Words: Richard Edwards
Published 8 July 2026
MG has launched its third all-electric model for 2026, a mid-size electric SUV sized, specced and priced to tempt buyers out of a Tesla Model Y. After a first drive on Auckland roads, the MGS6 EV looks well placed to do exactly that.
The range opens at $56,990 plus on-road costs for the rear-wheel drive Essence, with the dual-motor Essence AWD at $63,990 plus on-road costs. That puts the entry car roughly $10,000 under the equivalent Model Y. Both variants carry the same 77kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese battery and near-identical equipment lists; the AWD adds a second motor and a panoramic glass roof, and that is about it.
Interestingly, MG itself is not framing the car as a Tesla fighter. Dean Sheed, Country Business Manager at MG Motor New Zealand, repeated a message at the launch he first delivered when the MG4 Urban arrived: the brand sees its growth coming from conquesting buyers out of petrol and diesel vehicles, not from trading sales with other electric brands. On that logic the MGS6 EV is pitched at families in RAV4s and Outlanders as much as anyone shopping EVs, though at this price and size the Model Y comparison is unavoidable.
More than quick enough
The rear-drive car produces 180kW and 350Nm, good for 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds, while the AWD lifts that to 266kW and 540Nm for a 5.1-second sprint.
Neither figure troubles the class leaders. A Model Y will get away from either variant, and several rivals in the segment post quicker numbers. It matters little in the real world. This is a family SUV, and 180kW driving the rear wheels is more than enough for the job, with strong response around town and easy overtaking on the open road. The AWD adds real pace for buyers who want it, though few need a two-tonne family wagon hitting 100km/h in five seconds.
Range favours the RWD: 530km on the WLTP cycle, against 485km for the heavier AWD. Both charge from 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 38 minutes on a suitably fast DC charger, peaking at 144kW, and both carry a heat pump as standard, along with an 11kW onboard AC charger, vehicle-to-load capability and five levels of regenerative braking including a one-pedal mode. Towing is rated at 750kg unbraked and 1500kg braked.
Room to spare
Built on MG’s Modular Scalable Platform, the MGS6 EV measures 4708mm long on a 2835mm wheelbase, and the space that liberates is clear as soon as you open a rear door. Rear seat room is generous even by class standards, with a wide aperture that makes fitting child seats easy. The boot holds 581 litres with the seats up and 1690 litres folded, plus an 86-litre frunk in the RWD (67 litres in the AWD, which houses a front motor). A powered tailgate is standard on both.
The cabin is a big step forward for the brand. Vegan leather with suede-look upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outer rear seats and a heated steering wheel all feature, and the Grey Ivory interior option with its Nordic Ashwood-style trim looks more expensive than it is.
MG has also kept physical controls for the climate system rather than burying everything in the touchscreen.
That screen is a 12.8-inch unit paired with a 10.25-inch driver display and a head-up display, all standard across the range. MG’s latest operating system is quicker and far more logically laid out than the software of even a few years ago, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 50W wireless phone charging and an 11-speaker audio system with subwoofer.
On the road, the MGS6 EV rides a little on the firm side, but remains comfortable with it. The AWD shows some noticeable jiggle over imperfect surfaces, likely down to the extra 100kg it carries over the rear-drive car. That firmness pays off in grip, with both variants feeling incredibly sure-footed, holding their line without fuss even on the slick, damp semi-rural roads of our launch route. The MacPherson strut front and five-link rear suspension keeps things composed through corners; this is a far more polished car to drive than the MGs of even three or four years ago.
Our pick? Unless you need all-wheel drive, the RWD is the one. It rides that little bit better, goes further on a charge, gains the bigger frunk and saves $7000, giving up only the panoramic roof and straight-line pace few will miss.
Five stars, ten years
The MGS6 EV carries a five-star ANCAP rating, with the organisation noting very good all-round protection, full points for driver protection in the full-width and side impact tests, and strong scores for child occupant protection. The full MG Pilot driver assistance suite is standard, including adaptive cruise, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot detection and a 360-degree camera, along with a Custom function that lets drivers save their preferred settings, and seven airbags including a front-centre unit.
Warranty coverage runs to seven years with unlimited kilometres as standard, extendable to 10 years or 250,000km when servicing with MG.
“This year has been a milestone for MG, with the MGS6 EV marking our third all-electric launch in 2026 so far and completing our most comprehensive EV lineup to date,” says Sheed.
