MG has stepped into the seven-seat SUV market in the UK with the new MGS9 PHEV, a plug-in hybrid family model priced from £34,205 to £36,945 (RM182,000 to RM196,500) on the road.
It is the brand’s first SUV in this segment, and at least from the initial numbers, MG is going after buyers who want space, decent equipment and lower day-to-day fuel use without straying too far upmarket on price.
The MGS9 PHEV uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a 24.7kWh battery pack.
MG quotes an electric-only range of up to 100km, which should cover many school runs, office commutes and the usual family errand loop if owners keep it charged.
The powertrain is borrowed from the MG HS plug-in hybrid, so this is not an all-new system, but a known one being moved into a larger and more practical package.
MG said the MGS9 offers more than 1,000 litres of luggage space with the third row folded flat, while boot space is 332 litres with all seven seats in use.
In a seven-seat SUV, that sort of boot space helps, because some rivals feel roomy only until the last row goes up.
Equipment looks generous too. MG is listing leather-style upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, massage function and tri-zone air-conditioning among the headline features.
Safety is another point the company is pushing hard. The MGS9 PHEV already holds a five-star Euro NCAP rating, with Euro NCAP scoring it at 84% for adult occupant protection and 85% for child occupant protection.
MG said the MGS9 PHEV is available to order now, with full specification details due later this month as the first UK showroom arrivals begin.
What MG is going for is easy to see: a practical seven-seat SUV with plug-in hybrid power and a keener price than many of the usual names.
