MG HS range-topper due in April, PHEV coming in 2021

The MG HS range will gain a top-spec model this year, followed by more powerful all-wheel drive and hybrid models in February 2021.

Next month marks the arrival of a flagship Essence trim for the HS, which goes head-to-head with the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4.

It will be powered by the same turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine as the existing HS Vibe and Excite, producing 124kW and 250Nm.

The range-topping model gains features already available in China, including a panoramic glass roof and surround-view camera.

The HS Essence will also feature powered front sport seats with heating, as well as a bold red interior option.

A pair of new powertrains will follow in the footsteps of the range-topping Essence when they arrive in February 2021.

The first of the two is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinderengine, producing 172kW and 370Nm, mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

While the smaller ZS will soon be available with a battery-electric variant, MG will instead introduce a plug-in hybrid version of the HS.

The e-HS, as it’s known in other markets, mates a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine to a 90kW electric motor and a 16.6kWh lithium-ion battery.

Power is delivered to the front wheels only via a 10-speed automatic transmission.

MG claims a combined 217kW and 480Nm, while the hybrid system makes the HS 200kg heavier than the internal-combustion model.

Toyota and Mitsubishi offer hybrid version of their mid-sized SUVs, with Ford soon to follow.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Ford Escape PHEV feature similar setups to the e-HS, while the RAV4 is a more conventional series hybrid.

The RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV are all-wheel drive, unlike the front-drive only e-HS.