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MG To Launch Plug-In Hybrid Rival To XUV 7XO By Festive Season
JSW MG Motor India is preparing to bring a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV to directly rival the Mahindra XUV 7XO, claims a new report by Autocar India based on statements made to the publication during the recent reveal of the Majestor.
The upcoming model is expected to arrive by October this year and will be offered in both fully electric and plug-in hybrid forms. This would make it the first mass-market SUVs in India to offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain, a technology currently limited largely to high-end luxury models.
Internally codenamed 520, the plug-in hybrid SUV is believed to be based on the Chinese Wuling Starlight 560 which is also sold in Indonesia under the nameplate Wuling Eksion. The Wuling Starlight 560 measures 4,745 mm in length with a 2,810 mm wheelbase, making it slightly longer than the Mahindra XUV 7XO and positioning it firmly in the midsize three-row SUV category.
The platform underpinning the MG PHEV is described as a multi-energy architecture capable of supporting electric, plug-in hybrid and conventional internal combustion powertrains. Powertrain details from the donor model indicate that the plug-in hybrid system combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing around 106 hp with a 20.5 kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor. The combined system output is reported at about 197 hp and 230 Nm of torque, driving the front wheels.
In plug-in hybrid form, the SUV is said to deliver an electric-only driving range of roughly 100 km under the CLTC cycle. With the petrol engine engaged and a 52-litre fuel tank onboard, the total driving range is claimed to reach approximately 1,100 km. Performance figures include a 0-100 km/h time of about 9.7 seconds and a top speed near 170 km/h.
The same model architecture will also support a pure-electric variant expected to compete with Mahindra's XEV 9S, while the plug-in hybrid version targets buyers seeking electrification without dependence on charging infrastructure. This dual-powertrain strategy is central to MG's broader plan to expand its new-energy vehicle portfolio in India.
MG also indicated to Autocar that 2026 and 2027 will see a major product offensive in India, with up to six new models (including the new plug-in hybrid) planned across internal combustion, hybrid and electric segments.
Currently, MG ranks among the leading electric vehicle manufacturers in India, driven by strong sales of models such as the Windsor EV. Introducing a plug-in hybrid SUV would broaden the brand's appeal to customers who are not yet ready to transition fully to battery-electric vehicles.
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