Hard-to-ignore MGS9 could be bargain of year

MGS9 drive by Steve Rogers

Meet the seven seat MGS9, my hot contender for bargain of the year.

This is MGs most significant model since the electric MG4 and offers big family space, a shed load of equipment, decent quality, plug-in hybrid technology with a useful electric range, and a £34k price tag that undercuts just about every competitor.

I could stop here and just say go out and buy one but you deserve a little more meat on the bone.

MG was one of the first Chinese brands to reach our shores having bought the name of a famous British marque. It started slowly attracting buyers with bargain prices but the MG4 with its eye popping styling got people talking and buying.

The earliest MGs suffered reliability problems, mainly software glitches, but the company has got its act together and although it has a bit of a way to go before enjoying the reputation of the likes of Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen or Kia the order books show it is a serious player in the UK market. The HS model was the sixth best selling car in June.

Where to start? It has to be space. At almost five metres long, S9 is one of the few large SUVs capable of carrying a couple of adults in the third row. I am average height and found it roomy enough with the seat in front pushed forward a few centimetres. That still leaves enough legroom for middle row passengers.

MG has made it relatively easy to get into the back with a motor to push the middle seat forward. Sliding the seat back is easy as well. The seats fold flat for an enormous luggage or even a sleeping area, and you can configure the seats to meet your needs.

Even with five seats in place there is a whopping 1026 litres which can turn into a maximum 2093 litres. As a seven seater boot space matches most superminis.

The big selling point for Chinese brands is to load their cars with equipment, a trend pretty much started by MG. The entry Comfort highlights are heated, powered front seats, panoramic roof, 360 degree surround camera, auto dipping LED headlights, powered tailgate, wireless AppleCarplay and Android Auto, along with a substantial list of driver safety aids.

I should say the camera picture quality is not the best and if there is some way of improving the definition I could not find it. Premium grade adds leather, ventilated and massaging front seats, wireless charging and a Bose sound system.

MG has gone for a widescreen layout along the dashboard with two 12.3in screens and makes for a striking display. The driver’s binnacle offers plenty of relevant information and is easy to navigate via steering wheel buttons.

The central infotainment screen is a bit of a mixed bag. It is not difficult to find your way around but the response is not all that it should be. Too much finger dabbing just to get a result. It is the same with voice control, functions you expect to work don’t, the ‘lady’ has clearly never heard of the BBC radio stations.

Another strange glitch concerned the passenger side door mirror which tilts up rather than down when reverse is selected.

I did like the line of keys under the touchscreen for quick heating commands.

Plug-in hybrids have grown in popularity in the last year or so because of the potential to drive on purely electric. Ranges have improved across the board, shooting up from mid forties to mid eighties. The smaller MG HS can manage 75 miles and even this seven seater can return 62 miles in the right conditions, more than enough for the average daily commute.

The S9 mates a 1.6 litre petrol with a 24.7kWh battery powering an electric motor so combine the two and it has a range closing in on 700 miles. Once the battery is spent expect around 43mpg. Power delivery is good and the transition to petrol seamless.

There shouldn’t be any complaints about the ride as the suspension copes well with speed humps and potholes. This is a big car so expect some body roll but it is not excessive and anyway no one is going to be playing rally driver down back roads.

Most of the competition comes from its home country, Jaecoo and Chery pushing hard, along with the accomplished Kia Sorento. It delivers exactly what large families want and for value, low running costs and practicality S9 is difficult to ignore.

Fast facts

S9 Premium plug-in hybrid

£36,950 (starts £34,210)

1.5 litre turbo petrol + electric motor 224bhp

0-62mph 9.6secs; 124mph

42.2mpg combined

Electric range: 62 miles

18g/km. First VED £115

Boot: 332-2093 litres

Insurance group 44

Towing: 2000kg