Styling
The MGS6 EV follows the EV pattern of delivering a smoothed-off, aerodynamically optimised body that, in the simplest terms, looks like exactly what it is: an upsized MGS5. This means it is sleek, in one regard, and MG has tried to inject some visual interest by giving the front bumper area the same appearance as that of the
Cyberster sports car, while there's a full-width light strip at the rear. However, we find ourselves writing this a lot lately about cars from China, but while the MGS6 EV is not exactly ugly, neither is it notably handsome nor desirable; it's just a big, 4.7-metre-long chunk of generic SUV shape. Looks better on the 20-inch 'Gulfstream' alloys of the Trophy AWD spec and finished in bolder Dynamic Red tricoat, mind.
Interior
This is MG's finest attempt at a cabin yet, replete with high-quality materials, an elegant sense of design, and a pleasing level of ergonomic correctness. There aren't many buttons inside the S6 EV, but there are some useful shortcut switches beneath the central 12.8-inch infotainment screen - which, in itself, works pretty well and doesn't infuriate with its menu layout, any significant lagginess in response, or a substandard grade of graphical clarity. It's similar good news with the 10.25-inch configurable instrument cluster and the crisp head-up display which is standard-fit on the Trophy-grade cars. Helping lift the ambience further in the MGS6 is an optional beige two-tone leather finish, again available only on the Trophy and not the entry-level SE (which gets black cloth instead, and that's fine enough). With that light hide fitted, the interior of the SUV feels like a properly classy place to be.
Practicality
Inarguably the strongest point about the MGS6 EV's excellent interior is how blinkin' roomy it is. Legroom in the back is almost laughably generous, while a completely flat floor and a well-shaped central squab for the rear bench suggests three adults could probably sit side-by-side in this spacious EV in a fair degree of comfort. Beyond that, there are a lot of useful storage cubbies and USB ports inside the S6, as well as deep door pockets in all four positions, and to top it all off there's a huge boot at the back too.
Bear in mind, however, that the 674-litre figure quoted with all the S6's seats in use is a little misleading, as that's measured up to the headlining of the car and not to the bottom of the window line as usual. Expect more like 500 litres under the load cover as a result. Oh, and as to front boots: the rear-driven S6s have 124 litres of space under the bonnet for the storage of charging cables and other odds-and-sods, while the 119kW leading-axle motor of the AWD trims that capacity back to 104 litres.
Performance
There is just one battery size for the MGS6 EV, which is a 77kWh gross, 74.3kWh usable nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) unit across the board. This means the two single-motor S6 models - both of which have their solitary 180kW propulsion unit on the back axle, meaning they're appealingly rear-wheel drive - are the range champions, the two being capable of up to 329 miles to a single charge. They both have 244hp and 350Nm, they're available in SE (1,880kg) and Trophy (1,908kg) specifications, and they'll do 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds.
The only dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variant is the car we're testing here, and it's sold purely as a Trophy. This blesses the MGS6 EV with 362hp and 540Nm, enough to punt the two-tonne SUV from 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds, although the payoff is a claimed range reduced to 301 miles. All S6s, by the way, are limited to 124mph flat out, where that's legal and appropriate.
Honestly, a RWD MGS6 EV will be more than swift enough for most people's reasonable on-road needs, but this AWD Trophy is properly rapid. Better yet, both the response of its throttle and the adjustable regenerative braking plus left-hand pedal feel are excellently calibrated, so making the MG stop and go (and go fast, when needed) is a satisfying experience.
And more uplifting news: the S6 EV managed 3.1 miles/kWh across almost 80 miles of mixed-roads driving on a coldish UK day, conducted at a fairly brisk 42mph average speed. We also had the climate and heated seats/wheel on in the car, so the fact it would theoretically do 230 miles to a charge in such circumstances bodes well for the idea of owners getting much closer to the 301-mile claim, if they were driving the car more sedately in warmer weather.
Ride & Handling
Although MG has a sporty heritage and the rear-driven MGS6 models can easily be coaxed into a bit of enjoyable oversteer in lower-grip conditions, this electric SUV isn't the most thrilling thing to drive. To be fair, managing to keep the kerb weight of the models down to 1,880-2,005kg is an impressive feat (largely down to the use of an NMC and not LFP battery) that assists the MG with a heightened sense of agility and balance in the corners. It even has pretty nice steering too, but even going by the standard of two-tonne-plus electric SUVs, the S6 doesn't prove itself as an outstanding dynamic delight.
What it does do, quite brilliantly, is a superb level of rolling refinement and ride comfort - with one caveat. For most of our test drive, on some lumpen A- and B-roads in the southern portion of the North Wessex Downs, the MGS6 EV simply glided along in a serene, sophisticated and highly amenable fashion. It limits road, wind and suspension noise beautifully, and at speeds above 40mph its ride comfort is exceptional, thanks to top-notch body and wheel control.
Where it falls down ever so slightly in this score is in the lower-speed primary ride. Once you get the MGS6 into towns and villages, if its 20-inch wheels hit larger depressions in the surface of the tarmac or they plop through sunken manhole covers, then the S6 can jostle its occupants about a little too much in the wake of the compression, with the initial hit to the springs and dampers accompanied by a loud thud through the EV's frame.
It's not appalling on this score, but as we initially drove it along a smooth section of the A4 and revelled in its sumptuous refinement levels, it was a bit of a shame when we got to Marlborough and the MGS6 started to smash disconsolately through medium-sized imperfections in the road. It's a clear sign that the chassis wasn't optimised to have the weighty unsprung mass of 20-inch wheels at all four corners, and it just does enough to take the overall gloss off the MGS6's otherwise-impressive kinematic performance.
Value
MG, while attempting to shove the S6 upmarket in feel, hasn't totally abandoned its value ethos and the entry-level SE RWD comes in at £37,995. For that, you get 19-inch wheels, the cloth upholstery, dual-zone climate, heated front seats and steering wheel, the dual-screen interior with satnav plus wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, a reversing camera, and the MG Pilot driver-assistance system, among more.
The problem is that both the Trophy variants stray beyond that crucial £40,000 barrier which triggers the VED supplement, although that threshold is at least increasing to £50,000 from April 1, 2026. Anyway, it's a straight £3,000 price walk from model to model. So if you want to improve your SE RWD to a Trophy RWD, that'll set you back £40,995, and from there equipping another motor and the added power of the Trophy AWD increases the list price to £43,995. The kit count of a Trophy is bounteous, though, as ventilated front and heated rear seats are added, as are 20-inch wheels, the leather and suede-style upholstery, a driver's head-up display, a 360-degree camera system, electrically adjustable front seats (six-way driver and four-way passenger), an uprated 11-speaker stereo system, a powered tailgate, and ambient interior lighting.
Just taking the Enyaq as our main rival, these prices do make the MGS6 EV appear competitive, as the Skoda's range starts from £39,010 - and the 340hp dual-motor vRS flagship over with the Czechs, which isn't quite as quick as the MG, is £51,660 basic.
Verdict
The MGS6 EV is a deeply impressive new addition to the Chinese-British company's ranks, because it's a suitably talented and meritorious machine. Its strengths are its high-speed refinement, the meaty performance of the dual-motor AWD, and a spacious, well-equipped and nicely appointed interior. It's a pity the low-speed ride can be a bit unsettled at times, while the exterior styling is unadventurous and the MG's handling is merely average, rather than amazing. But this is otherwise a very capable and desirable large family SUV powered purely by electric, and accordingly the good-value MGS6 EV stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best competitors in this class.
