Best Hybrid SUV 2026: Hyundai TUCSON vs MG HS vs Chery TIGGO Compared

Shopping for the best hybrid SUV in the UK for 2026? There’s a chance you’re torn between the Hyundai TUCSON Hybrid, the MG HS, and the Chery TIGGO 8. If so, it’s a choice between an established mainstream badge, a value-led British marque now under Chinese ownership, and an ambitious new entrant to the market.

The decision isn’t easy, but as a registered dealer group that sells all three, we’re well-positioned to help. This guide covers where each hybrid SUV comes out on top and the weaknesses the brochures skip.

At a Glance: Specs Comparison Table

Hyundai TUCSON Hybrid Review: The Safe, Polished Choice

The Hyundai TUCSON Hybrid strengths

Reputation and performance

The Hyundai TUCSON is one of the UK's best-selling family SUVs, the hybrid version included.

The 1.6-litre full hybrid produces 239PS, covers 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds, and needs no plug. The self-charging hybrid system tops itself up as you drive.

Hyundai's UK dealer network is also large and well-established, so parts and service locations are easy to come by.

Cabin and tech

Inside the TUCSON, the cabin is solid, the interior tech is easy to use, and the dual-screen layout works well without burying essential controls. In our opinion, it's a car that feels the most premium on the inside out of the three.

A practical choice

Practicality is another strength of the TUCSON, with a 616-litre boot in hybrid form. Add the five-year unlimited-mileage warranty and Hyundai's resale value record, and the price tag starts to make sense.

A 288PS plug-in hybrid version is also available from around £36,680, with up to 43.5 miles of electric-only range, for company car drivers chasing lower road tax and benefit-in-kind bills.

Safety first

The TUCSON holds a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. This is important for a car that will spend much of its life on the school run and long-distance family trips.

The TUCSON weaknesses

Starting from around £34,860, the Hyundai TUCSON is the most expensive car of the three in like-for-like trims. The extra buys build quality and resale potential, so whether it is justified depends on your budget.

You can browse our current Hyundai TUCSON Hybrid stock across our Hampshire, West Sussex, and Surrey showrooms. As an official franchised Hyundai dealer, Richmond Motor Group handles servicing, warranty work, and aftercare in-house.

So, the car and its cover stay with the same team that sold it to you. We also offer finance options to help spread the cost.

MG HS PHEV and Hybrid: The Value Play

The MG HS strengths

Cost and range

The price is a big plus for the MG HS, with the self-charging Hybrid+ SE starting at around £28,995 and the MG HS PHEV at around £32,495.

The MG HS PHEV also comes with a 24.7 kWh battery delivering up to 75 miles (WLTP) of electric-only range. This is the longest plug-in hybrid range of the three, and among the longest of any PHEV at this price.

As a result, commuters who charge at home can cover a lot of short, weekly driving without using the petrol engine at all.

Speed and power

With just under 300PS available in the PHEV model, the HS is the quickest car on this list, hitting 62mph in 6.8 seconds.

What Car? has named it PHEV of the Year twice, too, which adds more credibility.

Equipment and safety

Equipment is generous on all HS models, and the SE trim includes keyless entry, full LED headlights, rear parking sensors, cruise control and the MG Pilot driver assistance suite as standard. The Trophy trim adds heated front seats, dual-zone air conditioning, wireless phone charging, and a powered tailgate.

And like the Hyundai TUCSON, the MG HS also carries a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

The MG HS weaknesses

A less premium experience

Refinement is where the MG HS gives ground to the TUCSON. Honest John has reported glitching touchscreens on this generation of HS.

Another practical limitation is that the HS PHEV has no DC rapid charging capability. The battery needs to be topped up at home or on slower public AC chargers.

Brand perception

Brand perception falls behind the likes of Hyundai, and the MG finished last of all manufacturers in Auto Express's 2025 Driver Power survey, and the MG ZS placed bottom of the 2026 top-50 cars to own list. As a result, resale values sit below the TUCSON's. At this price, that is a reasonable trade.

Keen to make up your own mind and take a test drive? Try the MG HS PHEV range at Richmond Motor Group in Portsmouth, Bognor Regis, Southampton, and Guildford. As an official MG dealer, we also handle MG servicing and warranty support directly.

Chery TIGGO 8: The New Contender

First, the question most UK buyers ask: who are Chery?

Chery is one of China's largest car manufacturers and among the world's biggest vehicle exporters. It launched in the UK in 2025 and is growing its dealer network, although it doesn’t compare to the likes of Hyundai yet.

Richmond Motor Group is an official Chery dealer, so buyers in Bognor Regis and Southampton have local sales, servicing, parts, and aftercare available. This removes the biggest practical worry of buying from a newer brand.

Chery TIGGO 8 Strengths

Price, performance, and charging

Costs are the first strength of the Chery TIGGO 8. The Super Hybrid plug-in hybrid starts at £33,545 in Aspire trim, rising to £36,545 for the Summit.

The Super Hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre turbo engine with an electric motor for 204PS. This delivers a 0-62 time of 8.5 seconds and up to 56 miles of electric-only range.

The Super Hybrid model also supports 40kW DC rapid charging, taking the battery from 30 to 80% in around 20 minutes. This is faster than most plug-in hybrids, including the MG.

Great equipment

The Chery TIGGO 8 is also the value-per-pound winner of the three when it comes to equipment. This is down to dual 15.6-inch screens on the dashboard, wireless phone charging, and keyless entry.

In addition, it boasts flexible seating layouts that make the most of the seven-seat format.

The longest warranty and lots of space

What’s more, the Chery’s warranty is the longest in the list, covering seven years or 100,000 miles. It comes with unlimited mileage for the first three years and has RAC Home Start included.

And finally, with all seven seats up, the boot has 117 litres of space. Folding the third row down grows that to 494 litres.

Safety

The TIGGO 8 also holds a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, like the others on this list, and it earned Carwow's Car of the Year 2026 title, along with the Hybrid Hero award in the same year.

The Chery TIGGO 8 Weaknesses

TIGGO 8 Weaknesses

Resale values for the TIGGO 8 are the biggest weakness since they’re essentially unknown. This is because the brand is so new to the UK market, so it’s hard to predict what a TIGGO 8 will be worth in the future.

Less premium driving experience

Carwow found the TIGGO 8 uncomfortable in town, and third-row space is tight.

In our experience, the best way to make this kind of decision is with a test drive. You can then judge the drive for yourself and the equipment levels. Come and view the Chery TIGGO range at Richmond Motor Group, where the same aftercare team that looks after our Hyundai, MG, Škoda, and Suzuki customers looks after Chery owners.

TUCSON vs MG HS vs TIGGO 8: Which Should You Choose?

There's no single answer to this question because the three cars serve different buyers. However, in our opinion, here’s what you should choose based on who you are and what you need:

Choose the TUCSON if you want the most reputable, proven manufacturer. It’s also the best option for those who want the biggest boot and the highest potential resale value. It is the most expensive of the three, so buyers on a tighter budget will look elsewhere.

Choose the MG HS if value and electric-only range are at the top of your priorities. The PHEV's 75-mile electric-only range is also the best on the list, so if you can charge at home, your fuel bills will be relatively small.

Choose the TIGGO 8 if you need seven seats, want the longest warranty, or want the most equipment for the budget. The Super Hybrid's 56-mile range and rapid charging also make it a credible company car for benefit-in-kind purposes.

The TUCSON takes brand recognition, boot space and resale confidence. Value, pace and electric range go to the MG HS, while the TIGGO 8 leads on warranty length, equipment per pound and seating flexibility.

Whatever your decision, our team can walk you through finance options across all three to see which is best for your budget.

Book a back-to-back test drive with Richmond Motor Group

The quickest way to settle it is to drive all three. Book a test drive at a Richmond Motor Group showroom and try the TUCSON Hybrid, MG HS, and Chery TIGGO 8 back-to-back for yourself.

Because Richmond Motor Group is an official franchised dealer for all three manufacturers, you can compare the cars honestly in one place, with no pressure towards any single badge. Our aftercare, servicing, and warranty support are also handled in-house, and we hold an Excellent rating on Trustpilot from thousands of reviews.

Whichever of the three you choose, the team looking after you stays the same.