MG S9 PHEV Review: The Cheapest 7-Seat Hybrid SUV in the UK?

Seven seats, a plug-in hybrid powertrain, 62 miles of electric range, and a starting price of £34,205. When you write it down like that, the MG S9 sounds almost too good to be true. So is it? Driver Matty took one out to find out — and the headline figures alone make this one of the most interesting family car launches of 2026.

What Is the MG S9?

This is MG’s first foray into the seven-seat SUV market, and they haven’t gone in half-hearted. At just under five metres long and standing over 1.7 metres tall, the S9 is a genuinely large car — actually longer than a Hyundai Santa Fe. It uses the same proven PHEV powertrain found in the MG HS PHEV, a car that has been named Plug-in Hybrid of the Year two years running at the What Car? Awards. That’s a reassuring foundation to build a bigger car on.

The setup pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 24.7kWh battery and an electric motor for a combined output of 299hp and 390Nm of torque. The electric motor does most of the heavy lifting in daily driving, with the petrol engine stepping in as a generator or for assistance when needed. It’s a series-parallel hybrid arrangement that works particularly well around town and on shorter runs.

The Electric Range Is a Big Deal

62 miles of pure electric range is the headline number — and it’s the longest of any seven-seat PHEV currently on sale in the UK. To put that into context, the Kia Sorento PHEV manages 43 miles and the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV just 39. For the average UK daily commute, which is around nine miles each way, most S9 owners could go weeks without touching a drop of petrol if they charge regularly.

Charging is AC only — there’s no DC rapid charging on this car. The maximum rate is 7kW, which means a full 0-100% charge takes around four hours. That’s actually a decent fit for overnight home charging on a cheap overnight energy tariff, and it’s a limitation shared by most PHEV rivals at this price point. It won’t bother anyone charging at home, though it could be frustrating for those relying on public charge points for top-ups during the day.

CO2 emissions come in at just 18g/km, which pushes the S9 into a 9% Benefit-in-Kind tax band — a significant win for company car drivers. Compared to the Peugeot 5008 PHEV at £47,895, the tax saving over three years alone can exceed £1,200.

DM Airport Transfers - UK Wide Airport Transfers

Size and Practicality

Inside, the S9 delivers on its size. There’s genuinely usable space in all three rows — reviewers note decent legroom even in row three, which is more than can be said for many seven-seaters that treat the back row as a last resort for children on short journeys. The second row has a 60/40 fold and adjustable for legroom, and ISOFIX is fitted across all middle-row seats. Note that the third row doesn’t have ISOFIX points, which is worth knowing for families with younger children.

Boot space with all seven seats in use is 332 litres — not enormous, but functional. Fold the third row and it grows significantly, and with both rear rows folded flat you get over 1,000 litres of cargo space. There’s also a 2,000kg braked towing capacity, MG’s highest, making it a practical choice for those who need to tow a caravan or trailer.

Standard kit across both trim levels is generous. Every S9 comes with dual 12.3-inch displays, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic glass roof, tri-zone climate control, 20-inch alloys, a 360-degree camera, ambient lighting, and five USB charging ports. The Premium trim at around £37,000 adds a Bose sound system, power tailgate, heated and cooled front seats with a massaging function, and heated steering wheel.

How Does It Drive?

Performance is steady rather than exciting — 0-62mph takes 9.6 seconds, which is a few seconds off the pace of quicker rivals like the Peugeot 5008 PHEV. That said, it doesn’t feel sluggish in daily use. The electric motor delivers instant torque from a standstill, and the car pulls cleanly up to motorway speeds without drama. The battery always retains a small reserve, so there’s always a bit of electric boost available when pulling away.

Ride comfort is a reasonable effort for a large family SUV — the soft suspension soaks up road imperfections well enough, though there’s a slightly unsettled quality at times. It’s not uncomfortable, but more expensive rivals feel more polished and composed. Handling, as you’d expect from a nearly five-metre SUV, is functional rather than engaging. The S9 is designed to be driven smoothly, and that’s exactly how it rewards you.

The Price Is the Real Talking Point

This is where the S9 separates itself. At £34,205 for the Comfort trim, it undercuts the Peugeot 5008 PHEV by well over £10,000 and sits thousands below the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV. For families who need seven seats and want to plug in without stretching to premium pricing, the value proposition is hard to argue with.

The question, as always with MG, is whether the long-term reliability holds up and how residual values settle as the model matures. Insurance premiums on newer Chinese models have also been noted as running higher than equivalent European alternatives, so it’s worth getting a quote before signing on the dotted line.

But as a first seven-seat PHEV from MG, the S9 is a bold and well-priced statement. Families looking for space, electric range, and genuine value should absolutely put it on the shortlist.

Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, a story tip, or anything you’d like to share, head over to DriverMatty.com — I love to hear from you. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.

Sources