The hybrid vehicle market has changed forever as new technologies and newcomers reshape the world of green driving.
Gasoline-electric hybrids have been around since the arrival of a little-known small car, the Honda Insight, Down Under in 2001. Since then, Toyota has done the heavy lifting, starting with the original Prius and expanding to a full range of hybrid offerings that will soon extend to the LandCruiser.
But now there’s a dramatic shift in the landscape as plug-in hybrids, dubbed “super hybrids” by some of the major new car brands, are increasingly coming onto the market, holding the promise of true freedom in electric driving.
A battery range of more than 100 km is considered the starting point for these super hybrids and in combination with an efficient internal combustion engine (ICE), a total range of at least 800 km – and much more – is not uncommon.
These plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) get their name from the fact that their batteries can be charged from a household outlet, rather than relying solely on an on-board generator like a plugless hybrid.
In the fiercely competitive midsize SUV market where so many families do their shopping, the hybrid revolution has also sparked a new kind of showroom battle.
The Toyota RAV4 is still the benchmark, a position proven every month by official sales data and consistently long wait times, but the MG HS now mounts a solid challenge.
The MG HS Super Hybrid is helping to rewrite the rules for families looking to take a big step on the green path to the future. With a claimed EV range of 120km on a fully charged battery, it makes a compelling case for the best of the EV world and the ICE world.
How much?
Hybrids have never been the cheapest option in a model range, but MG is changing the game by placing a much greater emphasis on its petrol-electric rivals, including the super hybrid-powered HS Essence.
At $52,990 per car it’s extremely competitive, in a HS range that starts at $33,990 per car.
The first of the regular HS Hybrid models costs $42,990 drive-alone and is a serious price contender with its 1.5-liter engine and Excite trim level. And that’s without MG’s regular discount offers.
It’s the $55,990 drive-away price of the flagship MG HS Essence Super Hybrid that frames this competition with the all-wheel-drive hybrid RAV4 Cruiser, even though the Toyota isn’t a plug-in hybrid because its sticker prices are so similar.
The total price for the RAV4 Cruiser AWD is $54,410, but before on-road costs. A new-generation RAV4 is just around the corner and will feature plug-in hybrid powertrain options for the first time. But there will also be steep price increases across the board.
So for now, we’ll focus on comparing the new MG HS with the soon-to-be-superseded RAV4, of which there is still plenty of stock available ahead of the arrival of the new hybrid model by the end of March, followed by the launch of the PHEV in the third quarter of 2026.
What do you get?
The Cruiser badge sits at the top of the RAV4 range and is equipped with extensive equipment, including a standard sunroof – which is also fitted to the MG – as well as nine speakers in the sound system and partial leather seat trim.
On other fronts, the MG has the edge. It has larger alloy wheels (19 inches) as well as an electrically opening tailgate and a 360-degree camera system.
For many people, it is important that it has the larger infotainment screen (12.3 inches) and offers electric adjustment of the passenger seat.
But overall both are extremely well equipped and have the following features:
- Keyless entry/push button start
- Automatic LED headlights
- Heated, electrically folding exterior mirrors
- Satellite navigation
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wireless phone charger
- Heated electric front seats
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Rear privacy glass
- 60:40 split/folding rear seats
Are you sure?
Both models feature a benchmark five-star ANCAP rating and a full range of advanced driver assistance systems. But…
Officially, and despite being rated under the 2024 protocols, the MG HS rating only applies to non-hybrid versions of the HS. It’s unlikely that things will be different for the super hybrids, but it’s still worth noting.
It’s similar but different with the RAV4, which was already tested in 2019. Since then, ANCAP testing protocols have changed significantly.
The Toyota doesn’t have the latest driver assistance systems, while the MG has lane change assist, speed limit assist and a driver attention monitor.
However, both are well equipped with standard safety equipment including:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind spot monitoring
- Lane keeping assistant
- Speed limit assistant
- Rear cross traffic warning
How are they inside?
Both the HS and RAV4 are comfortable and very well equipped. There’s plenty of storage space and a variety of USB ports, while dual-zone air conditioning provides even more comfort.
With an all-new model about to hit showrooms, the Toyota is now showing its age, and the obvious clue to this is the undersized infotainment touchscreen and its location. Compared to the more modern and better integrated sweep of the MG’s dual-screen digital display across the dashboard, it seems more like an afterthought.
The HS’s round steering wheel also makes the cabin look more modern as both the top and bottom edges are flattened, improving space and visibility.
But the RAV has what it needs, and the workmanship is as good as you’d expect from a Toyota. Operation of all switches is positive and confident, whereas the MGs can feel a bit flimsy.
The design of the front seats is good in both cars and the two rear seats are well suited for family driving and also offer additional flexibility with the 60:40 split/folding function.
What’s under the hood?
Both the Toyota and the MG still have a conventional combustion engine at their heart.
The RAV4 is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine powered by an 88 kW electric motor and paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. It’s primarily front-wheel drive, but there’s a 40kW on-demand motor that powers the rear wheels when needed – not that it’s remotely a serious off-roader.
With a total output of 163kW and 221Nm of torque, the RAV4 can move away from the lights briskly and the transition from electric to combustion engine is generally not noticeable.
Toyota claims a combined fuel consumption of 4.8 l/100 km and average CO2 emissions of 109 g/km.
According to MG, the Super Hybrid system in the HS consumes just 0.7L/100km, largely thanks to the electric vehicle’s extended range, and CO2 emissions are correspondingly low at just 17g/km.
The HS combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 155kW electric motor, delivering a solid total output of 220kW and 350Nm, even on regular unleaded petrol. The PHEV drivetrain only drives the front wheels on the MG.
Key to the electrical components is the relatively large 24.7 kWh battery, which MG says can be charged in 7.3 hours using a standard household socket. Like most PHEVs, the battery is not designed for DC fast charging.
Operating costs
The big difference between the RAV4 and the HS Super Hybrid here depends on how the MG is used. For most people, if the battery is fully charged on a regular basis, it will essentially become a pure electric vehicle most of the time. Various research shows that the average commute in Australia is around 40km per day and the HS has a claimed battery range of 120km.
Although the RAV4, like all Toyota hybrids, has limited electric capability, both rivals run short on fuel when running primarily on their petrol engines, although the MG once again comes out on top with a claimed total range of more than 1000km.
The RAV4 comes with the standard Toyota warranty (five years and unlimited kilometers) and service intervals of 12 months or 15,000 km. The service cost at the maximum price is approximately $1,300 throughout the warranty period.
The HS Super Hybrid comes with a seven-year, unlimited kilometer warranty as standard, although – like a growing number of brands looking to retain their owners – this can be extended to ten years and 250,000km through servicing at the MG dealer network.
The battery in the HS Super Hybrid comes with a similar seven-year warranty, and while MG doesn’t quote service costs for the vehicle’s full warranty period, it does say there are 12-month service offers available.
The choice of Daily Sparkz
In the end, this competition comes down to a comparison between the past, present and future. The RAV4 Hybrid is the past, the HS Super Hybrid is the future, and yet both have a solid and successful presence in the present – where plug-in hybrid powertrains have the advantage in terms of both technology and operating costs.
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The MG is a significant step forward for anyone who wants to drive more purely electrically without sacrificing the safety of the petrol drive.
It’s no wonder Toyota is looking to get in on the PHEV action with its most popular model, and that will be the case when the all-new RAV4 becomes available with plug-in hybrid power for the first time later this year.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but until then the MG HS Super Hybrid wins this competition and continues to represent great value.
MORE: Explore the MG HS showroom
MORE: Explore the Toyota RAV4 showroom
