MG has opened UK order books for the new MGS9 PHEV, its first seven-seat SUV and its biggest model in Britain right now.
Prices start at £34,205 (RM180,000) for the Comfort and rise to £36,945 (RM194,000) for the Premium, with the first cars due in showrooms in late March. That immediately puts it in the frame as a budget-minded alternative to larger family SUVs from more established brands.
The MGS9 PHEV is 4.98m long, has three rows of seats, and offers 1,026 litres of boot space when the third row is folded away.
MG is pitching it as a do-it-all family car, but it is also clearly trying to tempt company-car users and private buyers who need size without the usual price sting.
Its plug-in hybrid system pairs a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with a 24.7kWh battery.
MG claims up to 100km of electric-only range, which is impressive on paper for something this large, while CO2 emissions are quoted at 18g/km. It can also tow up to 2,000kg braked, so it should cope with a trailer or caravan without much complaint.
Kit levels look strong even before you get to the pricier version. Both trims include 20-inch alloys, a panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting, tri-zone climate control, twin 12.3-inch screens, smartphone connectivity and V2L capability.
Premium adds the nicer toys, including ventilated and massaging front seats, a Bose audio system, wireless charging and a smart tailgate.
Euro NCAP has already given the MGS9 PHEV a five-star rating, though the detailed report is worth reading because it is not flawless. Rear-passenger chest protection in one crash test was rated weak, and there is no child presence detection system. Even so, the overall result is strong.
MG is doing what it has done well in the UK for years: offering a lot of car for the money. The difference is that this time it is doing it with seven seats and a useful electric-only range. That should make plenty of rivals uncomfortable.
