MG S9 Plug-in Hybrid review: Seven-seater SUV is a blinging bargain

Is MG onto another winner with the big S9 – the latest addition to its growing family of cars?

Love them or loathe them, big SUVs that can carry seven people are just the job for large families.

The all-new MG S9 joins the growing list of three-row plug-in hybrids, which includes the Jaecoo 8 SHS-P, Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid, Mazda CX-80 PHEV, Omoda 9 SHS-P and Chery Tiggo 7 CSH.

A step up from the smaller. but big-selling MG HS, the S9 is a substantial vehicle. At a shade under five metres long, it’s nearly two metres wide and around the average height of a man in the UK (1.78m). To put that into context, it’s a bit bigger than the epic Santa Fe.

Perhaps most importantly of all, not only is a true seven-seater, but the line-up starts at just £34,210, which means the MG S9 is a serious amount of car for the money.

The sliding middle row delivers just enough legroom for passengers in the rearmost seats. I’m not just talking children either – it is possible for adults to sit in the back row seats, though the smaller they are, the better.

Additionally, there’s a useful 332 litres of boot space in seven-seater mode, rising to 557 litres with the third row folded, and an enormous 2,093 litres with all five rear seats flipped down.

The S9 uses the same proven engine and hybrid setup as the MG HS PHEV, which means a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a 23.2kWh (usable) battery, delivering a total of 295bhp and a claimed electric range of up to 62 miles.

If that isn’t good enough, the total driving range exceeds 600 miles, thanks to its efficiency and a large 65-litre field tank.

For the record, a 0-100% charge from a 7kW home charger takes roughly four hours.

Featuring a single-speed automatic gearbox (a setup generally associated with full EVs) driving the front wheels, the S9 is capable of completing the 0-62mph dash in 9.6 seconds, which may not sound particularly fast, but is perfectly respectable for a vehicle of this size.

For most everyday driving, the engine acts as an onboard generator, continuously feeding electricity to the battery, but it can also send power directly to the wheels during high-load situations such as overtaking.

With low CO2 emissions of just 18g/km, it’s especially tax-friendly for company car drivers, while the impressive towing limit (braked) of 2,000kg means that it can pull everything from a boat to a caravan.

First impressions are good. The MG S9 is imposing and solidly built. Unusually these days, there’s even a bit of bling, thanks to chrome trim on the lower body, plus styling accents on the front doors. It’s also outlined on the grille, flowing into the headlights.

Iinside, there’s a spacious, quality feel, while much of the switchgear gets a brushed aluminium look. Yes, there faux wood, synthetic leather (in range-topping Premium trim) and some hard plastic surfaces, but it’s hard to complain, given the ticket price.

The MG S9 is generously equipped too, with a panoramic glass roof, powered tailgate, dual 12.3-inch displays, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard in Comfort spec.

Move up to Premium and goodies include faux leather upholstery, heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, a 12-speaker premium BOSE audio system, plus a wireless smartphone charging pad.

Achieving a maximum five stars in Euro NCAP testing, it comes with a full suite of safety tech and driver assistance gizmos.

And it’s here that I had my biggest issue. Like a lot of Chinese cars, the various warning beeps for driver and fatigue distraction, lane keeping and speed limit alerts, are particularly irritating.

If you opt for an MG S9, the first thing you should do is set up a custom profile to make sure the features you find most irritating are switched off, otherwise you’ll have to delve into the touchscreen every journey.

On that note, the infotainment system isn’t the fastest on the market and it needs a good prod at times.

On the road, you soon get used to the sheer bulk of the thing, though don’t let your guard down on narrow roads or when parking. Visibility is good though, and the 360-degree camera helps you see kerbs, bollards and pedestrians clearly via the central infotainment screen.

There’s a commanding view from the driver’s seat and the S9 drives well for a big car with the softly sprung suspension prioritising comfort over agility.

The steering isn’t the most precise, but at least it’s light. Road grip is good in everyday driving, but the front tyres can lose traction on loose or wet surfaces during quick getaways.

For the most part, it felt calm and composed, and even when pushed in faster corners, body lean is kept in check.

It’s refined most of the time because it’s in EV mode or the engine is working in the background as a generator. And frankly, it’s not too raucous on those occasions when the engine kicks in.

In addition to the Normal, Eco, Sport and Custom drive selections, you can choose between EV and Hybrid modes.

The S9 runs primarily on electric power until the battery is nearly depleted, before engaging the petrol engine to sustain the charge in EV mode.

Hybrid mode balances the electric motor and the engine, typically prioritising electric power at lower speeds.

Most importantly, you can tweak the energy management settings within the touchscreen to preserve the battery for later in your journey or actively push the petrol engine to top up the battery level while driving.

Usefully, there are also steering wheel paddles for adjusting regenerative braking levels whilst driving.

As with all PHEVs, real-world fuel economy depends on how you use the car and whether you keep the battery charged.

If your journeys are short and you charge up regularly overnight, then your visits to the garage for petrol are likely to be few and far between because you’ll be running in EV mode most of the time.

Even if you spend a lot of time on the motorway in hybrid mode with a depleted battery, 40mpg is achievable.

Ultimately, the MG S9 Plug-in Hybrid is at its best as a big, fully-loaded cruiser.

Verdict: The MG S9 Plug-in Hybrid seven-seater is phenomenal value for money, surprisingly economical and easy to drive. Add the seven-year warranty, and it’s a no-brainer if you have a large family to ferry around.

Review in association with AutomotiveBlog