MG HS Plug-In Hybrid 2021 Review

By Alexandra Lawrence, carsales.com.au

MG has cemented itself as the gateway to greener motoring.

The now Chinese-owned brand has earned a strong following among eco warriors on a budget since the introduction of Australia’s most affordable electric car, the ZS EV small SUV.

And now it has built on that reputation with the addition of the next-size-up HS PHEV, which follows in the wheel tracks of the ZS as the cheapest plug-in hybrid on-sale in Australia.

MG claims the HS PHEV is a five-door, family-friendly SUV that offers “the best of both worlds” when it comes to efficiency and performance.

Priced from $48,690 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Excite, the MG HS Plug-in Hybrid makes a compelling case for itself by undercutting the only other plug-in mid-size SUVs, the Ford Escape PHEV and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

So, is it any good? Let’s find out…

Priced to please

Initially launched as a single, fully-loaded variant in 2021, MG has since expanded the line-up and now offers two model grades – Excite and Essence – that share the same mechanical set-up but are defined by key features and cosmetic details.

Priced from $48,690 (plus ORCs), the MG HS PHEV Excite is Australia’s most affordable plug-in hybrid.

Surprisingly, especially considering that almost every single brand has a mid-size SUV in its showroom, the only comparable alternatives are the recently arrived second-generation Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Ford Escape PHEV, both of which are considerably more expensive.

The Mitsubishi is available in four model grades that extend from $55,490 (plus ORCs) for the entry-level ES and tops out at $68,490 (plus ORCs) for the flagship Exceed Tourer variant.

Ford only offers a single model of the Escape PHEV, which costs from $54,440 (plus ORCs).

Other hybrid rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester don’t come with the option of plug-in power.

The 2021 MG HS Plug-In Hybrid is well equipped, with both Excite and Essence models fitted with the full suite of electronic driver aids in the MG Pilot package, which includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, traffic jam assist, rear cross traffic alert and more.

Other standard features on the Excite include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, keyless entry with push button start, a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch central infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The $3000 premium that our on-test Essence model commands brings luxury extras such as two-tone leather trim, ambient interior lighting, full LED headlights and front foglights, a panoramic ‘Stargazer’ sunroof, powered tailgate, larger 18-inch alloy wheels and more.

Overall, the cabin materials are okay, but there’s plenty of hard touch points around, even on parts wrapped in a softer material.

In the cargo area, a tyre repair/inflator kit means there’s no spare tyre (space-saver or otherwise), creating a cavernous space capable of swallowing 451 litres worth of luggage – or 1275L with the 60/40-split folding rear seats dropped down. There’s no hooks or luggage nets, however. Instead, it has just a flimsy vinyl cargo blind to hide goods.

Three metallic exterior colour options comprise Diamond Red, Sterling Silver and Pearl White.

Glitches and gadgets

We’ve already reeled off the safety and tech highlights of the MG HS Plug-in Hybrid, which are attractive to say the least. And while it looks good on paper, some of the tech isn’t as easy to use as it should be, like the central touch screen which was painfully slow to operate during our first drive impression.

The 360-degree camera display would also pop-up on the centre screen every time the car came to a stop, which then froze when trying to switch between menus.

We also had a similar issue with the electric tailgate and the electric power steering failed once when starting the vehicle (it came good after switching off the ignition and firing it back up again).

MG claims the vehicles we sampled on the national media launch were pre-production models and ensured that customer cars would have software updates that ironed out these bugs.

Behind the wheel, the virtual cockpit cluster is busy to say the least, and it takes a while to locate important information in the menus. It becomes easier to navigate the longer you spend with the vehicle. However, some drivers might have trouble with the tiny icons and small font.

On a positive note, the driver assistance aids in the MG HS PHEV work really well. Lane assist acts nicely in the background without being too intrusive, while adaptive cruise control makes highway driving a breeze – once you’ve mastered the stalk-mounted cruise control switchgear, that is.

The plug-in hybrid MG HS also comes with one-stage regenerative braking, which not only helps keep the 16.6kWh lithium-ion battery topped up when decelerating but means you don’t have to use the brake pedal as much while slowing down.

When it’s time to plug in for a recharge, the MG HS Plug-In Hybrid comes with a Type 2 charging port located on the opposite side of the car to the fuel filler and takes around five hours for a complete charge when using a 7kW home fixed wall charger, according to MG.

We didn’t test the PHEV’s charging capabilities during our short time with it to verify this claim.

On a full charge though, the car maker says owners can expect a pure-electric driving range of around 52km (based on the WLTP combined cycle), which will be enough for the average Aussie daily commute.

MG covers the battery with a seven-year/160,000km warranty, and the vehicle itself comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with roadside assist. The five-year vehicle warranty is the same coverage as that provided for the MG ZS EV – but, quizzically, is two years less than all other MG models with an internal combustion engine.

Service intervals are 10,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Combo deal

The plug-in hybrid electric powertrain in the MG HS PHEV is impressive, with plenty of power on offer no matter what speed you’re at.

It’s whisper-quiet in EV mode, and even when the 1.5-litre petrol engine kicks in there’s minimal noise from under the bonnet.

All that momentum comes from a four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine serving up 119kW/250Nm, and a permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 90kW/230Nm. Together, the combined output is 189kW/370Nm.

The combustion engine is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, while the electric motor connects with a four-speed drive unit, providing 10 electronically controlled gear ratios in what that MG calls a 10-speed EDU transmission.

Drive is sent to the front wheels and, perhaps surprisingly given the power and torque output, there’s little to no wheel spin or torque steer present under heavy acceleration.

It all works seamlessly for the most part and the transition between petrol and electric power is barely noticeable. There was one point, however, when we felt a minor shove in what seemed to be a shuddering gear change when flooring the throttle.

From a standstill, the added firepower from the battery gives the HS a good boost off the line and even when you’re at speed (100km/h) on a highway.

Officially, MG says the HS PHEV can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds, which puts it on par with some hot hatches.

What makes the HS stand out from rivals such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is that it can drive at any speed in EV mode (up to its 190km/h limit), whereas the Outlander’s petrol engine kicks in according to how hard you pin the throttle, to deliver maximum power.

The car’s dynamic character is a hotchpotch, as there’s a stark contrast between the sharp steering and soft suspension settings. The former attempts to give the SUV a sporty feel, but the latter fails to live up to the promise with plenty of body roll in the corners.

Road imperfections and potholes send feedback through the steering wheel, but the plug-in HS doesn’t feel overly unsettled over bumps.

Vision is mostly good all round, however the chunky A-pillars that seem too horizontally sloped can obscure oncoming vehicles, which you notice at roundabouts and the like.

The HS PHEV also wasn’t as fuel efficient as MG Australia claims – at least during the short period we spent in it – with its official combined-cycle fuel consumption rating of 1.7L/100km nowhere in sight.

We travelled about 100km on mostly highways, but also some country and suburban roads, and saw the lowest reading of 6.5L/100km.

Family first

MG has done a great job with noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels in the MG HS Plug-In Hybrid, with the cabin relatively free from road and tyre noise except on coarse-chip surfaces.

Humans of most shapes and sizes will find a comfortable seating position, but there’s noticeably less steering wheel adjustment in terms of tilt and telescopic reach – it has both, but they don’t have a great range of movement.

The electrically adjustable front seats don’t allow for a super-low driving position either, which isn’t really a bad thing considering it’s a higher-riding SUV anyway.

Rear seat space is great, with lots of legroom and decent headroom despite the standard fitment of a full-length sunroof in the Essence, which adds to the spacious ambience.

The rear seat is comfortable enough for two adult passengers, who are treated to rear air vents, two USB charging outlets, decent-sized door pocket storage and a fold-down centre armrest with two hide-away cup holders and a lidded-felt-lined storage space.

As for baby-carrying options, the HS comes with three child seat anchorage points.

Storage is good up front too, with large front door pockets, two cup holders, a decent-sized centre console with a cooling function and a few small spots for other knick-knacks.

Rough diamond

The MG HS Plug-In Hybrid isn’t perfect but offers plenty of promise as an efficient, affordable family SUV.

While the claimed 1.7L/100km fuel consumption average appears extremely enticing on the brochure, it is almost impossible to match in the real world unless you drive very short distances using just the electric motor and can recharge the battery often. But it’s not alone there, as all other PHEVs don’t deliver on the promise.

In any case, the plug-in powertrain is more economical than a conventional combustion engine and offers the flexibility of a fully electric car with the extended driving range and punchy performance from its petrol engine.

And the long list of standard equipment adds to the value equation.

But one too many niggles with the infotainment unit leaves much to be desired. Even if our pre-production vehicle’s software was running perfectly, the jury’s still out on whether the infotainment unit is as user-friendly as others in this category.

So, while it mightn’t break any new ground in terms of design or dynamics, the MG HS PHEV is worth consideration from price-savvy mid-size SUV buyers looking for a more efficient way to travel.

How much does the 2021 MG HS Essence Plug-In Hybrid cost?

Price:  $51,690 (plus on-road costs)	Transmission:  10-speed EDU automatic
Available:  Now	Fuel:  1.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
Engine:  1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol-electric	CO2:  39g/km (ADR Combined)
Output: 119kW/250Nm (electric motor: 90kW/230Nm)	Safety rating:  Five-star (ANCAP 2019)
Combined output: 189kW/370Nm

 

Disclaimer: Images supplied by MG Motor Australia.

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