MG South Africa will bolster its HS midsize-SUV lineup with the introduction of hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains in 2027. Here’s what you can expect…
Launched in South Africa in January 2025, the local MG HS lineup is currently offered with the choice of two turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine options: 1.5- and 2.0-litre – the former and latter producing 125 kW/275 N.m and 170 kW/370 N.m, respectively. However, come 2027, the Chinese-owned British automaker will bolster the HS range with the introduction of hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains. The announcement was made alongside the brand confirming the QS seven-seater SUV for our market.
MG HS hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain specifications, fuel consumption and range
Starting with the HEV, or Hybrid+, this model is powered by a (105 kW/230 N.m) 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine coupled with an electric motor – the latter fed by a 1.83 kWh battery pack. The Hybrid+ produces combined power and torque outputs of 165 kW and 340 N.m. Power is delivered to the front wheels via a three-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). The HEV arrangement returns a combined fuel consumption of 5.7 L/100 km. Matching the claimed figure translates to a driving range of 965 km on a full, 55-litre tank of fuel.
The PHEV, or Super Hybrid, features the same internal combustion engine (ICE) as the HEV. However, in this guise, the ICE is paired with a front-mounted electric motor fed by a larger, 24.7 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. Mated with a three-speed DHT, the front-wheel drivetrain produces a combined system output of 220 kW and 350 N.m. MG claims an electric-only operating range of 120 km and a combined driving range of “over” 1 000 km. From what we understand, the PHEV powertrain returns a combined 0.7 L/100 km when the LFP battery is fully charged.
MG HS hybrid and plug-in hybrid dimensions and boot capacity
The HS Hybrid+ and Super Hybrid largely shares the ICE-powered models’ dimensions. That’s to say, they measure 1 890 mm in width and 1 655 mm in height, with a 2 765 mm wheelbase. However, the hybridised HS models are 5 mm longer, at 4 660 mm. MG claims a boot capacity of 507 litres, which increases to 1 484 litres when folding down the second-row backrests.
- Also read: Road Test: MG HS 1.5T Luxury
MG HS hybrid and plug-in hybrid features and technology
While official local specifications will be revealed closer to these models’ launch, it is likely that the HEV and PHEV will be offered with the same trim grades – Comfort and Luxury – found on the ICE-only derivatives. As such, standard items will likely include 12.3-inch digital instrumentation, touchscreen infotainment of similar size – the latter replete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto screen mirroring – and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. Keyless entry and tyre pressure monitoring are also present. On top of Comfort spec’s standard equipment, Luxury grade gains an eight-speaker audio system (Comfort features a six-speaker unit), a wireless smartphone charging tray, dual-zone climate control, electrically adjustable and heated front seats (with ventilation functionality in the hybridised variants), a panoramic sunroof, and front park distance sensors.
MG HS hybrid and plug-in hybrid launch date and expected pricing in South Africa
The HS HEV and PHEV will launch in South Africa in January 2027. A fair bet would be that these models will be priced above their ICE-powered counterparts – the latter currently retailing from R499 900 for the 1.5T Comfort and R629 900 for the 2.0T Comfort. The 1.5T and 2.0T Luxury variants are priced from R534 900 and R665 900, respectively.
