MG Launches Its First Seven-Seat Plug-in Hybrid SUV in the UK Market
The Chinese brand MG, already synonymous with affordable hybrids, is finally releasing a model for large families in Europe. The new MG S9 is the brand’s first seven-seat SUV on the continent, continuing the line of affordably priced cars and making competitors look too expensive.
The key highlights of the launch are:
Competitive Price and Space
The starting price of the large MG makes it a serious competitor in the market. For example, the most affordable full-hybrid version of the Volkswagen Tayron costs over £10,000 more, and the cheapest plug-in hybrid Skoda Kodiaq is £8,000 more expensive. Moreover, neither of them combines plug-in charging capability with a three-row cabin layout like the MG does.
One in every ten new cars sold in Europe last month was Chinese.
The MG S9, already sold in Australia as the MG QS and in China as the Roewe RX-9, is about 5 meters long. This is 33 cm longer than the five-seat HS PHEV. Even with all seven seats in place, the boot offers 332 liters of usable space—more than an Opel Corsa. If the third row of seats is folded down, the volume increases to over 1,000 liters.
Technical Specifications and Range
The car features the already familiar hybrid system from the HS PHEV model. It combines a 1.5-liter petrol turbo engine with an electric motor and a 23.2 kWh battery. This differs from the 2.0-liter powertrain installed on the Australian QS version.
Official power figures for the S9 have not been released yet, but the setup in the UK-spec HS PHEV produces 295 hp and 350 Nm of torque. These figures are expected to remain unchanged for the larger model. However, the 0-100 km/h acceleration is likely to be somewhat slower than the HS’s (6.8 seconds).
The fairly large battery allows the S9 to travel up to 62 miles (100 km) on electric power alone. This figure is slightly lower than that of the smaller HS or the Volkswagen Tayron PHEV (over 70 miles), but for many drivers, this range is quite sufficient for daily trips, allowing the petrol engine to be used infrequently.
Interior Equipment and Safety
The interior features two digital instrument panels combined under a single glass screen, as well as a convenient row of physical buttons for main functions. The car also comes equipped with features unusual for its price category: a panoramic sunroof, three-zone climate control, seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, and up to 16 driver assistance systems. The latter helped the model achieve the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Conclusions and Prospects
Sales of the MG S9 will begin later this year, and the model is expected to be popular. Some may consider MG’s design too restrained compared to flashy Chinese competitors. However, for buyers looking for a large family SUV without a premium price tag and not overly concerned with the latest design trends, MG seems to be offering one of the most attractive propositions of the year. This model clearly demonstrates how Chinese manufacturers are changing the market by offering Europeans technologically equipped and spacious cars at prices that make them accessible to a wide audience, putting pressure on established European brands in the family car segment.