Swipe down menu I didn’t know it was there….

[fx860e]

Firstly, sorry if I’m only showing what you may already know, but I’ve noticed some are saying about the bings and bongs and the many menus that people say they have to go through to turn them off for every journey. I accidentally found this menu by swiping down by mistake on the home screen that give a way to ‘unlock’ the mg pilot custom settings by pushing and holding the button in this menu.
Only found it by accident and thought I’d share…..

 

[Totti1001]

That's right, but unfortunately this only applies to the new HS models from mid-2025 (MY25.5) onwards. These can be recognised by their USB C ports and wireless Android Auto/CarPlay. However, most people here, myself included, still have the first series of the HS from 2024, and unfortunately this feature is not yet available. We hope that we will get it too, but given MG's update policy, I have my doubts... But who knows, maybe MG will surprise me in a positive way.

 

[fx860e]

That's right, but unfortunately this only applies to the new HS models from mid-2025 (MY25.5) onwards. These can be recognised by their USB C ports and wireless Android Auto/CarPlay. However, most people here, myself included, still have the first series of the HS from 2024, and unfortunately this feature is not yet available. We hope that we will get it too, but given MG's update policy, I have my doubts... But who knows, maybe MG will surprise me in a positive way.

Thanks for that, now I understand why it’s missing in the manual that is on the app, I’ve noticed quite a few differences in the manual and what’s on menu, only small differences but noticeable.
Can I ask, on the previous model do you have a ‘battery hold’ button to force petrol only feature, and save the battery, and also a screen that shows the way the power is being distributed? It just that the dealer was trying to find them as well, he was sure they were there but couldn’t find them.

 

[Totti1001]

I'm not sure I understand your question correctly. The HS PHEV does not have a battery hold function. My Ford Kuga PHEV had such a function.
The HS only has EV and HEV modes. In EV mode, it runs on electric power until the battery is empty. Unless you kick down or drive faster than 130 km/h on the motorway. Then the combustion engine kicks in. If there is enough battery power, it switches off again when the combustion engine reaches operating temperature.
In HEV mode, it tries to maintain a battery level of around 50% and then switches back on again and again. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be a very intelligent solution. Mine sometimes switches on the combustion engine at 70 or 80%, even though no power is required.
There is also a graphic to show how you are currently driving. Unfortunately, it is also very minimalistic and not very informative.

 

[Beng30]

I'm not sure I understand your question correctly. The HS PHEV does not have a battery hold function. My Ford Kuga PHEV had such a function.
The HS only has EV and HEV modes. In EV mode, it runs on electric power until the battery is empty. Unless you kick down or drive faster than 130 km/h on the motorway. Then the combustion engine kicks in. If there is enough battery power, it switches off again when the combustion engine reaches operating temperature.
In HEV mode, it tries to maintain a battery level of around 50% and then switches back on again and again. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be a very intelligent solution. Mine sometimes switches on the combustion engine at 70 or 80%, even though no power is required.
There is also a graphic to show how you are currently driving. Unfortunately, it is also very minimalistic and not very informative.

This is not my experience at all and seeing it propagated in other groups on social media, I drive exclusively in HEV mode and unless i put my foot down it will use EV power until i get down to about 8/9 miles then it will kick the ICE in, power the drive and top up the battery a little then kick off again. To this end i've travelled 1500 miles since i last put any fuel in, £30, of which i have about £10 left (roughly from expected range). If this wasn't the case then the HEV mode would be completely pointless? Why ask it to maintain over 50% electric range. Yes the graphic is minimalistic but clear, its shows the power transfer back and forth and when/if the ICE is running and where that power is going.

You are correct however that it has no hold function to "maintain" a battery % for if you was doing a motorway drive for instance and then wanted to preserve some EV range for urban driving nearer destination.

 

[Totti1001]

I don't doubt that either. As I already wrote, and as you can read, it's the same for many others.
It's also important to remember that some vehicles have different software versions. You may have a different one than I do, which explains the differences.
People often refer to the Rxx version, which everyone can check for themselves on their display. However, this software basically only has to do with the infotainment system. The HS Phev has around 15-20 control units for a wide variety of tasks. Unfortunately, MG is finding it very difficult to update these to the latest version. Updates are only made when faults are reported. Improvements (unless they are safety-related) are usually only made if you pay for them or have a good garage.
My car was in the garage for 7 days in December, just for an update. I then requested the update logs and could see that many control units were not up to date.

 

[Beng30]

I don't doubt that either. As I already wrote, and as you can read, it's the same for many others.
It's also important to remember that some vehicles have different software versions. You may have a different one than I do, which explains the differences.
People often refer to the Rxx version, which everyone can check for themselves on their display. However, this software basically only has to do with the infotainment system. The HS Phev has around 15-20 control units for a wide variety of tasks. Unfortunately, MG is finding it very difficult to update these to the latest version. Updates are only made when faults are reported. Improvements (unless they are safety-related) are usually only made if you pay for them or have a good garage.
My car was in the garage for 25 days in December, just for an update. I then requested the update logs and could see that many control units were not up to date.

Hence why i said in my experience where as you stated as fact, as you say there are also others even within this forum that have also experienced both sides. I am fortunate in that i appear to have the latest version of the PHEV as was a late 2025 plate with wireless carplay and USB-C which would also likely be the same are the OP as they also have the MG Pilot shortcut settings.

 

[Totti1001]

Ah, OK. If you already have the new model, it will most likely have already received some improvements that we still have to wait for with the first model. I find the "personalised MG Pilot" very practical in the new models. That should have been in the software from the start! Not just for the new models. Even the cheap Dacia Spring has it, even with a physical switch.
But as you can see, it's not so easy to find common ground.
I think it's a real shame that MG is no longer customer-oriented and that they struggle with updates. Maybe you'll be lucky and OTA updates will finally work for you. They advertised it, but it still doesn't work today.