MG S9 PHEV in Portugal: Seven-Seat Plug-in Hybrid Review and Price
Published: 24/05/2026
The MG S9 PHEV lands in the seven-seat SUV segment
A family SUV with three genuinely usable rows, 100 km of electric range, and a starting price below 40,000€ in France. The MG S9 PHEV is the brand's first attempt at a seven-seater, and it asks awkward questions of rivals like the Peugeot 5008 PHEV and the Hyundai Santa Fe. If you are looking at the MG S9 PHEV in Portugal as an expat family buyer, this is probably the most relevant launch of the year.
The recipe is familiar — MG took the HS PHEV mechanical base and stretched it to fit a third row — but the result deserves a closer look. Just under five metres long, 2.16 tonnes on the scales, a combined 299 hp and a 24.7 kWh LFP battery. All for a price that, adjusted for Portugal, should land near 42,990€ at launch. Worth unpacking what is actually on the table.
MG S9 PHEV specs: what the hybrid system delivers
The S9 runs the same powertrain MG already proved in the HS PHEV, now adapted to move a bigger, heavier SUV. A 1.5-litre Miller-cycle turbo petrol with 143 hp pairs with a 231 hp electric motor for a combined 299 hp and 0-100 km/h in 9.6 seconds. Drive goes to the front wheels only, via a dedicated two-speed automatic for the electric side.
Battery is LFP chemistry — 24.7 kWh gross, 23.2 kWh usable. MG quotes 100 km WLTP electric range, a strong figure for the class, and French road tests confirmed roughly 87 km in real mixed driving with some motorway. With the battery depleted, hybrid-mode fuel economy averages 6.8 L/100 km mixed and rises to 9 L/100 km on the motorway. CO₂ sits between 18 and 54 g/km depending on the cycle.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 4.98 m |
| Wheelbase | 2.92 m |
| Kerb weight | 2,160 kg |
| Petrol engine | 1.5 turbo Miller, 143 hp / 230 Nm |
| Electric motor | 231 hp / 390 Nm |
| Combined power | 299 hp |
| Battery (LFP) | 24.7 kWh gross / 23.2 kWh usable |
| WLTP electric range | 100 km / 62 miles |
| Real-world electric range | around 87 km |
| Mixed fuel use (empty battery) | 6.8 L/100 km |
| Fuel tank | 65 L |
| 0-100 km/h | 9.6 s |
| Top speed | 200 km/h |
| Braked towing | 2,000 kg |
| Euro NCAP | 5 stars |
AC-only charging: the compromise you have to accept
This is the S9's most obvious trade-off. There is no DC fast charging. The onboard charger tops out at 11 kW AC in mainland Europe (7 kW in the UK), which means roughly three to four hours from zero to 100% on a home wallbox. A standard 230 V household socket pushes that to around 11 hours.
If you have a wallbox and charge overnight, none of this matters — you leave each morning on a full battery, and 100 km WLTP is enough for the daily commutes most Portuguese families do. If you would rely on public rapid chargers for long trips, the S9 is not the right car. Worth remembering that this is the PHEV norm — the Peugeot 5008 and Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV do not take DC either.
Interior and packaging: a real third row
The first thing that sets the S9 apart from its European rivals is the third row. Adults fit back there, not just kids with folded knees. The 2.92 m wheelbase and almost five-metre length allow what the Peugeot 5008 cannot quite manage: three usable rows without giving up the boot entirely.
Boot space follows the segment script. With all seven seats up, you get 332 litres — enough for a couple of cabin bags. Drop the third row and it climbs to 557 litres on the French measure, or 1,026 litres up to the roof on the UK measure. Fold the second row too and you exceed 2,000 litres. Braked towing capacity is 2,000 kg, which makes the S9 viable for medium trailers and weekend caravan duty.
Standard equipment is generous: two 12.3-inch screens, tri-zone climate, panoramic roof, 360-degree camera, 20-inch wheels, physical climate controls (yes, still here), and USB-C ports across all three rows. The Premium trim adds a Bose system, ventilated and massaging seats, wireless charging, and leatherette upholstery. One important caveat: Isofix points are only on the outer second-row seats — nothing in the third row.
MG S9 PHEV price in Portugal: where it lands
In France, the S9 starts at 39,990€ for the Comfort trim and 41,990€ for the Premium, with a launch promotion bringing the Premium down to 37,990€. UK pricing is £34,205 to £36,495. For Portugal, expect a launch sticker near 42,990€, with the usual adjustments for tax and standard kit.
For context, here is how the S9 stacks up against the seven-seat PHEV options most visible in our market:
| Model | Approx. EU base price | WLTP EV range | Genuine 7 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| MG S9 PHEV | from about 40,000€ | 100 km | yes |
| Peugeot 5008 PHEV | 45,190€ | lower | tight |
| Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV | 51,650€ | around 60 km | yes |
| Skoda Kodiaq | 39,000€ (petrol) | no 7-seat PHEV | n/a |
| Lexus TX 450h+ | over 70,000€ | around 50 km | yes |
The pricing case writes itself — the S9 delivers a true seven-seat configuration with a usable third row, electric range well above 60-90 km, and generous kit at a number that, in the Santa Fe's case, undercuts the rival by almost 10,000€. For the Portuguese tax side, PHEVs benefit from a reduced ISV (the one-off vehicle registration tax) and, depending on the homologated CO₂ figure for Portugal, the S9 should sit in a friendly band for annual IUC (road tax).
Warranty, reliability and what is missing
MG keeps leaning on the warranty argument: 7 years or 80,000 miles in the UK, on par with Kia and ahead of Peugeot. That matters in a model that, being MG's first seven-seat PHEV, has no track record yet. MG itself finished last out of 30 brands in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey, which is worth keeping in mind.
On safety, the Euro NCAP rating is the full five stars — better than the Peugeot 5008, which scored four the same year. AEB, lane keeping, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring are standard. What is missing, though, are some details a family SUV really should have: a heated steering wheel, DC fast charging, and more USB-C ports in the third row.
Frequently Asked Questions
The MG S9 PHEV launched in France and the UK during the first half of 2026, and Portuguese dealer availability is expected within 2026. MG Portugal should announce official dates and a final price list shortly before deliveries begin, with the first cars likely reaching customers in the second half of the year.
In France the S9 PHEV starts at 39,990€ for the Comfort trim and 41,990€ for the Premium, with a launch promotion bringing the Premium down to 37,990€. For Portugal, after ISV and IUC adjustments, expect a launch sticker around 42,990€ — roughly 9,000€ below the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV (51,650€) and over 2,000€ below the Peugeot 5008 PHEV (45,190€).
MG quotes 100 km WLTP of electric range, supported by a 24.7 kWh gross LFP battery (23.2 kWh usable). French road tests recorded around 87 km in real mixed driving including motorway sections — enough to cover most Portuguese families' daily commutes without burning any petrol.
The MG S9 PHEV only accepts AC charging — there is no DC fast charging. On an 11 kW home wallbox (the European standard) a full 0-100% charge takes about 3 to 4 hours, and around 11 hours on a regular 230 V household socket. That is fine for overnight charging at home, but anyone relying on public rapid chargers for long trips will find this the car's main limitation.
The MG S9 PHEV offers nearly 100 km WLTP of electric range versus around 60 km for the Santa Fe PHEV, at an estimated Portuguese price roughly 9,000€ lower. Both have a usable third row, but the Santa Fe still has the edge on proven reliability and dealer network, while the S9 counters with a longer warranty (7 years / 80,000 miles in the UK) and more generous standard equipment for the money.
Is the MG S9 PHEV worth waiting for in Portugal?
For a family that wants a plug-in hybrid SUV with seven real seats, enough electric range to handle daily urban driving on battery alone, and a price tag well below the 50,000€ Hyundai is asking for the Santa Fe PHEV, the S9 is hard to ignore. The AC-only charging will weigh on anyone who does long trips with short stops — in that case a full EV like the Kia EV9 is a better fit. For everyone else, keep an eye on the final Portuguese pricing and dealer rollout dates.