Battery size: 77 kWh
E-Rating™: A+
Max charge rate: 144 kW
Range: 301 - 329 miles 
Introduction and Model History – MGS6 EV
The MGS6 is a large(ish) electric SUV, measuring 4.7-metres long and offering a roomy, five-seat cabin and a big boot. If you don’t need so much space then you could always consider the MGS5 EV, which is much the same recipe but a touch smaller and more affordable.
The 74.3kWh battery in the MGS6 EV gives a WLTP range of between 301- and 329 miles depending on whether you go for the rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive models. It costs from around £38,000, although if you want the Trophy model that gets the panoramic roof and a lot of the style and luxury stuff that we all want, you’re looking at just over £40,000, meaning that you’ll be subject to the luxury car tax.
Even so, the MGS6 EV is a good value, roomy family EV at usefully less than an equivalent Skoda Enyaq, VW ID.4, Tesla Model Y or Kia EV5. But, it’s got a lot of competition from new brands including Leapmotor, Geely, Jaecoo and Omoda – and even some legacy manufacturers. The Citroen e-C5 Aircross and Vauxhall Grandland are both very comparable on pricing with the MGS6 EV. So, MG may no longer be the default option if you want the best-value EV?
Range, Battery and Charging
There’s only one battery option in the MGS6 EV; a 74.3kWh (77kWh total capacity) lithium-ion NMC battery powers both the single-motor and dual-motor AWD model, for a WLTP range of 329- or 301 miles respectively. That’s more than enough for most drivers, and is a usefully longer range than you get in the Leapmotor C10 or entry-level Skoda Enyaq and VW ID.4, but others do offer longer-range models at a similar price, including the Citroen e-C5 Aircross that has a WLTP range of over 400 miles.
I drove the dual-motor MGS6 EV (which gets the 301 mile WLTP range) in quite cold, windy conditions on mostly quite fast A-roads, and only saw around 210 miles of real world range. That doesn’t seem great, I know, but remember that every EV is least efficient in cold weather and fast driving so this is a worst-case scenario. And, it’s worth pointing out that you’ll see a similar loss of range (compared with the WLTP figures) on most of the MG’s rivals in these sorts of wintery conditions. I’d estimate that you’ll see more like 240- to 280 miles in more routine driving and warmer conditions.
Charging speeds on the MGS6 EV are up to 144kW, which is pretty competitive, but MG claims that a 10-80% charge will take around 38 minutes, suggesting that the average charging speeds might be a bit low.
As you’d expect, the MGS6 EV uses the same Type 2 and CCS sockets as almost every electric car, and will be compatible with every home- and public car charger in the UK and western Europe.
A heat pump is standard on the MGS6 EV, which should help with cold-weather range and efficiency. It also gets vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging, but you’ll have to pay a bit extra for the necessary adaptor that’s sold at MG dealers.
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Practicality and Boot Space
The MGS6 EV has a decent boot, but the measurement stated by MG of 674 litres is up to the roof, while most manufacturers state boot capacity up to the load-bay cover because that’s the sensible thing to do. The claimed figures are a touch misleading, then, and while the MGS6 is really decent for luggage space, the Skoda Enyaq and Citroen e-C5 Aircross are even better than the MG for luggage space. A big 124-litre frunk (a little less than that in the dual motor model) is also perfect for storing your cables.
Rear passenger space really is a highlight in the MGS6, though – it’s massive back there! Loads of legroom and headroom, even with the pano’ glass roof that you get in the Trophy. And the floor isn’t too high, as it is in some electric family cars, so long-legged teens and adults don’t feel like their knees are up around their chins.
The only downside is that it's a bit short on versatility. The seats don't slide or recline, and there's no seven-seat model, which seems like a missed opportunity. I reckon a seven-seat version of this would sell like... well, like a really good value seven-seat EV.
There are 30 storage areas in the MGS6, too, although the highlight may well be the huge cubby in between the front seats and the exposed storage shelf beneath the cooled, wireless phone charging pad.
Interior, Design/Styling and Technology
The MGS6 gets a lot of new materials over the MG4 – if you go for the Trophy spec then you can choose from grey- or beige faux suede, which is actually really lovely (although I reckon the paler interior might mark quite badly if you’ve got lots of grubby little children or dogs to ferry about…).
It’s genuinely quite a nice interior, and while the Citroen e-C5 Aircross and Skoda Enyaq are similarly lovely, the MG isn’t going to make you feel like this is the cheap option at all; it’s a classy and surprisingly expensive-feeling interior.
The 12.8-inch central touchscreen has all the usual features, and finally MG has managed to fit wireless Apple CarPlay!! The MG4 didn’t for a very long time, which was very annoying, so I’m pleased that MG’s finally caught up.
And… you won’t believe it, but there are buttons. Actual, physical buttons for volume control, cabin temperature, hazard warning lights and de-misting. I know there’s voice control and steering wheel controls but straightforward switches are just the most intuitive way of controlling that major stuff when you’re driving.
Anyway, the HD screen has decent graphics, sat-nav, charger search function, Bluetooth, and all that good stuff. There’s also a big, digital readout behind that slightly odd steering wheel. Naturally, the MG Pilot suite of driver assistance systems is standard, which means adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, a semi-autonomous drive mode, blind spot warning and active emergency braking. There’s also seven airbags, and the MGS6 has achieved a full five star Euro NCAP rating.
Motors, Performance and Handling
The MGS6 EV is available with either a single 244hp electric motor that drives the rear wheels and gets the MG36 up to 62mpg in 7.3 seconds, or you can have the punchier MGS6 AWD with its 361hp and 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds.
I’ve only driven the same dual-motor, and it is just a really confident yet… well, quite boring car to drive. The steering is heavy in sport, and makes the big MG feel fairly wieldy on faster corners, but there’s a lot of body roll and it feels happiest in Normal mode and steady progress, when you can enjoy the soft ride and laid back attitude. Don’t be fooled by that sportscar-like 0-62mph time; even the dual motor MGS6 is no sports-SUV. This is a chilled, everyday cruiser, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Refinement isn’t what it is in some rivals, though. You hear the electric motor whine at lower speeds when you’re accelerating, and there’s quite a bit of wind noise when you’re on the motorway, so it’s not the quietest electric family car out there. The 12.4-metre turning circle on the dual motor model is pretty poor, though, so you’ll notice that it’s not terribly manoevrable in a tight spot. The single motor MGS6 has a much more useful 11.1-metre turning circle, so promises to be quite a bit better when you’re squeezing into the last space in the Ikea car park.
Running Costs and Pricing
We haven’t got PCP monthly finance deals, yet, but list prices are very decent on the MGS5. It starts at £37,995 for the SE Long Range, while the Trophy Long Range comes in at £40,995 and the Trophy Long Range at £43,995.
That’s usefully less than you’ll pay for a similarly equipped Skoda Enyaq, VW ID.4 or Kia EV5, but with the long range Citroen e-C5 Aircross valid for the full UK Electric Car Grant (ECG), the big Citroen undercuts the MG by many thousands despite having a claimed range of well over 400 miles.
Ultimately, the MGS6 EV will be a popular company car, while retail buyers will likely be swayed by the PCP and leasing prices, so it’ll be the monthly finance deals that really make-or-break it in the UK.
Verdict
The MGS6 EV is a really decent all-round family EV. It’s a bit characterless, but it will do a fine job of ferrying you and your family around in comfort. There are plenty of others that handle with more pizzaz, including the Skoda Enyaq, Kia EV5, Renault Scenic and Ford Mustang Mach-E, but the MG’s got an edge of sumptuousness and a ton of equipment at a great list price, so it’s not hard to see why you’d go for it.
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