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By Jonathan Crouch

MG's HS Hybrid+ looks a really strong proposition in this Hybrid+ form, thinks. Jonathan Crouch.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 34

We think the ideal MG HS is this one, the Hybrid+ variant. This efficient, powerful self-charging Hybrid version of the Chinese brand's mid-sized SUV offers a really strong combination of value, efficiency and practicality.

Backgroundword count: 144

Throughout the life of its model line, the MG HS mid-sized SUV has always been a good car looking for its ideal engine. For most of its time on sale, it's offered consumers a choice of an affordable but old-tech and woefully inefficient 1.5-litre petrol unit; or a PHEV version that's more appealing but comes with a price premium that rather dilutes this MG's value proposition. The ideal powerplant would be something in between these two extremes - and that's just what we got with this Hybrid+ model. As the name suggests, it's a self-charging Hybrid - of the proper full-Hybrid (rather than mild hybrid) kind. The engine in question much the same as the one we've already seen (and been impressed with) in the brand smaller ZS SUV and MG3 supermini. So does it create the ideal HS? Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 278

When this Hybrid engine first arrived in the little MG3 supermini, we were surprised at its prodigious power output. But that, MG explained at the time, was because the plan was to use it in larger, heavier models. Like this HS. And, sure enough, with 225PS on tap, this 1.5T Hybrid unit suits MG's mid-size crossover very well. As in the ZS and MG3 Hybrid+ models, the engine works in harmony with a powerful electric motor (146kW), an on-board generator and a little battery. That battery is just 1.8kWh in size, so it's not going to take the car very far on its own, but that's not the point of a self-charging Hybrid, where the EV element is just there to support the engine, not to supplant it. That total output figure is a little more than you get in the smaller ZS Hybrid+, and it facilitates a slightly quicker 0-62mph time of 7.9s en route to 118mph. It all works via a sophisticated 2-speed auto transmission first seen in the Plug-in Hybrid version of this car. There's no 'EV' button like you'd get in, say, a Toyota RAV4 in this segment to force a battery-driven drive setting around town. But unlike some other mid-sized Hybrids, you can select from three levels of brake regeneration to keep the lithium-ion cells topped up. The fiercest of these - 'High' - slows the car off-throttle quite noticeably. Get beyond the city limits and the powertrain automatically switches to a Parallel Hybrid setting which is where for the first time, the petrol engine then sends its power direct to the wheels, in combination with the electric motor via an auto gearbox.

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