MG expands HS Plus EV range with Excite variant

MG MOTOR Australia has added a new variant to its HS Plus EV range with the introduction of the mid-tier Excite.

Priced from $46,990 drive-away – it undercuts the asking price of the top-spec derivative by just $2000 – the petrol-electric hybrid SUV features the same driveline and safety technology as found in the high-grade HS Plus EV Essence, but with marginally fewer features.

MG Motor Australia and New Zealand CEO Peter Ciao said the new variant was meant to offer customers greater choice and value for money.

“The new MG HS Plus EV Excite is perfect for the modern family that is ready to take its first step into EV technology and do its part to help the planet. It has plenty of room, plenty of performance and, most importantly, plenty of flexibility,” Mr Ciao said.

“MG Motor Australia is committed to giving its customers more choice by combining high-performance technology and exceptional value,” he added.

As reported by GoAuto last month, the HS Plus EV Excite comes with 17-inch alloy wheels (with repair kit “spare”), “London Eye” LED daytime running lights and taillights, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment with native satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a six-speaker 3D surround sound audio system.

The mid-sized five-seat SUV also includes, as standard, dusk-sensing halogen headlights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and push-button start, an electronic park brake, metal-faced pedals, a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, leather-look trim and dual-zone climate control.

Like the HS Plus EV Essence, the Excite is equipped with the full suite of MG Pilot safety technologies, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot detection, forward-collision warning, intelligent headlight control, intelligent speed-assist system, lane-assist system, rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic-jam assist.

The newcomer is powered by MG’s direct-injected 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, which is paired to an electric motor. With a total system output of 189kW and 370Nm, the MG HS Plus EV Excite is claimed to have a combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of just 1.7 litres per 100km. CO2 emissions are listed at 39 grams per kilometre.

Courtesy of its liquid-cooled 16.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack, MG says the HS Plus EV Excite can travel up to 63km on electric power alone. Like the top-spec Essence, the new Excite is said to have a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.9 seconds.

The HS Plus Excite is available in four colours: Phantom Red, New Pearl White, Sterling Silver and Clipper Blue, the last of which is the only paint colour to not attract a $700 price premium.

All MG passenger vehicles are backed by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and capped-price servicing program.

To the end of January, MG had sold 3538 units nationally. Its MG 3 topped the Light Car segment with 1551 unit sales (a 38.7% share of the segment), while 399 units of the mid-sized HS SUV (3.2%) and 1588 units of the strong-selling ZS SUV (16.4%) were registered.

The MG HS Plus EV Excite is on sale now.

2022 MG HS Plus EV pricing*:

*National drive-away price.