MGS6 EV review

Driving position 

As is the way with most car launches, you quickly rush to your assigned car to get on with the route that’s been meticulously planned out by the PR team.  

This can often pose annoyances when faffing to connect your phone to the car and adjusting your seat, but we're pleased to report that we were pleasantly surprised by the result. 

For starters, the MGS6’s seat goes much lower than you’d expected it to, mostly down to MG’s bespoke ultra-thin 110mm battery, which has been designed to maximise cabin space. 

Even for drivers over six foot, you’ll be more than comfortable. 

The seat itself is electronically adjustable, and again, it's a breeze to set up to your chosen position. We really can’t fault it. 

Plus, there’s lots of rearward visibility, as well as in front of you. 

Tech and features 

MGS6 EV trims 

– SE Long Range 

– Trophy Long Range 

– Trophy Dual Motor 

Dominating the centre of the dashboard is a 12.8-inch infotainment screen with a crisp operating system, as well as the usual wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.  

As is the trend with new cars, it comes with a powerful 50W cooled wireless phone charger, allowing you to keep your devices topped up on the go without worrying about overheating. 

In front of the driver is a large 10.25-inch display to show your speed, range, etc. There’s also a head-up display, which shows your speed and now extras such as directions from the sat-nav. 

In terms of trims, there are three on offer: SE Long Range, Trophy Long Range and Trophy Dual Motor. The base model starts at less than £40,000, whereas the top-spec is priced above £43,000 – pushing it above the £40k luxury car tax threshold. 

The car we tested was the Trophy Long Range and got features such as ventilated front and heated rear seats, a 360-degree parking camera, 11 speakers, ambient lighting and a massive (static) panoramic sunroof. 

But it’s essentially the same as the top-spec Dual Motor, as the changes happen underneath the car, which we’ll touch on later. 

While we’d recommend the middle spec, the SE Long Range is still well-equipped with features such as dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, eight speakers, dual screens, sat-nav and a reversing camera. 

Electric motors and power 

MGS6 EV performance stats 

– Power: 238hp or 351hp 

– 0-62mph: 5.1 to 7.3 seconds 

– Top speed: 124mph 

– Driven wheels: Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive 

There are two different flavours of MGS6 – rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). This means there’s also varying power outputs depending on the model you choose. 

The first two trims get 238hp, but step up to the Dual Motor and this jumps to a healthy 351hp. We think the former is great for most people, but if you do want that extra pump of performance, go for the top-spec car.  

Even with the standard 238hp, we never found it to be sluggish; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. The power delivery is linear, so there’s never any grabby front wheelspin when moving quickly away at a junction – in part down to its RWD setup. 

It’s not mind-boggling with a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds, but step up to the Dual Motor and you can shave a couple of seconds off. 

Handling and ride comfort 

For many new car brands, it can be tricky to calibrate cars to suit our roads, but MG is no stranger to the UK. 

Having originally started here way back in 1924, it knows a thing or two about them – even if it is a completely different brand today operating under SAIC Motors out of China. 

The MGS6 handles lumps and bumps in the road really rather well, feeling composed and supple. It doesn’t tend to get unsettled at any point, and even with the larger 20-inch wheels, it has a cushiony ride. 

MG’s proud of the fact it comes fitted with McPherson independent front struts and Multi-Link rear suspension, which, in layperson’s terms, means it handles effortlessly. 

It's also continued its relationship with Continental in the braking department, with beefy brakes to help it stop from 62mph to a standstill in 36 metres (two more metres in the heavier Dual Motor). Trust us when we say it has some outstanding stopping power. 

Boot space 

MGS6 EV boot space: 

– Boot space: 674 litres (measured up to the ceiling) 

– Incl. Rear seats folded: 1,910 litres 

– Front boot (froot): 124 litres (102 litres for the AWD model) 

One of the many ways MG has made the S6 so great is by making it as practical as possible, by maximising cabin and boot space. 

It has a 674-litre boot, which sounds massive, but this figure is measuring up to the ceiling, not the parcel shelf like in other cars.  

That’s why its Škoda Enyaq (585 litres) and Volkswagen ID.4 (543 litres) rivals come across as much smaller. 

There is also a froot (front boot), which adds an extra 124 litres of space for your charging cables or a large overnight bag. This is a huge amount when compared to other EVs.  

By comparison, the Tesla Model Y gets just under 120 litres in the froot department. 

Rear seats 

If anything, the MGS6 is more like a people carrier than an SUV, which can be proven with the rear-seat space. 

There’s plenty of room for passengers over six foot (head and legroom), and sitting three abreast is easily doable. 

The panoramic sunroof makes a massive difference to rear-seat passengers, bringing much more light into the cabin. 

Some models also get heated rear seats, which is an added bonus. 

Storage solutions 

MG claims there are over 30 different storage areas in the S6 EV’s cabin, and we don’t doubt it. 

You shouldn’t find yourself short of places to put various bits and bobs, both in the back and in the front. 

MGS6 EV dimensions 

– Height: 1,672mm 

– Width: 1,912mm 

– Length: 4,708mm 

– Gross weight: 2,388kg 

Safety 

Eagle-eyed readers will have spotted that the MGS6 was actually teased well ahead of its official release when it was safety tested by Euro NCAP some months ago. 

This meant we already knew what the car would look like, but it also meant we witnessed its full five-star crash rating before we even sat in it. 

Seeing this always fills you with confidence, and because it comes with all the standard safety kit, you shouldn’t have any concerns. 

MGS6 EV: electric range, battery and charging 

– Range: Up to 329 miles 

– Battery size: 77kWh 

– Max charging speed: 144kW 

– Charge port location: Rear passenger side 

– Charge time (AC): 0-100% in around 11 hours using a 7kW charger 

– Charge time (DC): 10-80% in 38 minutes 

– Efficiency: Up to 4.9mi/kWh 

– Charging cost: From £5.39 

All versions of the MGS6 EV come with the same 77kWh battery, but ranges vary.  

The SE Long Range and Trophy Long Range get 301 miles, whereas the Trophy Dual Motor can travel up to 329 miles between charges. 

Sadly, neither trim is available with a heat pump to aid winter driving – something you'd expect almost all EVs to come with now.

MG claims it has an efficiency of 4.9 miles per kilowatt-hour, but in our cold-weather test drive, we saw closer to 4mi/kWh. 

Then, when it comes to charging, it’ll get from 10 to 80% in a fairly slow 38 minutes, with a maximum charging speed of 144kW. 

Reliability 

Modern MGs have a great track record for reliability, so we see no reason for this one to be any different. 

Every new MG comes with a seven-year/80,000-mile factory warranty that transfers over to subsequent owners.