MG S6 EV 2026 review: Essence AWD | Zeekr 7X rival tested

MG’s latest SUV shows just how much Australia’s car market has changed in the past five years, and it is only a good thing for buyers.

The new S6 is an electric mid-size SUV that goes head-to-head with some of the heaviest hitters in the country, including the BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y.

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This influx of models has driven lower prices and more choice, two things putting buyers in the driver’s seat.

2026 MG S6 price compared to rivals

MG’s S6 line-up consists of just two variants. Both are the Essence grade — MG speak for fully-loaded — with buyers simply choosing between a single rear motor or dual motor set-up.

Prices kick off at $49,990, drive-away, for the rear-wheel drive version and step-up to $56,990 for the all-wheel drive version we are testing.

This is a decent chunk cheaper than its two big-selling rivals, with single-motor versions of the Model Y starting at $58,900 (before on-road costs) and the Sealion 7 kicking off at $54,990, drive-away. It is pretty much the same price as the entry-level Toyota RAV4 hybrid.

The S6 only has two optional extras, $700 for metallic paint and Grey Ivory with Nordic Ashwood faux wood interior trim for $500.

What comes standard in 2026 MG S6?

You get plenty of standard kit for that low outlay, with 20-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting front and back and roof rails as standard.

Step inside and front seat passengers are greeted by power-adjustable seats wrapped in synthetic leather and synthetic suede trim. There is a heating and ventilation function. The rear window seats are heated, too.

This is joined by a chunky, flat-bottomed and leather-wrapped steering wheel with heating function.

An average-sized 12.8-inch central multimedia screen is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and has in-built sat nav and there is a solid 11-speaker stereo.

A slim 10.25-inch digital driver display keeps it simple with vital information and not much else. This is supplemented by a head-up display that projects vital information such as travelling, speed, prevailing speed limit and safety warnings onto the windscreen in front of the driver.

MG ticks all the safety tech boxes with plenty of active driver aids and solid crash test scores.

2026 MG S6 - The important stuff

At its heart the S6 uses a 77kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery that delivers a claimed WLTP driving range of up to 530km in the single motor variant and 485km in dual motor examples.

That’s par for the course for mid-size electric SUV, where 500km is the ballpark most aim for.

The S6 uses 400-volt electrical architecture, which means it forgoes top-end charging speed. It maxes out at 144kW when connected to a compatible DC charger, which puts it in the same ballpark as the BYD Sealion 7 and Kia EV5 but behind the Tesla Model Y and more premium EVs such as the Zeekr 7X.

MG reckons it can top it up from 10 to 80 per cent in 38 minutes.

Single motor variants pump out 180kW and 350Nm to the rear wheels, with dual motor examples upping the ante to 266kW and 540Nm combined with all-paw grip.

That’s plenty of grunt for a family-focused SUV, but less than other more performance leaning dual motor rivals.

Family matters in the 2026 MG S6

The interior is massive, with plenty of room for small and big kids. I had two child seats fitted in the back row, one forward and one rear facing, with plenty of room left for front seat passenger adjustment.

The panoramic sunroof is pleasant in winter, and a proper shade will make it bearable in summer. The windows are large, which helps smaller kids in the back see out and helps reduce car sickness. The back pew also has its own air conditioning vents and USB-C charging ports.

There are plenty of storage options throughout for knick-knacks, phones and bottles.

The boot is a decent size at 581 litres, but the lack of any spare tyre is the chink in every EV’s armour. A fiddly tyre repair kit is a bad result for drivers.

Unlike some other rivals, the S6 actually has a few buttons and dials in the centre console for basic controls. The steering wheel mounted buttons are clear and well placed, showing balance is returning to car cabins after years of touchscreen domination.

The safety tech is overbearing, and the speed sign recognition routinely picks up the wrong signs. I often had a 35km/h speed warning going off when there is no such speed limit in NSW.

How is the 2026 MG S6 to drive?

MG’s electric vehicles are, in my opinion, the better cars to drive in its range. 

The S6 is no different. Despite its dual-motor power it isn’t particularly fast, and that’s okay. Moderate pace suits a sensible family car better, and it has the added benefit of not being an excessive drain on the battery.

It has no problem bounding up steep hills or overtaking at motorway speeds.

The S6 isn’t the biggest mid-size SUV but it feels large on the road and in underground car parks, luckily an array of sensors and cameras help in tight situations.

It feels heavy, and at circa-2000kg, it is hefty. You experience it more acutely at low speeds, where it can feel lumpy and bumpy, especially over our pockmarked roads. This is accentuated by firm, heavy steering that makes driving feel harder than it should. A mega turning circle doesn’t help the experience, either.

On the motorway it is a quality cruiser, eating up the kays with ease and in comfort. It has good insulation that keeps the world at bay and adaptive cruise control works well.

Sadly, the safety tech is intrusive, loud and a constant distraction.

The MG driving range is solid, and judging by our test you can expect to land in the ballpark of the company’s claim.

Cost of ownership in the 2026 MG S6

A 10-year/250,000km conditional warranty is the biggest ace up this MG's sleeve. You’ll need to attend a MG dealer every logbook service to keep that warranty period, otherwise it reverts to a seven year/unlimited km guarantee.

Servicing intervals are every 12 months or 25,000km, and will cost you $1376 and $1987 for a five- or seven-year plan for the AWD grade, with the RWD version being slightly cheaper.