MG is moving upmarket with the MG S9 PHEV — the brand's first-ever seven-seat SUV, and a plug-in hybrid that dramatically undercuts its rivals. A near-five-metre family hauler, the S9 pairs a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined 299 PS (around 295 hp / 220 kW), plus a 24.7 kWh battery good for up to 62 miles (about 100 km) of pure-electric driving. It's actually a rebadged Roewe RX9 from MG's parent SAIC, and it lands in the UK from just £34,205 — thousands less than seven-seat PHEV rivals like the Hyundai Santa Fe. The catch? It's front-wheel drive only and, notably, has no DC fast charging.
Performance & Specs
The S9 PHEV uses a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (around 140 bhp / 142 PS) working with an electric motor rated at roughly 228 PS (about 225 hp), for a combined system output of 299 PS (~295 hp / 220 kW) and 390 Nm. Drive goes to the front wheels only — there's no all-wheel-drive option in the UK, despite the Chinese RX9 offering one. Performance is sensible rather than sporty: 0–62 mph in 9.6 seconds and a 124 mph (200 km/h) top speed. For a near-five-metre, seven-seat family SUV that can run on electricity around town and tow up to 2,000 kg, that's perfectly adequate — this is a car built for relaxed, low-cost family motoring rather than thrills.
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Plug-in hybrid (1.5T + e-motor) |
|---|---|
| SYSTEM POWER | 299 PS (~295 hp / 220 kW) |
| TORQUE | 390 Nm |
| ACCELERATION | 0–62 mph 9.6 s |
| TOP SPEED | 124 mph (200 km/h) |
| DRIVETRAIN | Front-wheel drive |
| BATTERY | 24.7 kWh |
| EV RANGE | 62 miles / 100 km (WLTP) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 4,983 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,967 mm |
| Height | 1,786 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,915 mm |
| Seating | 7 (2+3+2) |
Practicality is the whole point. At 4,983 mm long on a 2,915 mm wheelbase, the S9 is a genuinely large seven-seat SUV with a 2+3+2 three-row layout and a 60:40-split second row. Boot space is flexible: 332 litres with all seven seats in use, expanding to 1,026 litres in five-seat mode and a cavernous 2,093 litres with the rear two rows folded. Higher trims add a panoramic sunroof, leather-style heated, ventilated and massaging seats, and three-zone climate control. With its 2,000 kg towing capacity, it's a properly versatile family machine — and at this size and price, very few rivals can match its space-per-pound.
| LENGTH | 4,983 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,967 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,786 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 2,915 mm |
| BOOT VOLUME | 332 L (7 seats) / 1,026 L (5) / 2,093 L (folded) |
| SEATING | 7 (2+3+2) |
Charging & Battery
The S9's 24.7 kWh battery is large for a plug-in hybrid, which is what gives it that class-leading 62 miles of electric range — enough for most daily commutes and school runs on electricity alone. However, charging is the S9's clear weak point: it supports AC charging at up to 7 kW only, taking roughly four hours for a full charge, and crucially there is no DC rapid charging. That's fine for overnight home charging but means you can't quickly top up the battery on a longer journey — though with a 65-litre petrol tank and the engine on hand, you'll never be stranded. Official WLTP economy is a headline 353 mpg (a typical PHEV figure that depends heavily on keeping it charged), with real-world economy nearer 49 mpg once the battery is depleted. For drivers who can plug in at home and keep the battery topped up, though, the bulk of everyday journeys can be covered on electricity alone, keeping running costs genuinely low.
| BATTERY | 24.7 kWh |
|---|---|
| EV RANGE | 62 miles / 100 km (WLTP) |
| AC CHARGING | up to 7 kW (~4 hours) |
| DC FAST CHARGING | Not available |
Design & Interior
The S9 wears a confident, upmarket look that belies its price. The front features a large diamond-pattern grille flanked by slim, pixel-style LED headlights and a full-width light signature, while the rear gets a connected full-width LED light bar, an "MGS9 PHEV" badge and twin exhaust outlets. It's a handsome, premium-looking thing that could pass for something far pricier. Inside, the cabin is built around twin 12.3-inch screens with welcome physical switches for the climate, and higher trims lay on the luxury: a panoramic sunroof, soft leather-style upholstery with heating, ventilation and massage, three-zone climate and a BOSE sound system. For a sub-£35,000 seven-seater, it feels genuinely plush.
Technology & Features
The dashboard centres on a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital driver display, and unlike some MGs it keeps physical switches for the climate controls. There's wireless smartphone connectivity, a premium BOSE audio system on upper trims, and vehicle-to-load capability for powering external devices. The S9 also comes loaded with up to 16 driver-assistance systems, and rides on up to 20-inch alloy wheels.
Safety & ADAS
Safety is a strong point: the S9 packs up to 16 driver-assistance systems and has earned a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. The suite covers the expected autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera, making it a reassuring choice for family buyers.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2 (up to 16 systems) |
|---|---|
| SAFETY RATING | 5-star Euro NCAP |
| ADAS FEATURES | AEB, adaptive cruise, lane-keep, blind-spot, 360° camera |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | BATTERY | EV RANGE | 0-62 MPH | PRICE (UK) | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S9 PHEV Comfort | 299 PS (~295 hp) | 24.7 kWh | 62 miles | 9.6 s | £34,205 | Entry trim, full 7 seats |
| S9 PHEV Premium | 299 PS (~295 hp) | 24.7 kWh | 62 miles | 9.6 s | £36,945 | Sunroof, BOSE, massage seats, 20-inch wheels |
Pricing & Availability
The MG S9 PHEV went on sale in the UK in spring 2026, priced from £34,205 for the Comfort trim and £36,945 for the Premium. That makes it dramatically cheaper than seven-seat PHEV rivals — the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV, for example, costs around £51,885. The S9 is a rebadged version of the Roewe RX9 built by SAIC in China, and it joins a growing wave of value-focused models bringing larger, well-equipped family cars to European buyers at keen prices. It is not sold in the United States, where MG no longer operates.
How It Compares
The S9's headline is value. The Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento PHEVs are more powerful, all-wheel drive and feel more polished, but they cost roughly £15,000–£17,000 more and offer barely half the electric range. The Chery Tiggo 9 is a closer price-and-size match but still costs more. Yes, the S9 is front-drive only and lacks DC charging, but for buyers who want a big, well-equipped seven-seat plug-in hybrid with a genuinely usable 62-mile EV range — at a price normally reserved for much smaller cars — it's almost in a class of one.
- MG's first 7-seater — huge space for the money
- Class-leading 62-mile electric range for a PHEV
- Dramatically undercuts Santa Fe/Sorento PHEV rivals
- Premium-feeling cabin with BOSE audio and 5-star safety
- No DC rapid charging — AC only (~4 hours)
- Front-wheel drive only, no AWD option
- Modest 9.6s 0-62 and so-so depleted-battery economy
The MG S9 PHEV is a smart, value-led debut in the seven-seat market. It's a big, handsome, well-equipped plug-in hybrid SUV with a class-leading 62 miles of electric range and seating for seven — and it does it all from £34,205, undercutting the obvious rivals by the price of a small car. The lack of DC charging and front-wheel-drive-only layout are real compromises, and it won't out-drive a Santa Fe. But for families who want maximum space, low company-car tax and genuine electric-only commuting on a budget, the S9 is one of the most sensible buys on the market — and a sign of just how seriously MG is now taking the mainstream.
