2023 Kia Niro Hybrid Electric v MG HS +EV

By Alex Forrest

What better place to introduce low emissions vehicle technology than one of the country’s most popular categories: small SUVs.

But with the pricing of electric-only vehicles still out of reach for many, the next best options are hybrids.

The choice of hybrid vehicles among small SUVs continues to increase, which stands to make electrified motoring more accessible than the current crop of available pure EVs could otherwise manage by themselves.

The additional asset these vehicles have which is far less often mentioned is that the hybrid version is typically sprightlier to drive than the petrol-only version.

As well as reduced emissions, the perkier performance of these vehicles may well help get buyers over the line and onto the middle ground that sits between petrol-only and pure electric.

Here, we take a look at two hybrid flavours – the MG HS EV plug-in hybrid and the Kia Niro HEV, which is a non-plug-in hybrid.

Value for money

With drive away pricing for the Kia Niro HEV and MG HS +EV so similar at $49,828 and $49,690 respectively, you might expect that the features you get with them are also quite similar.

But there are important differences, some of which you can find by checking online, and some which aren’t obvious until you spend some time with each of them.

Most notably, the MG HS +EV is a plug-in hybrid, meaning it has a 16.6kWh battery that you can charge from a plug in the wall and then drive short distances in electric-only mode.

The Kia Niro HEV has a much smaller battery (1.32 kWh) and it is not able to be charged from an external source, but you don’t have to plug it in to get the best out of it either.

On the road

There is also a significant difference in the power outputs of the MG and the Kia, but for most buyers of small SUVs, that won’t be a critical factor.

The MG, with its turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine assisted by an electric motor, has a combined 189kW available to send to the front wheels. The Kia’s 1.6-litre non-turbo engine and electric motor combine to make 104kW.

The MG has a plush and compliant ride, but as such its handling is therefore less sporty compared to the Kia’s tauter suspension set up.

With its much bigger battery, the MG takes advantage of its electric drive capability from standstill and delivers strong acceleration. However, if you do not recharge it every day, it’ll become a regular hybrid dragging around an extra-heavy battery, increasing fuel consumption.

Safety and Practicality

While petrol-only MG HS models do carry a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, the plug-in hybrid version shown here (the +EV) is not included in the rating and therefore does not carry a rating. All variants of the Kia Niro have 5-star safety ratings.

The Niro’s advanced infotainment system is far more user friendly than the MG’s, which is laggy in response to button pushes and lacks the more practical rotary controls for commonly used features like the audio volume control and ventilation fan speed.

Charging the MG’s battery using the vehicle’s dedicated cable and a normal power outlet is easy and takes about eight hours from empty.

Verdict

The MG HS +EV is an affordable way to own a small plug-in hybrid SUV that you can drive mostly on electricity, providing you commit to charging it virtually every day that you use it. It’ll go about 60km on the battery alone. But the Kia Niro HEV is the more refined, better handling vehicle, with a vastly superior infotainment system, still reasonable fuel economy and a current ANCAP safety rating.