Electric Cars

Geely has announced it plans to double exports as part of a recent earnings call as it seeks aggressive global growth to escape the perils of an extremely competitive Chinese domestic marketLi Shufu, the chairman of Geely Group, which also controls Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Lynk & Co and Zeekr, said the company would achieve these goals not through increased Chinese domestic production, but by increased global production.He said this was because “the world is undergoing a historic shift toward de-globalisation”, in reference to an increase in tariffs across the world that are restricting global trade.Geely Group plans to export 920,000 vehicles for the next financial year, which is more than double the amount of units it shipped last year, as reported by Nikkei Asia.To combat the rise of global tariffs, the company plans to build more cars in Europe, including at a Ford plant in Spain, and at existing Volvo factories, rather than expand production capacity at home.In addition, the company has expanded closer to Australia, including knockdown assembly in Indonesia, a plan to build Zeekrs at Proton facilities in Malaysia, and is said to be in talks to follow its rivals GWM and Chery in setting up manufacturing in Thailand.“De-globalisation” is a major problem for Chinese automakers, which are increasingly seeking higher profits in global markets to escape razor thin margins and shrinking sales in the hyper-competitive Chinese domestic market.Zeekr in particular has been an overperformer for Geely, significantly raising the average sale price of their vehicles. The company said in its most recent financial results that the 9X had become the best-selling car above the equivalent of $100,000 in China, and the brand had nearly doubled volume year-on-year.Australia is perhaps the ideal model for the Chinese giant’s growth aspirations, with both Geely and Zeekr experiencing explosive growth over the past year.Despite a slowly-but-surely new model approach compared to rivals like BYD and Chery, Geely is up over 500 per cent year-on-year and has already surpassed Volkswagen and Honda to become nearly on-par with once-favourites like Subaru and Nissan.Its model range thus far only consists of the EX5 and the related Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid mid-sizers, as well as the new EX2 hatchback. The company will launch the Camry-rivalling Emgrand sedan and a larger SUV in 2027.Zeekr will also expand on its model range, adding the much-hyped 8X large SUV and 9X flagship, both with plug-in hybrid power over the course of 2027. The 7GT electric wagon will be added before the end of 2026. All are expected to add significant volume for the brand.Geely will need to double its volume to challenge its best-selling Chinese rivals in Australia. Chery and MG that have each sold nearly 30,000 vehicles so far in 2026, as well as GWM that has sold over 30,000 units and BYD has crested the 60,000 unit mark, but it is tracking ahead of other new rivals like GAC, XPeng and Omaoda Jaecoo.One thing is clear though. With relatively high margins, success in challenging established players, and a solid array of new products due over the next year, we’ll be seeing a lot more Geelys and Zeekrs on Australian roads.

This could be a huge problem for EV owners in Australia. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is the next big step to unlocking the full potential of electric cars. V2G allows an EV battery to send its power back to the grid, allowing owners to make money at peak times.Electric cars sales are already booming in Australia, but this added functionality gives them an even sharper edge over petrol- and diesel-powered alternatives. However, using V2G in Australia currently risks voiding the manufacturer's warranty of the car.Electric Vehicle Council’s Head of Energy, Infrastructure and Commercial Alina Dini told CarsGuide current warranties generally weren’t designed to account for undertaking V2G. “Unless it has been stipulated in those terms and conditions that vehicle to grid is allowed, it’s generally not,” Dini said. V2G can have a significant impact on battery condition, depleting its health more rapidly than standard use. Most EVs in Australia are not designed to have two-way power transfer, but that are a range of third-party chargers that can facilitate V2G capabilities.Hyundai Australia's Senior Manager Future Mobility and Government Relations Scott Nargar said third-party V2G set-ups don't allow the car to be in control of the energy transfer.This can lead to overheating and other safety issues, with any damage not eligible for repair under warranty.Hyundai Australia states that none of its vehicles support V2G in Australia."The use of unapproved bidirectional charging equipment introduces safety risks, potential vehicle damage and warranty implications for your vehicle," Hyundai's website said.These set-ups use workarounds to enable V2G that is otherwise prohibited by the car's software.Most brands including BYD, Hyundai, Kia, Tesla and Zeekr warn against the use of unapproved V2G set-ups, with it risking the validity of the warranty.Mitsubishi remains one of few brands to actively support V2G in its Outlander PHEV SUV warranty, but it suggests repeated fast charging will reduce battery capacity.V2G is not as much of a safety issue as it is one of technology moving quicker than the rules, according to Ms Dini. Many brands are laying the groundwork for a full-scale uptake of V2G.“What we’re finding now is that all of the automotive OEMs that we work with are having a really hard look at their warranties," Ms Dini said."They’re having conversations with their stakeholders overseas and looking to reshape the commercial arrangements for selling cars."Brands are also collaborating with energy providers and government agencies in trials that will see the technology become mainstream within the next couple of years. BYD has partnered with Amber Electric and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), while Hyundai, Kia and Zeekr are working with AGL. Developments are expected to be announced within the next few months.

Electric cars are about to change forever as another brand confirms solid-state battery trials in 2027 that put 1000km-plus driving ranges within striking distance.Geely is joining BYD and battery giant CATL in installing futuristic solid-state batteries in vehicles next year, according to Chinese reports.The Chinese behemoth said it would roll out the tech across its brands, which include Geely, Polestar, Volvo, Zeekr and more.Solid-state batteries are often touted as the holy grail of EV cells, they are more energy dense, faster to charge, work better in cold temperatures and are less prone to fire than conventional units.This means brands can install smaller batteries for similar driving range to current EVs, which means they are lighter, more efficient and less of a strain on resources.The reduction in weight and improved packaging that goes with smaller batteries also opens up the possibility of electric performance cars, utes and 4WDs that are all hamstrung by excess weight of current EVs.Makers can also choose to keep the batteries the same size as current units and effectively double the vehicle’s driving range.Driving ranges of more than 1000km have been claimed for the future electric vehicles fitted with these batteries.Geely announced earlier this year that it would start production of its own solid-state batteries after a validation process before installing the new battery type in vehicles for next year.Some reports put Geely’s new cells at 500Wh per kg, which is more than double the average battery.It is also more than double the Golden Brick battery found in some Zeekr 7X models, which have a driving range of close to 500km.The Golden Brick is also immensely fast to charge and suck up 450kW of juice when connected to an appropriate DC charger.This solid-state battery could push the driving range of popular EVs such as the Geely EX5, Volvo EX60 and Zeekr 7X well beyond 1000km.So far no Chinese brand has publicly revealed the results of its solid-state trails, which pours cold water on the idea the batteries will arrive soon and change the game.European makers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have shown off what their prototypes can do.In August 2025, Mercedes-Benz completed a trip from Stuttgart in Germany to Malmo, Sweden without charging.The trip covered 1205km and the prototype vehicle had 130km of range left when it reached its location.Mercedes-Benz Chief Technology Officer Markus Schafer said he wants to have this tech in production vehicles before the end of the decade.“The solid-state battery is a true game-changer for electric mobility. With the successful long-distance drive of the EQS, we show that this technology delivers not only in the lab but also on the road."Our goal is to bring innovations like this into series production by the end of the decade and offer our customers a new level of range and comfort,” said Schafer.The reality is the tech will come, but it will likely be expensive and reserved for high-end cars before trickling down to more mainstream models.Audi engineers previously told CarsGuide they might never be mainstream and will be a niche application because they are too hard to manufacture currently.

Zeekr has shared details of its upcoming 7GT wagon ahead of its Australian arrival.Due before the end of 2026, the 7GT will be the brand’s next model following on from the success of the 7X mid-size SUV, and the brand has now confirmed it will bring the same three core trim levels available in China across to our market.This means the 7GT will be available in both standard and long-range versions, as well as a top-spec Performance all-wheel drive.The brand also hinted at an as-yet unknown fourth variant, which was said to be some kind of special edition.The 7GT has already been specified in Europe, where it is available in a base 75kWh Core RWD version with 310kW/440Nm. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds and travel 519km according to WLTP measuring standards. Next is a mid-spec 100kWh Long Range RWD version with the same power outputs and 0-100km/h sprint time despite its larger battery. Its range is boosted to 655km (WLTP).The top-spec Privilege AWD adds a second motor on the front axle, producing a combined output of 475kW/710Nm. It reduces the 0-100km/h sprint time to just 3.3 seconds, but also reduces driving range to 558km (WLTP).If the 7GT’s local price-tags remain relative to the cost of the 7X SUV in China, it will be a keenly-priced option locally. In China, the 7GT is priced lower than the 7X, with a conversion suggesting a starting figure of around $55,000, especially since the entry-level rear-wheel drive version is now confirmed. Expect the top-spec all-wheel drive version to top-out closer to $70,000.While specifications for right-hand drive Australian market cars are yet to be revealed, over in Europe the base car comes with the large 15.0-inch multimedia touchscreen and 13.0-inch digital dash, as well as built-in navigation and even panoramic sunroof. The mid-grade Long Range adds things like a 35.5-inch head-up display, while the top-spec Privilege AWD grade also adds active air suspension with adaptive dampers.Overseas, all three core 7GT variants are also available optionally with a range of interior packages, ranging from suede sports seats through to up-sized performance brakes designed to extend performance usage beyond what would otherwise be possible in cars with such heavy batteries.All versions of the 7GT are also equipped with an 800-volt electrical architecture, allowing a 10-80 per cent charge time between 13 and 16 minutes. All cars are also equipped with 3.3kW vehicle-to-load discharging and 22kW AC charging according to Euro specs.Inside, Euro spec cars get a choice of textile black, or Nappa leather interior trim in either charcoal or white. Chinese cars meanwhile are available with a wider array of interior trims including synthetic suede.The 7GT’s wagon body allows it a 456-litre boot capacity, while the frunk is 65-litres in rear-wheel drive variants or 32 litres in all-wheel drive variants. In Europe, the wagon is permitted to tow 1600kg, although whether this will carry over into the Australian market where regulations tend to be slightly different, remains to be seen.The 7GT was also recently awarded a maximum five-star EuroNCAP safety rating (which is expected to form the basis of a maximum five-star ANCAP rating).The sporty wagon will be Zeekr’s next launch in Australia, with the highly-anticipated 8X large SUV and 9X flagship due over the course of 2027, both of which will introduce plug-in hybrid power to the Chinese premium automaker’s line-up.

Hyundai began production of its newest electric car, the Ioniq 3, at its Türkiye plant during the week, with a promising price tag already attached to the car in the UK.Order books opened for the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 3 in the UK with a starting price of £22,245, which directly converts to A$42,400.While that’s not confirmation we can expect the Ioniq 3’s price to land around $40,000 on arrival in Australia, it does show Hyundai might be able to compete with small electric SUVs from China.Hyundai already sells a 'Light' SUV, the Inster, at around the $40,000 mark, so expect the bigger Ioniq 3 (which comes in at 4155mm long, 1800mm wide and 1505mm tall) to sit above that.While the Hyundai Ioniq 3 likely won’t be able to undercut small electric SUVs (which it’s smaller than) like the BYD Atto 2 (from $31,990), GWM Ora 5 (from $33,990) or Jaecoo J5 (from $36,990), Hyundai’s positioning as a more premium offering should help it entice buyers away.While it’s not set to launch here until the first half of 2027, the Ioniq 3 is also being built in Hyundai’s Türkiye factory, so importing the car from Europe will bring its own costs.However, Hyundai will be keen to make the car as competitive as possible through pricing or spec to bolster its electric car sales.Five variants of the Ioniq 3 have been confirmed for the UK with two battery-size and drivetrain set-ups.The version with a “projected WLTP range” of 344km thanks to a 42.2kWh battery and 108kW output is dubbed Standard Range, while a Long Range version with an anticipated range of 496km but lower output of 100kW is also locked in.The former is only available in the base model and brings the aforementioned £22,245 price with it, while the other drivetrain is available in the base trim as well as three higher grades.An N Line Evo variant tops the line-up at £31,945 (A$60,900).

The Geely EX2 Complete is a budget-friendly entry into the EV market from fast-growing brand Geely, competing with the likes of the BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT and MG4.Starting from $26,490, before on-road costs, the base Complete comes with plenty of features as standard including: Auto LED headlights and tail-lightsPowered seat adjustment14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen 8.8-inch driver displayWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoUSB-A and USB-C portsFour-speaker sound systemDigital radioGeely connected servicesKeyless entry and startLED interior lightingIt’s 4135mm long, 1805mm wide and 1580mm tall, with a 2645mm wheelbase. Between the 375L boot and 75 under-bonnet storage (or ‘frunk’) there’s a segment-defying 450L of luggage space.It’s powered by a 60kW/150Nm motor, mounted at the rear axle, which Geely claims is able to drive the EX2 from 0-100km/h in a sluggish 14.2 seconds. It’s limited to 130km/h.Drawing power from a 35kW battery, the EX2 uses a claimed 15.9kWh/100km, which results in a modest driving range of 252km according to Geely. DC Charging is 60kW, while AC is just 6.2kW.While there’s no ANCAP rating for the EX2 yet, Geely says it was designed with current testing protocols in mind and expects a maximum five-star rating.The list of standard safety features in the 2026 EX2 includes:Seven airbagsOccupant sensor and reminderSurround-view camera Rear parking sensorsHigh-beam assistPedestrian alert (low speed)Traction and stability controlHill-descent controlAdaptive cruise controlFront- and rear-cross traffic alertFront and rear collision warningBlind-spot monitoring Driver monitoringEmergency lane-keepLane-change assistTraffic sign detectionGeely offers a seven-year, unlimited km warranty on the EX2, with eight years coverage for the high-voltage battery.Seven years of roadside assistance and the option to buy up to seven years' of prepaid servicing at $1642 also provide peace-of-mind. Intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km.

Facing the competitive vortex created by more than a dozen new brands from China arriving in the local car market in the last couple of years, Hyundai has clearly embraced the adage ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, join em.’That’s because its pure-electric Elexio mid-size SUV is made by Beijing Hyundai, a Chinese joint-venture company the South Korean giant operates with state-owned carmaker, BAIC.The single-motor, front-wheel drive, five-seater launched here in February this year in a single Elite grade to take on ‘Made in China’ rivals like the BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y.And now it’s been joined by an entry-grade version, simply called Elexio, that drops cost-of-entry from $61,990 to $58,990 (both before on-road costs) bringing it closer to similarly priced, sized and specified alternatives like the previously mentioned BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990) and Tesla Model Y (from $58,900) as well as the Deepal S07 (from $53,990), KGM Torres EV ($58,000, drive-away), Mazda CX-6e (from $53,990), Renault Scenic E-Tech (from $55,990), Cupra Tavascan (from $60,990) and Zeekr 7X (from $57,900).The good news is, while saving three grand you’re not giving away much in terms of standard features. Big ticket items like dual-zone climate control, a six-way power driver’s seat, all LED exterior lighting, a giant 27-inch multimedia touchscreen (more on that later), Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, a head-up display, six-speaker audio, alloy rims and a full-fat safety suite are all included.  For an extra $3.0K the Elite adds heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a power tailgate, 20-inch rims, leather-appointed seats, extra power adjustment for the driver’s seat and power adjust for the front passenger seat.   Proving a car’s looks are always subjective, I read the Elexio’s design as 1990s concept car. There’s something about those slim horizontal headlights with four cube-like LED units across each that says retro-futurism circa 1993.Other than that the car doesn’t stray far from the typical mid-size SUV template although a broad grey band running up the D-pillar and across the roof above the tailgate adds some visual pizzazz to the rear end.The interior is clean and functional but kinda boring, at least for me. The gigantic screen, filling around half the dash dominates things visually, but the otherwise predominantly grey colour palette feels flat.There’s plenty to like in terms of practicality, though, with lots of head, leg and shoulder room for me (at 183cm) front and rear and plenty of storage including generous door bins, a centre oddments box, glove box and a flying buttress style front centre console that creates additional space underneath it. There are multiple USB-C ports and a 12V socket.Also worth calling out is a simple device attached to the centre console cupholder unit. A frame with cup-sized detents in the centre either sits over the two cupholders on the left or flips over the storage tray to its right to create another pair of cupholders. Genius.The boot is a useful 506 litres with the 60/40 split-folding rear seat upright, expanding to 1540 litres with it lowered. No spare wheel, though, just an inflator repair kit, which isn’t good enough in Aussie conditions.The Elexio is powered by a single electric motor sending 160kW/310Nm to the front wheels. Decent outputs, although in a car weighing around 2.1 tonnes acceleration isn’t eye-widening. But this SUV has ample oomph in the city and suburbs as well as for easy highway cruising and overtaking. Ride comfort is more than acceptable, which is a stand-out in the EV era where newcomers often miss the mark on compliance and chassis dynamics. And even the steering passes muster with decent road feel and accuracy.But… then there’s ‘the screen’, confirming bigger isn’t always better.IMAX-like in width, it’s markedly offset to the left with key readouts like speed, battery level, time and climate settings located towards the right-hand end. There’s also a slender head-up display in front of the driver repeating key functions.But if, for example,  you need to adjust the air con on the move you have to take your eyes well and truly off the road and fiddle with on-screen controls. At which point the driver distraction warning slaps you over the wrist with an audible ‘bing’ and visual alert. Grrrr. Physical dials for at least the climate control would be a more user-friendly, safer set-up. An audio volume knob (other than the steering wheel scroll wheel) would be welcome, too.  And speaking of bings and bongs, safety is an Elexio strong suit with a maximum five-star ANCAP rating and nine airbags as well as every monitor, assist and warning known to human kind. But the lane-keeping assist and overspeed warning are overly intrusive, although amazingly, if you decide to switch these features (including the driver fatigue monitor) off, they stay off. No default reset on start-up. Hallelujah!Just to keep the whinging going for a minute, I’m not a fan of the flush-fitting exterior door handles. They pop out at an angle and are awkward to use. And I banged my left knee more than once on the chunky gear selector unit on the right-hand side of the steering column when exiting the car. Annoying and painful.    Claimed range from the 88.1kWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery is 562km (WLTP), with a 150kW DC fast-charge time from 10-80 per cent of 38 minutes. The Elexio also has 10kW AC charging capacity and V2L (vehicle-to-load) capability onboard, the latter accessed via a three-pin connector in the boot.Hyundai’s official combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle energy use figure is 18.2kWh/100km and over a week of city, suburban and freeway running we saw a real-world average of only 15.1kWh/100km, which is as unusual as it is impressive.  Warranty is a competitive seven years, unlimited kilometres and service intervals are two years or 30,000km. Hyundai’s service plans will see you paying $779 at the two-year mark, and another $1118 at four years, which puts your average annual cost at a category competitive $475.

Toyota has proven its no electric car pretender, as it beats all others in the world’s most EV dominant markets.Toyota Europe’s Communications Director Robert Tickner announced the Toyota bZ4X is the best-selling vehicle in Norway and Denmark.These are two of the most cut-throat EV markets with electric vehicles accounting for about 98 per cent of all new cars sold in Norway and more than 60 per cent in Denmark, according to reports.Toyota has bested European locals Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, as well as international giants such as Tesla and Xpeng in the process.The Japanese giant has been heavily criticised for being slow to the electric vehicle market, with it instead betting on hybrids to plug the gap until more people were ready to plug-in.Tickner took a swipe at the haters."Toyota has been criticised by some for not going 'all in' on battery electric vehicles. For me, that's simply a misunderstanding of Toyota's strategy and the reality of true customer demand," said Tickner on LinkedIn.Toyota is now fleshing out its range of battery-powered cars to increasing success, with the company selling 12 EVs in Europe across the Toyota and Lexus brands, according to Tickner.Toyota EV sales trail Tesla, BYD and many others by a massive margin in Australia, but there are green shoots starting to appear.Sales of its bZ4X are up 330 per cent this year to 2075 examples through the first seven months.The company has scrounged around for more stock to help fill orders of the bZ4X. This extra supply is due in the coming months.Toyota just expanded its bZ4X range with the bigger Touring version, which will help boost sales Down Under.Lexus hasn’t had the same success, with its related RZ SUV only selling about 100 examples so far this year. This is still up about 180 per cent compared to the same period in 2025.The new electric version of the Lexus ES sedan is unlikely to be a huge seller.Toyota’s HiLux BEV has just arrived in the country. The all-electric workhorse doesn’t read spectacularly on paper and won’t be replacing diesel utes anytime soon, with it largely pitched to mines and government fleets needing to decarbonise.Toyota has confirmed the C-HR+ electric compact SUV will arrive in Australia in 2027. It shares its underpinnings with the recently launched Subaru Uncharted.Globally there are two configurations and two batteries available.The entry-level model has a single, front-mounted electric motor that produces 123kW and is fed by a 57.7kWh battery pack.There’s also a larger 77kWh battery pack available in the front-wheel drive version, which bumps the power output up to 165kW.There is also a range-topping dual-motor, all-wheel drive set-up with a total system output of 252kW.

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.Just five years ago there were literally no affordable electric vehicles in this category, now the S6 is just the latest arrival in a long line of cut-price, zero-emission vehicles with a family bent.This influx of models has driven lower prices and more choice, two things putting buyers in the driver’s seat.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.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.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.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.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.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.

Electric delivery vans are getting cheaper, and there's a bit of an arms race on now to see who can get their EV van on to the market at a sub-$50,000 price-tag. A new brand called Cavan is the latest to weigh in with a van called the C1 which promises a lot for a small outlay. But does the reality of the C1 match the hype? And can you feel where the money has been engineered out of it?