MG plug-in hybrid SUV to arrive in Australian dealerships in March

A plug-in hybrid version of MG’s HS SUV will arrive in Australian dealerships in March, the Chinese-owned brand has confirmed.

The slightly large stablemate to MG’s all electric ZS compact SUV introduced in late 2020 – the HS will compete against the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and the premium Range Rover Vogue PHEV.

MG is not giving hints as yet on pricing, or if it will take the same competitive stance it has with the MG ZS EV which now holds the envious title of most affordable all-electric vehicle on the Australian market, at $43,990 driveaway.

The all-electric ZS sits about $20,000 above the price of its petrol competitor (but without the fluctuating fuel costs and with less maintenance than an internal combustion engine).

In the UK, the higher-specced HS PHEV Excite is priced from £29,995 (around $A54,000 converted), which is £9,000 more than its petrol stablemate.

It is also available in the UK in the upper-end “Exclusive” trim which equates to the “Essence” trim in Australia.

MG Australia has not clarified which trims the PHEV will be available in, but assuming it is the Excite and Essence we will see here also, pricing will likely sit above $55,000.

The arrival of the MG HS PHEV marks a “pivotal moment” for the brand in Australia, said MG Australia boss Peter Ciao in a statement on the release.

“Launching our first Plug-In Hybrid will be a pivotal moment for MG, as we move towards our goal of providing our customers with greater choice, particularly in the New Energy arena,”said Ciao.

“As a global leader in electrification, we’re excited at the prospect of bringing this new hybrid model to the market to become a major part of the consideration set in New Energy adoption.

“The MG HS Plug-In Hybrid offers the best of both worlds, combining low emissions with practicality and performance, while also remaining premium, stylish and safe. We look forward to the arrival of this innovative new model later this quarter.”

Full pricing and specifications will be revealed at the model’s launch in March, says MG.