The MGS6 is the largest of the company’s EVs.
It joins the smaller MGS5, MG4 and MG4 Urban, as well as the Cyberster sports car and the IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV, the latter built by MG but not badged as MGs.
It’s confusing, but welcome to the new face of Australian motoring where the landscape changes from month to month.
MG says the five-seat MGS6 has been created for drivers seeking an elegantly designed, comfortable and capable mid-size SUV that supports school runs, city commutes, weekend escapes and the evolving needs of growing Australian families.
In other words, it’s been designed as an all-rounder.
There’s oodles of room in the back seat, leading us to wonder whether it could accommodate a third row — not that we think it should.
STYLING
There are two models from which to choose: MGS6 EV Essence RWD starting from $49,990 driveaway and the MGS6 EV Essence AWD from $56,990 driveaway.The MGS6 exudes a premium feel while not feeling ostentatious.
Premium materials, soft‑touch surfaces and smart interior packaging create an environment focused on comfort and wellbeing.
There’s also auto lights and wipers, LED head, tail and daytime running lights, 20-inch alloys with low wind resistance wheel covers, front and rear parking sensors, rear privacy glass, auto dimming rear view mirror and a power tailgate.
The AWD adds, well, all-wheel drive and a second electric motor, boosting power in the process, along with a panoramic glass roof — but not much else.If you can live without the extras, that’s a saving of $7000.
MGS6 EV scores a five-star safety rating and incorporates the latest generation of MG Pilot driver assistance system, including Active Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, 360-degree camera, Blind Spot Detection, and more alongside the MG Pilot Custom function which allows drivers to personalise and store their preferred safety settings.
The MGS6 is covered by a 10‑year/250,000km warranty if serviced by the company (otherwise it’s seven years/unlimited kilometres).The battery itself is covered for 7 years or 150,000km.
Service is due every 12 months or 25,000km.
INFOTAINMENT
Infotainment comes in the form of a 12.8-inch touchscreen and 10.25-inch driver display, as well as head-up display for both grades.
Physical buttons are provided volume and climate control below the central touchscreen. And get this . . . the head-up is even visible with polarised sunglasses. Get out of here. If MG can get this to work, why can’t the rest of the motoring world?
Also, standard are Bluetooth, voice control, built-in navigation, AF/FM and DAB+ digital radio, wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus 11-speaker audio (it’s unbranded but described as premium).
There’s also wireless charging with cooling vents, plus two USB-C ports and a 12-volt outlet located in the lower section of the centre console, but they are hard to see and even harder to access — so be sure to hook up any necessary cables before setting off.
Another two USB-C ports are provided for rear seat passengers.
A 12-month subscription to iSmart provides remote access to the car and allows owners to unlock the doors and turn on the air conditioning.
Like the MG4, the wireless charger refused to charge our Pixel phone, which quickly began to overheat. Our phone or the system?
SAFETY
MGS6 EV scores a five-star safety rating and incorporates the latest generation of MG Pilot driver assistance system, including Active Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, 360-degree camera, Blind Spot Detection, and more alongside the MG Pilot Custom function which allows drivers to personalise and store their preferred safety settings.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
The RWD version offers 180kW of power and 350Nm of torque, providing a good balance of power and economy.
These figures rise to 266kW and 540Nm with the AWD, with the addition of a second electric motor.
With a reduction style, single-speed automatic transmission, acceleration is strong across both variants, with 0-100km/h taking 7.5 seconds in the RWD, and dropping to just 5.1 seconds for the AWD.Top speed is 200km/h.
DRIVING
Measuring 4708mm long, 1912m wide and 1664mm high, with a 2835mm wheelbase, the MGS6 is designed to seat five in comfort.
The suede and vegan leather trimmed seats feel nice to the touch and the suede stops your derriere from sliding around in corners, unlike slippery leather upholstery.
mpressive, with a good-sized 581‑litre boot that is supplemented by an 86‑litre frunk in the RWD (67‑litres in the AWD version). With the rear seats folded, total storage expands to 1690 litres.
The MGS6 sits on the company’s Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) which it shares with the smaller MG4 and MGS5 models as well as the Cyberster sports car.
Both grades get the same high grade 77kWh lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery.
It delivers 530km (WLTP) of driving range in the RWD and 485km (WLTP) in the AWD, helping to reduce range anxiety.
Power consumption is a claimed 14.5kWh/100km. We recorded 14.7kWh after 588km of mixed driving, including a couple of spells of spirited performance.
With a fast DC charger, a 10–80 per cent charge can be added in a claimed 38 minutes at a rate of up to 144kW.
AC takes 8.5 hours with three-phase power.
Both variants also feature MG’s highly efficient heat pump and One Pedal Mode, with adjustable regenerative braking, giving drivers greater control and efficiency.
Suspension is Mac strut at front, multilink at the rear, with 20‑inch alloys and grippy Michelin Primacy 245/50 series rubber.
Although they are listed as alloys, they are fitted with low‑wind‑resistance wheel covers designed to extend range.
There are four levels of regenerative braking, including One Pedal mode, as well as a number of drive modes, but unfortunately no Eco mode this time around (our preferred EV mode). After all, isn’t all about range these days — not power?
For a company that doesn’t tune its cars for Australian roads, ride and handling are impressive, more so because it was the rear wheel drive we drove, not the all-wheel drive version. Apart from the sunroof, it’s hard to tell
We really gave this car some, punching through a series of switchbacks, followed by a steep climb behind a couple of motorcycles.
It produced plenty of tyre squeal, but the rear never stepped out on us — not once. Good one, MG!
Of note, if it was a petrol car, we’d say it had a bit of throttle overrun.
That is, it tends to surge before stopping after taking your foot off the accelerator.
This can be tricky when pulling up behind another vehicle, especially on a slope, unless you’re prepared for it.
Once again, we also had problems with the operation of the power tailgate.
It’s basically the same issue we had with the MG Cyberster and HS Super Hybrid.
The electric motor is simply not powerful enough to raise the doors unless the car is parked on flat ground. Park it on a slope and you can forget it.
The rear-view camera also failed to operate on a number of occasions, even though reverse gear was selected.
Changing gear and moving it back into reverse generally fixed the problem, but you can’t rely on it.
Both the cupholders in the doors and centre console accommodate a sport bottle.
You win some, you lose some.
A tyre repair kit is provided in the event of a puncture.
SUMMING UP
The MGS6 is a cracker of a car for the price.
Sure, there’s a couple of bugs that need to be ironed out, but that’s the case with most cars.
The S6 is roomy, well appointed, packs a wallop and offers in excess of 500km in range, which goes a long way towards allaying range anxiety. Them’s fighting words.
If you’re in the market for an EV, but still nervous about making the jump, this could well be the one — make that the 6? Not sure what the #6 actually signifies?
RATINGS:
Looks: 7.5
Performance: 8
Safety: 8
Thirst: 8
Practicality: 7.5
Comfort: 7Tech: 7.5
Value: 8
Overall: 7.7
AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
MGS6 EV Essence RWD, $49,990
MGS6 EV Essence AWD, $56,990
Note: These prices are driveaway and include government or dealer delivery charges.
SPECIFICATIONS:
MGS6 EV Essence RWD 77 kWh electric SUV)
POWERTRAIN
Battery type: Lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC)
Battery Capacity: 77 kWh
Configuration: Single rear-mounted electric motor
Maximum Power: 180 kW
Maximum Torque: 350 Nm
Fuel Type: Electric
Energy consumption: 14.5 kWh/100km
Charging: AC 11kW 0-100% 8.5 hrs, DC 144kW 10-80% 38 mins
Range: 530 km (WLTP)
DRIVELINE:
Reduction style, single-speed automatic transmission, RWD
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, AND CAPACITIES
Length: 4708 mm
Width: 1912 mm
Height: 1664 mm
Wheelbase: 2835 mm
Kerb weight: 1908 mm
Turning circle: 11.1 m
BRAKES
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Ventilated disc
STANDARD WARRANTY
7 years / unlimited kilometres
