About to take the plunge and get the HS 2025 PHEV

[markfrost39]

Hi

We have test driven the HS PHEV a couple of times now, and really liked it. So we are going to get one.

Any do's and dont's, tips etc that you can recommend?

Its also my first time having an EV, so also need to get a charger etc. Any recommendations on compatible chargers and tariffs?

Cheers

Mark

 

[HStrophyPHEV2025rc]

Hi Mark,
First of all, before you pick up your car, ask the dealer to make sure that the software version is the latest (probably R62). Otherwise, a couple of the features (such as this one Are star buttons fixed yet?) will not work.

• For more details, see here: 2025 HS PHEV Software Versions, Issues and Fixes

Next, I would think about signing up for a service plan, to fix your costs.

• More details here: Service costs

One thing that almost caught me out (when I first got the car) is that I did not realise that the front parking sensors do not activate automatically (except under very specific circumstances). So my best advice is to 'swipe down' on the entertainment console, and press 'Parking sensor' button (to enable them) before parking front-facing in any car park space. Don't assume that you can keep driving forward slowly forever!

• More details here: 2025 hs front parking sensors

++++++++++++++++++
On the topic of EV charging, I was a complete newbie myself until 6 weeks ago. For what it's worth, here's my two cents:

• You will receive a cable for public chargers (comes with the car), but not a 'granny charger' (3 pin plug)
• Unless you have a 'full' electric car, I don't think you need a 'proper' electric charger. For PHEVs, I think a granny charger is sufficient
• Assuming you agree with the granny charger way forward, you'll need to purchase one of course. There are loads of no-brand options on Amazon. Almost all are 13-amp
  • However, I read somewhere that unless your house's electrics are 100% perfect, there's a risk of fire if you keep a 13-amp current for many hours on the run, so people recommend 10amp
  • So I went for a "Masterplug EV Charging Cable, 5 Metres, Mode 2, 3 Pin UK Plug to Type 2 Car Charger, 2.4kW, EVCM221005". Very pleased with it
• Assuming you agree, then you're limited to 10amp, which equates to adding about 45% charge (approx 30 real-world miles) in 5 hours
  • So long as you only drive a maximum of 30 miles per day, you should never need to charge it for more than 5 hours per day, or visit a petrol station!
• If you need an extension cable, then I purchased one from 'ToughLeads'
  • They are not cheap, but they seem to be built bullet-proof, and I have no regrets on purchasing a 10 metre "EV granny charger 13A weatherproof extension lead with In-line RCD"
• You will want to get your electricity tariff moved to an EV tariff.
  • I certainly am not an expert about which is best, so take my advice with 3 spoons of salt
  • However, I did some finger-in-the-air calculation, and I decided to go with the EDF GoElectric tariff, which gives me 5 hours of cheap (9p per kWh) electricity per day (12am-5am). This is good enough for my needs!
    • Therefore I can add approx 30 miles of EV range for £1 per night
  • Then just configure your car to schedule charge only between 12am and 5am, and you're good to go!

++++++++++++++++++

Hope this is helpful!

 

[markfrost39]

Hi Mark,
First of all, before you pick up your car, ask the dealer to make sure that the software version is the latest (probably R62). Otherwise, a couple of the features (such as this one Are star buttons fixed yet?) will not work.

• For more details, see here: 2025 HS PHEV Software Versions, Issues and Fixes

Next, I would think about signing up for a service plan, to fix your costs.

• More details here: Service costs

One thing that almost caught me out (when I first got the car) is that I did not realise that the front parking sensors do not activate automatically (except under very specific circumstances). So my best advice is to 'swipe down' on the entertainment console, and press 'Parking sensor' button (to enable them) before parking front-facing in any car park space. Don't assume that you can keep driving forward slowly forever!

• More details here: 2025 hs front parking sensors

++++++++++++++++++
On the topic of EV charging, I was a complete newbie myself until 6 weeks ago. For what it's worth, here's my two cents:

• You will get a cable for public chargers, but not a 'granny charger' (3 pin plug)
• Unless you have a 'full' electric car, I don't think you need a 'proper' electric charger. For PHEVs, I think a granny charger is sufficient
• Assuming you agree with the granny charger way forward, you'll need to get one of course. There are loads of no-brand options on Amazon. Almost all are 13-amp
  • However, I read somewhere that unless your house's electrics are 100% perfect, there's a risk of fire if you keep a 13-amp current for many hours on the run, so people recommend 10amp
  • So I went for a "Masterplug EV Charging Cable, 5 Metres, Mode 2, 3 Pin UK Plug to Type 2 Car Charger, 2.4kW, EVCM221005". Very pleased with it
• Assuming you agree, then you're limited to 10amp, which equates to adding about 45% charge (approx 30 real-world miles) in 5 hours
  • So long as you only drive a maximum of 30 miles per day, you should never need to charge it for more than 5 hours per day, or visit a petrol station!
• If you need an extension cable, then I purchased one from 'ToughLeads'
  • They are not cheap, but they seem to be built bullet-proof, and I have no regrets on purchasing a 10 metre "EV granny charger 13A weatherproof extension lead with In-line RCD"
• You will want to get your electricity tariff moved to an EV tariff.
  • I certainly am not an expert about which is best, so take my advice with 3 spoons of salt
  • However, I did some finger-in-the-air calculation, and I decided to go with the EDF GoElectric tariff, which gives me 5 hours of cheap (9p per kWh) electricity per day (12am-5am). This is good enough for my needs!
    • Therefore I can add approx 30 miles of EV range for £1 per night
  • Then just configure your car to schedule charge only between 12am and 5am, and you're good to go!

++++++++++++++++++

Hope this is helpful!

Yes, it really helps, thanks!!

I will take a look at everything that you have mentioned

 

[SRP1]

Negotiate with your dealer for a granny charger. My cat wasn’t properly polished on collection and had to go back in for correction. I asked for a granny charger as compensation and they agreed!

 

[salty]

To the forum, Mark.

 

[Daftvader]

Hi All
Like Mark am taking the plunge getting a Trophy hs phev in white mid July currently have a 2020 Kia Niro Phev and wanted something with a bigger boot which the hs supplies.the big bonus is the 75 miles ev range as my niro is about 33 miles.Did also look at the Dacia bigger full hybrid as have had dusters in the past and was very impressed.However once i had a test drive of the hs phev it was to say game changer in looks and interior finish.looking forward to next month.

 

[DickBrowne]

Two thoughts on this - firstly, the granny charger. I never really use mine, but I did negotiate it into my initial purchase, and the dealer were happy to do this (also, floor mats, which I find more useful).

We have a wall charger at home, so don’t need the granny charger here, but may need it for my wife’s full-ev Mini if we ever use that for family visits. We do, in fact, now three granny chargers, somehow.

Anyway, second thing. Service pack. Is it worth it? Oh yes, but should you just take it from your dealer at handover time? Oh no, definitely not.

I bought my service pack from the MG website, not from my supplying dealer, and it was significantly cheaper, and the services are still delivered by the supplying dealer.

Final thought - keep a good relationship with the sales person you are dealing with at your dealer. My car has needed a couple of re-visits to have issues investigated and the salesman was able to get the car in more quickly than I could by calling the service dept.

It’s a little quirky at times, and the software definitely feels “in progress” rather than complete, but my mate’s BYD and my wife’s Mini are similar.

 

[markfrost39]

Thanks everyone. It is being delivered 17th July, so really looking forward to getting it

 

[adeace]

so now the final question - how much have you guys managed to haggle the dealer down to for purchase, and have you gone outright purchase or PCP / something else ?

I managed 30K on the nose for HS PHEV Trophy in Tri Colour Red - happy with my negotiating skills !! just then got shafted by OVO with them cancelling my anytime chRGING on my OHme charger but thats a whole other argument !!

 

[markfrost39]

so now the final question - how much have you guys managed to haggle the dealer down to for purchase, and have you gone outright purchase or PCP / something else ?

I managed 30K on the nose for HS PHEV Trophy in Tri Colour Red - happy with my negotiating skills !! just then got shafted by OVO with them cancelling my anytime chRGING on my OHme charger but thats a whole other argument !!

I’ve actually chosen to lease this time. Got a really good fully maintained price

 

[smeagme]

Hi All
Like Mark am taking the plunge getting a Trophy hs phev in white mid July currently have a 2020 Kia Niro Phev and wanted something with a bigger boot which the hs supplies.the big bonus is the 75 miles ev range as my niro is about 33 miles.Did also look at the Dacia bigger full hybrid as have had dusters in the past and was very impressed.However once i had a test drive of the hs phev it was to say game changer in looks and interior finish.looking forward to next month.

 

[MG Clive]

Please try again @smeagme, there's nothing in your post apart from the previous quote.

 

[smeagme]

Very late to this post, but thought I should drop in and say hi to the forum. As hopping some of you may help with my Q's since i just picked up my new HS PHEV (Trophy Black) yesterday! I am so happy, coming my trusty 17 year old Ford Focus which has done us well. But after dipping my toe into a hired plug in over Sep for my bday to Scotland, I honestly found it difficult to return to my Ford, so my wife and I decided on a new plugin.

So only completed ~20 miles in the HS (Trophy Black trim) from the dealer back home and grinning from ear to ear all the way home, while I had my tunes pumping through the incredible sound system. Yet to really stretch her legs on a planned journey, but so much to learn about the Infotainment System, which is incredible. I see why people moan about the 'bings & bongs' - they are not far off, as I only completed ~20miles, the annoyance level was getting to me, especially hitting the speed limits. I suppose the reason for the NCAP 5-star rating, which I had no idea until someone looking at the same model told me! Ironically, my old ford, when you hit 70, you know you were traveling at 70, no need for all the tech - but as my wife said, she feels so much safer in the HS than the Ford. Sorry for the ramble, new car giddiness, hopefully it will ware off (or not).

Right, I digress, Questions...

MG provided a Type 2 cable - (I've purchased a standard 3-pin 'granny charger' from Amazon - currently on special...
EV Charger Cable Type 2 to 3 Pin Plug 6m [6-10A] Current Adjustable Portable Electric Car Charger with 0-12h Time Delay, IP66, Type 2 Charging Cable for EV & PHEV

Did not get floor mats, is this standard - did not realise until getting home?

The car came included with Gardx protection - which cleaning materials, soaps and cloth would be okay to use? Been told not to clean until a week later to ensure it settles on the car. Its was raining yesterday, so its cool to see the rain bead off the car.

I suppose, not much else other than getting to grips with the entertainment system and all its bells and whistles under the hood, I am an IT Technical engineer, so I will feel very much at home

~ Brendon

 

[MG Clive]

Hi Brendon, welcome to the forum, MG don't automatically supply floor mats with a new car, the Dealer might throw them in with the deal if you push for them.

 

[salty]

To the forum. Glad your enjoying your new MG.

 

[HStrophyPHEV2025rc]

@smeagme - In case it is helpful, I bought 'official' car mats (MG part number SAC1200208) from an MG dealer. Cost me £70.
Here's a picture of someone else (lillipopman) who clearly has official mats too, so you can see what they look like in his car:

For more of his advice/feedback see here: Fitting New car mats

They do seem to be of good quality, and I do not regret buying them. However, I have to say that they do not come with a nice MG logo - they just say "HS PHEV" - so they are not exactly 'stylish'. Also, rotating the 2 clamps that hold them in (which you can just see one of them in the picture above) is not easy (very stiff).
=> Even if you purchase official mats, you get this problem (that others have reported in this forum).

So (taking it all into consideration) if I could do it again then I would be tempted to just purchase generic (unofficial) £30 car mats that are designed to fit the MG HS car, but not made by MG.
- That said, I'd probably just pay the extra £40 and but the 'official' ones, because they do seem to be of good quality (even if they are plain to look at!)

 

[BarrieG]

I bought my mats from carmats4u.com with the optional orange piping round the edge to match the seat stitching. Really sets it off nicely.
I do wish that I had gone for a higher quality version as the driver's mat is looking grubby due to my lifestyle.
I went for the second of the four quality levels.
Having the brand logo or model name is also an option.

 

[MG Clive]

Having the brand logo or model name is also an option.

Or even BarrieG HS PHEV on the drivers mat for just a fiver if you wanted.

 

[smeagme]

thanks all, gone with the official matts which @HStrophyPHEV2025rc mentioned, elbeit a little pricey but they are on sale, at £66.

​

 

[HStrophyPHEV2025rc]

@smeagme - The next thing you'll want is a boot liner. Here's a thread with several people's thoughts (including mine): Boot mat / Liner