2026 MG S6 Review: New mid-size SUV takes the value fight to Tesla, BYD, Zeekr and Geely
MG has bolstered its stakes in the sub-$60K electric SUV market with the new S6.
Slightly larger than the S5 that provides a budget entry point to the mid-sized SUV segment, the S6 is also being positioned as more upmarket.
But it’s the value – with pricing kicking off below $50K – that scorches the five-seat SUV into focus against the likes of Tesla, BYD, Geely and Zeekr.
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It also helps MG flesh out its EV offering, allowing owners to step from the smaller MG4 and MG4 Urban through to the MG S5 and into something better suited to family duties.
2026 MG S6 price and equipment
Value has long been MG’s sharpest weapon, and the MG S6 EV takes that even further – in turn taking the fight to the sweet spot of the electric SUV segment.
The five-seat mid-size range launches with two variants, both the same Essence grade, typically at the higher end for MG.
The rear-wheel-drive MGS6 EV Essence RWD is priced from $49,990 drive-away, while the dual-motor AWD version starts from $56,990 drive-away – a $7000 step that also brings a panoramic sunroof with electric blind as well as considerably more performance and a modest towing capacity increase.
Each gets a 77kWh battery, but the RWD’s 530km WLTP range claim edges ahead of the AWD’s 485km, partly due to its lower weight (1908kg versus 2005kg).
The Rear-Wheel Drive gets a single 180kW/350Nm motor driving the rear wheels.
It’s a permanent magnet motor, as used on many EVs.
The All-Wheel Drive adds a 119kW/190Nm induction motor up front, taking combined outputs to 266kW/540Nm.
The induction motor is lighter but uses some electricity to create a magnetic field required to make the motor spin.
That set up – induction motor up front and permanent magnet motor at the rear – is the same as what some other brands use, including Tesla on its AWD variants.
Standard equipment across both variants is generous for the money. You get a 12.8-inch infotainment screen paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a head-up display, 50W wireless phone charger and a powered tailgate.
The cabin is lined with heated and ventilated faux leather seats with suede upholstery, heated outer rear seats, heated steering wheel, ambient lighting and an 11-speaker audio system with subwoofer.
A 360-degree camera, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control and auto emergency braking round out a thorough safety suite.
There’s the choice of seven exterior colours (white, silver and gold are standard colours, the other four cost $750 extra) and a dark or light interior, the latter a $500 premium.
The darker grey trim gets some carbon fibre-like trim touches while the ivory/beige-coloured interior gets Nordic ashwood trim.
Both variants ride on 20-inch alloys and come backed by MG’s seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Those prices place the MGS6 EV in interesting company.
The Hyundai Elexio is currently priced from $59,990 drive-away as a launch introductory offer, making the RWD MGS6 EV a full $10,000 cheaper.
The Kia EV5, meanwhile, starts from $56,770 drive-away for the base Air Standard Range, though buyers have recently been able to snag MY25 stock for considerably less during clearance offers.
And, of course, it’ll naturally compete with the Tesla Model Y (starting from $58,900 plus ORCs), still the EV top seller.
Another hot competitor is the BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990 plus ORCs), while the S6 could also be cross-shopped with the XPeng G6 (soon to be relaunched) and even the more affordable Geely EX5 (from $41,990 plus ORCs).
2026 MG S6: What we think
The MGS6 EV arrives with a lot going for it.
The platform is proven and solid – shared with the MG4, MG S5 and Cyberster – and it shows.
While it’s not as large as some key rivals, interior space feels larger than its footprint might suggest.
Rear passengers are well catered for, with genuinely good knee room that belies the car’s compact-leaning dimensions.
The seating position is on the higher side compared to something like the Model Y, though not uncomfortably so; it’s more SUV-upright than sporting-low.
Boot space is solid for the class, and the inclusion of a frunk (the first for an MG) is a welcome additional storage space, giving you a useful spot to stash cables and keep the boot clear for luggage.
We only sampled the MG S6 AWD version, with its added performance.
The AWD dual-motor setup delivers genuinely brisk performance with a rear-biased tune that gives the car a subtly sporty edge.
It’s not trying to be a hot rod, but there’s enough real-world performance here to make merging onto a motorway or overtaking a truck feel effortless.
And for anyone cross shopping it’ll comfortably hold its own against Teslas and BYDs.
Ride quality is the main caveat. MG has clearly prioritised dynamics over plushness, and those 20-inch Michelins – grippy as they are – can pick up some sharper edges of bumps.
While it’s never uncomfortable, successive bumps over rough surfaces can make things busy.
The trade-off is a car that feels composed and impressively engaging by the standards of the segment.
The interior won’t fool anyone into thinking they’re in a European luxury SUV, but it’s nicely presented.
The vegan leather looks like the real deal but – as with a Tesla – it’s not about to convince anyone they’re nestling into the finest Italian hide. The suede-like diamond-quilted seats look the part though.
And the seats themselves are snug and nicely supportive.
The faux carbon fibre trim is similar and adds a nice touch to the plainer finishes elsewhere.
The wood finish in the optional lighter interior is arguably the classiest of the lot.
And MG has done the important things right.
Physical controls for temperature and volume are genuinely useful and surprisingly rare with many rivals.
The customisable driver assistance favourites shortcut – letting you silence the over-eager speed warning and driver monitoring in one tap – is a small feature that can make daily driving measurably less frustrating.
There are programmable virtual buttons elsewhere, too.
Hold the seat heating button in either lower corner of the screen, for example, and you can set it to ventilation instead; one for summer, one for winter.
The driving range is also thoroughly decent, and the RWD will get more than the circa-430km of real-world range our AWD was heading towards.
As with other MGs, the rotary gear selector can occasionally get hung up in Neutral during low-speed manoeuvres such as a three-point turn. It pays to come to a complete stop before toggling between Drive and Reverse.
And the flat-bottomed steering wheel feels like a stylistic affectation rather than a functional one.
2026 MG S6: Verdict
The MGS6 EV doesn’t do any one thing so brilliantly that it resets the EV conversation, but it does a lot well enough to ensure it should be on the consideration list for anyone with $50K-plus to spend.
It’s spacious without being unwieldy, quick without being extravagant, and well-equipped with a suitably sharp price tag.
The RWD variant in particular represents compelling value in the mid-size EV space, sitting below $50,000 drive-away with a real-world range that takes the sting out of long trips.
The MG S6 is the sort of car that grows on you; quietly competent, genuinely practical, and hard to argue with at the price.
Score: 4/5
2026 MG S6 price and specifications
Price: From $49,990 (RWD), $56,990 (AWD) drive-away
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Range: 530km (RWD), 485km (AWD)
Battery capacity: 77kWh
Battery warranty: 7 years/150,000km
Energy consumption: 14.5kWh/100km (RWD), 16.0kWh/100km (AWD)
Motors (RWD): 1 rear 180kW/350Nm
Motors (AWD): 1 front 119kW/190Nm and 1 rear 180kW/350Nm, combined outputs 266kW/540Nm
AC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 144kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 7.3 seconds (RWD), 5.1 seconds (AWD) (claimed)
