MG HS Plug-In Hybrid priced from under $47K

MG Motor Australia has released the first all-wheel drive and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of the MG HS mid-size SUV.

The same Chinese brand that set a new price benchmark for an all-electric vehicle in November, with the MG ZS EV priced from just $43,990 drive-away, has now launched its first PHEV and Australia’s cheapest plug-in hybrid medium SUV.

Bringing to eight the number of variants in the MG HS range, which continues to start at $29,990 drive-away, the MG HS Plug-In Hybrid is available in one equipment grade and priced at $45,990 plus on-road costs, or $46,990 drive-away.

That makes it $2000 cheaper than the only other mainstream PHEV mid-size SUV, Mitsubishi’s pioneering Outlander PHEV (from $47,990 plus ORCs).

On sale from this week, the MG HS PHEV offers a pure electric driving range of around 52km and is said to consume as little as 1.7L/100km of fuel on the combined cycle, thanks to its combination of a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and a 90kW electric motor.

MG says the HS PHEV can reduce CO2 emissions, which are rated at 39g/km, by up to 50-70 per cent.

The powertrain delivers a total of 189kW of power and 370Nm of torque, accelerating the SUV to 100km/h from standstill in a respectable 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 190km/h.

Its 16.6kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery comes with a standard 3 Pin Home Charger and, like the MG ZS EV’s, is covered by an eight-year/160,000km warranty.

That’s in addition to the vehicle’s five-year/unlimited-km warranty, which is shorter than the seven-year warranty offered for all other MG models (MG 3 Auto, MG ZS, MG ZST, MG HS and MG AWD).

The single-variant MG HS Plug-In Hybrid comes with the MG Pilot safety suite including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, auto high beam and intelligent speed assistance system.

Other standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, LED daytime running lights (DRLs) and headlights, LED tail-lights with sequential indicators, electric tailgate, panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and more.

Inside the cabin, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sits behind the steering wheel, while a 10.1-inch central touch-screen features navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A six-speaker 3D surround sound system is also fitted, as is LED ambient lighting.

The petrol-electric MG HS comes with five seats and a maximum boot capacity of 1275 litres (with rear seats folded) thanks to the fitment of a tyre repair kit (there’s no spare tyre).

Four metallic exterior colour options are available: Phantom Red, Clipper Blue, New Pearl White and Sterling Silver.

In another first for the brand, two new all-wheel drive variants today also join the MG HS range, which until now has only been offered in front-drive from.

The new MG HS AWD can be had in two variants – the HS AWD Excite X ($37,990 drive-away) and HS AWD Essence X ($42,990 drive-away), representing a respective $3000 and $4000 price premium over the 2WD variants on which they’re based.

“The new MG HS Plug-In Hybrid brilliantly showcases the intelligence and innovation we have available within our brand,” said MG Motor Australia and New Zealand CEO, Peter Ciao.

“The MG HS Plug-In Hybrid is our first plug-in hybrid, our second new energy vehicle, and one that we’re delighted to bring to our Australian customers as part of our commitment
to making new energy vehicles mainstream in Australia.”

How much does the 2021 MG HS cost?
Core – $29,990
Vibe – $31,990
Excite – $34,990
Essence – $38,990
Essence Anfield – $40,690
AWD Excite X – $37,990
AWD Essence X – $42,990
Plug-In Hybrid – $46,990
*All prices are drive-away (including on-road costs)