MG HS PHEV test drive: is it the most sensible plug-in hybrid on the Spanish market?

The plug-in SUV segment is going through a turning point in Spain. Regulatory pressure, the DGT’s CERO label and fuel prices that show no mercy have turned the family PHEV into the most contested category on the market. And on this board, the MG HS PHEV has made a move with a proposal that is hard to ignore: 339 CV combined, 103 km of homologated electric range and a starting RRP of around €37,000.

We took it on the road to answer a specific question: is it one of the most interesting plug-in hybrids you can buy in Spain today?

Context: why the PHEV SUV is still the most sensible option

While the 100% electric car still stumbles over the charging infrastructure outside the big cities, the PHEV lets you cover day-to-day driving in electric mode and save the combustion engine for long journeys. The Hyundai Tucson PHEV, Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid and Cupra Formentor e-Hybrid have sustained this argument for years. What is new is that Chinese manufacturers — MG, EBRO, Changan Deepal and Geely — have entered to break the price/performance equation with figures that force a recalculation.

MG HS PHEV test: first impressions behind the wheel

The second-generation HS is a different car. The platform introduced in 2023 delivers notable torsional rigidity, a lower driving position and a suspension tune that prioritises comfort without sliding into body roll. The transition between the 1.5 turbo engine and the electric motor is, quite simply, seamless: there are no jerks and none of the abrupt engine wake-up that can still be felt in some European rivals.

Dynamic sensations and refinement

The 339 CV are distributed with good judgement. The 0-100 km/h sprint drops below 7 seconds, a figure unexpected for a family SUV and one that places the MG ahead of practically all mainstream competition. The two-speed automatic gearbox of the PHEV system removes the odd sensation typical of many hybrids.

Real electric range: 103 km WLTP, what is left on the road?

The 21.4 kWh battery is, together with the Mercedes GLC 300 e, one of the largest in the mainstream segment. In urban and gentle mixed use we have verified between 78 and 85 real km before the combustion engine kicks in. On the motorway at 120 km/h, the figure drops to 55-60 km, consistent with the physics of the segment.

Real consumption: the true test outside EV mode

Once the battery is depleted, the HS PHEV behaves like an efficient conventional hybrid: 6.2-6.8 L/100 km in mixed use, a figure well below the 170 CV petrol HS (which hovers around 7.4 L/100 km homologated). With the battery charged every night and journeys under 80 km, average consumption can fall below 1.5 real L/100 km.

Spanish price and equipment: the master move

Here lies the real argument. The Comfort trim starts at around €37,000 and the Luxury at over €40,000 (manufacturer’s recommended RRP, without dealer discounts, campaigns or purchase incentives, which could reduce the figure by several thousand euros).

Direct rivals in Spain: the comparison that matters

EBRO s700 PHEV: from ~€37,700

The newcomer EBRO s700 PHEV is, on paper, the most direct rival. It shares technical DNA with the Chery platforms and offers 347 CV, although its electric range (90 km WLTP) and battery (19 kWh) fall short of the MG. EBRO plays the card of assembly in Barcelona.

Hyundai Bayon (brand reference): from ~€25,800

Hyundai does not yet have a PHEV with 100+ km of electric range in its range at the HS’s price point. Its Tucson PHEV plays in a different price league. As a brand reference we take the Bayon 1.0 TGDi 48V, without any pretension of direct competition.

Volvo EC40: from ~€50,200

The premium 100% electric benchmark. Volvo shows that full electrification is viable if you pay a notable premium. The EC40 offers 487 km WLTP and a level of finish that the MG simply does not pursue.

Verdict: the most sensible PHEV on the Spanish market?

Yes, with nuances. The MG HS PHEV combines the greatest electric range in its price bracket, unprecedented power for the segment and generous equipment. Hyundai still offers the proven network and reliability, and Volvo the premium aspiration; but in pure euro-for-euro rationality, today nobody matches the HS.

Frequently asked questions

How much real electric range does the MG HS PHEV offer?
Between 78 and 85 km in urban-mixed use and 55-60 km at 120 km/h on the motorway, starting from the 103 km homologated WLTP.

What DGT label does the MG HS PHEV have?
CERO emissions label, comfortably exceeding the 40 km of WLTP electric range required.

What is the price of the MG HS PHEV in Spain?
The Comfort trim starts at approximately €37,000 and the Luxury at around €40,000 (indicative manufacturer RRP, without discounts or incentives).

Is it a better choice than the EBRO s700 PHEV?
In electric range (103 vs 90 km) and battery (21.4 vs 19 kWh), yes. EBRO plays the card of national assembly and a slightly more refined interior finish.