260 plus on-road costs and stretches up to just under $60k. 

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