in ZS After the launch of the EV small SUV as Australia’s cheapest electric car, MG now launches Australia’s most affordable plug-in hybrid model, ranking first in the booming mid-size SUV segment. The MG HS plug-in hybrid version starts at $45,990, plus the cost of the road, which is $2,000 cheaper than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and is a compelling case. The Chinese brand says its first plug-in hybrid car, , offers the "best of both worlds" advantage in efficiency and power, while driving for less than $47,000, families looking for green ways to travel should find a lot of things they like.
Good packaging, good price
The new 2021 MG HS plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has a single full-load version with a price of $45,990 plus the toll fee, which starts at $46,990.
Just as Chinese private labels changed the electric vehicle category by setting a new price benchmark for electric vehicles for smaller MG ZS SUVs (priced at $43,990), the MG HS PHEV became the cheapest plug-in hybrid not only in the super popular mid-size SUV category, but in all segments.
Its main competitor, the groundbreaking Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, starts at $47,990, plus road costs, and will join the Ford Escape PHEV later this year, priced at $52,940 before being postponed last year, plus ORC. Other hybrid competitors such as the
Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester have no plug-in options.
2021 MG HS plug-in hybrid car is well equipped, and its MG Pilot safety and driver assistance package extends to automatic emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, traffic congestion assistance, rear intersection alarms and more.
Other standard features include large sunroof (with electric blinds), 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRL), rain sensing wipers, animated indicators (front and rear) and electric tailgate.
Sports front seats are heated and powered, while the interior is a leather/suede hybrid. Overall, the cabin material is OK, but even parts wrapped in softer materials have many hard contact points around it.
also comes with LED ambient lighting, as well as a large 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch central touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
In cargo area, the tire repair/inflator kit means no spare tires (space-saving tires or other), the luggage compartment capacity is 451 liters – or 1275 liters with 60/40 split folding rear seats. There are no hooks or luggage nets, and there are only a fragile vinyl cargo shutters to hide the cargo.
Four metal exterior colors are selected for Clipper Blue (free), as well as an extra $700 for Phantom Red, Sterling Silver and Pearl White.
We have released the safety and technical highlights of the 2021 MG HS plug-in hybrid that are attractive to say the least. But in our first test drive, we found that the central touch screen could be very slow to operate and arguably the car's biggest drawback.
electric tailgate also has similar problems.
Although it starts selling this week, MG Australia said the HS PHEV we drove at the local launch is a pre-production example, but still requires software updates. Hopefully this means early adopters of the brand’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle won’t encounter the same technical failures we’ve encountered.
This includes every time the SUV stops within about five meters from another car, a 360-degree camera system pops up on the touch screen, and when trying to switch between menus or even fails to power steering, the touch screen freezes completely when starting (turn off the ignition switch, then return to normal after ignition again).
Behind the virtual cockpit cluster, to say the least, it takes a while to find the key information. The longer you spend on the vehicle, the easier it becomes to navigate, but some drivers may be in trouble with small icons and small fonts.
On the positive side, the driver assistance features of the MG HS PHEV are really excellent. Lane assist can be well placed in the background without being overly disturbed, while adaptive cruise control makes highway driving a breeze – once you have mastered the cruise control switchgear mounted on the stem.
plug-in hybrid MG HS also has first-stage regenerative braking, which not only helps keep the 16.6kWh lithium-ion battery fully charged, but also means you don't have to use too much brake pedal.
When charging is required, the No. 2 charging port of the MG HS plug-in hybrid is located opposite the gas port, and when using a 7kW household fixed wall charger, it takes about 5 hours to fully charge according to MG.
We cannot test the charging function of PHEV in a short time. After
is fully charged, the automaker said owners can expect pure electric driving distances of about 52 kilometers (based on the WLTP combined cycle), which is enough to meet the daily commuting needs of Australians.
MG provides an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the battery, while the vehicle itself receives a five-year/unlimited km warranty including curbside assistive equipment. The five-year car warranty is the same as the one offered by the MG ZS EV, and two years shorter than all other MG models equipped with internal combustion engines.
service interval is 10,000 kilometers or 12 months, whichever arrives first. MG will still provide details on repair costs.
Powerful combination
2021 The plug-in hybrid powertrain of the MG HS PHEV is impressive and provides plenty of power no matter what speed you drive.
It appears extra quiet in EV mode, and even with the 1.5-liter petrol engine starting, the noise under the hood is very small.
All this momentum comes from a four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with power up to 119kW/250Nm and a permanent magnet synchronous motor with power up to 90kW/230Nm. Total output power is 189kW/370Nm.
internal combustion engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the motor is connected to a four-speed drive unit, providing 10 electronically controlled transmission ratios, which MG calls a 10-speed EDU gearbox.
drive is sent to the front wheels, perhaps surprisingly, given the power and torque output, there is little or no wheel slip or torque steering.
All of this runs seamlessly in most cases, with the conversion between gasoline and electricity being hardly noticeable. But there is one thing. I seemed to have shifted gears when I stepped on the accelerator pedal and felt a slight thrust.
starts at rest, and the increased firepower can make the HS off-line well, even if you are driving at speeds (100 km/h) on the highway, the more power you will get over if you ask for more.
MG officially stated that HS PHEV can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. The reason why
HS stands out from competitors like Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is because it can reach any speed in EV mode (maximum speed 190 km/h), while Outlander's gasoline engine starts according to how hard you step on the accelerator, providing maximum power.
steering feels firmer, which is in stark contrast to the softer, more comfortable suspension of the SUV. However, the sporty steering doesn't exactly match its dynamic capabilities, resulting in a certain degree of body roll when pushed into a corner.
Road defects and potholes will send feedback through the steering wheel, but the plug-in HS won't be overly uneasy due to bumps.
The line of sight is usually better, but the short and plump A-pillar that looks too horizontally tilted will block the coming vehicles, which you will notice in the roundabout waiting. The
HS PHEV isn't as fuel efficient as MG Australia claims (at least for a short time we used it), with its official combined cycle fuel consumption rating of 1.7L/100km in no time.
We drove about 100 km, most of which were highways, but there were also some rural and suburban roads that could only reach a minimum of 6.5 liters/100 km.
Comfortable Cabin
MG does a great job in noise, vibration and roughness (NVH) levels of the 2021 MG HS plug-in hybrid, with relatively no road and tire noise in the cabin except for rough debris surfaces.
People of all shapes and sizes can find a comfortable seat position, but the steering wheel has significantly less adjustments in tilt and telescopic ranges – both but not much range of motion.
electric front seats also don't allow for ultra-low driving positions, which is not a bad thing considering it's also a higher performance SUV.
rear seat space is large, and although it is equipped with a sunroof, there is still a lot of legroom and overhead space.
As for the skylight, opening the electric shutters will reveal a huge glass panel covering the entire roof, while the glass front that opens as a traditional skylight is larger than you can find on most SUVs, thus providing plenty of fresh air.
Two adult passengers will feel comfortable in the rear seats with ventilation holes, two USB ports, mid-size rear door pocket storage, and foldable center armrests with two hidden cup holders and a storage bin with lid, felt-lined. The third adult in the back row of
may be a little confused, and the wide but very short transmission channel hump on the floor may not get in the way of anyone's feet.
As for the baby option, the HS comes with three child seat fixing points. The storage space in front of
is also good, it has a large front door pocket, two cup holders, a moderately sized center console with cooling and a small place for some other gadgets.
No one is perfect
MG's first PHEV is not perfect, but the arrival of the 2021 MG HS plug-in hybrid is full of hope.
Obviously, this is economical, more economical than most SUVs in this segment. However, our open flavors greatly reduce fuel consumption data, indicating that the 1.7L/100km requirement cannot be met under real-world conditions. We also found this in Outlander PHEV.
infotainment unit has too much trouble, which is not ideal. Even if the software of our trial production vehicles works well, the review board is still as friendly as the infotainment unit as other users in the category.
That is to say, the HS plug-in hybrid car is cheap and equipped with high-level standard equipment. What really stands out in
is the performance department. The powerful 189kW powertrain feels very good in the driver's seat.
So while it hasn't made any new breakthroughs in design or power, the MG HS PHEV is worth considering by savvy mid-sized SUV buyers who are looking for a more efficient way to travel.
2021 MG HS plug-in hybrid car
engine: 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbo petrol electric
output: 119kW / 250Nm (electric motor: 90kW / 230Nm)
Combination output: 189kW / 370Nm
Transmission: 10-speed EDU automatic
Fuel: 1.7-liter / 100 km (ADR comprehensive)
Carbon dioxide: 39g/km (ADR comprehensive)
Safety level: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)
