MG S6 EV vs Audi S8

What's the difference?

BYD, Chery, GWM and MG - one of these Chinese car brands is not like the others.

While the first three all enjoyed major growth in 2025, MG had a year to forget. A flood of new models, rushed into the market with little or no fanfare, resulted in a nearly 20 per cent sales decline, when the brand should have been basking in the same growth as its rivals.

So, the old management has been swept away and MG Australia is attacking 2026 with a fresh outlook and a renewed purpose, fully aware that launching an affordable car and hoping the buyers come is not a sound strategy.

Which is why the brand is making a far more concerted effort with this all-new MGS6 (all one word, likely to avoid copyright issues with Audi). It’s an important model to get right, too, as the electric mid-size SUV is becoming an increasingly popular choice for Australian buyers, as witnessed by the success of the BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y.

But with those two, plus many more mid-size EV SUVs, including the Kia EV5, GAC Aion V, Geely EX5 and Zeekr 7X (to name a few), to compete with, MG will need to put its best foot forward to give the MGS6 its best chance of success.

This one model alone won’t determine the fortunes of MG in the final reckoning of the year, but if MG wants to turn around its sales numbers and enjoy the same growth as its Chinese rivals, having the MGS6 succeed would be an important step.

Big sedans are not in vogue at the moment and huge luxury sedans were on the way down before the humble Commodore and Falcon departed the upper end of the sales charts. The Germans, who have always done a spectacular job of these flagship sedans, cheerfully persist with these cars.

Absolutely loaded with fascinating technology that bleeds its way down to the more mainstream models, they represent the zenith of the brand's innovation and style. The A8 is certainly that.

What it isn't, is particularly sporty, but after two years since its launch, V8 power has reached the fourth-generation super-sedan to deliver the latest iteration of the iconic S8.