Video first drive: MG’s new MGS6 EV is a Model Y for $10k less

MG’s third all-electric launch of 2026 is here, and this one is aimed straight at the biggest-selling EV on the planet. The MGS6 EV is a mid-size electric SUV that is a similar size to a Tesla Model Y, with similar features and similar range, for a much lower price. And after a first drive on Auckland roads, it deserves a very close look.

Two flavours are on offer. The rear-wheel drive Essence opens the range at $56,990 plus on-road costs, while the dual-motor Essence AWD lands at $63,990 plus on-road costs. Both carry the same 77kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese battery, and the equipment lists are almost identical; the AWD adds a second motor and a panoramic glass roof, and that is genuinely it. Even the entry car gets the head-up display, something Tesla still does not offer at any price.

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.

Fast enough, and that is the point

The rear-drive car sends 180kW and 350Nm to the back wheels, good for 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds. The AWD steps that up to 266kW and 540Nm, dropping the sprint to 5.1 seconds.

Neither number leads the class, and a Model Y will pull away from both. But be honest with yourself: do you really need a two-tonne family SUV hitting 100km/h in five seconds? For this class of vehicle, 180kW at the rear wheels is plenty, with strong response around town, easy overtaking, and a bit of fun to be had when the tarseal runs out. Rear-wheel drive on gravel remains a simple pleasure.

Where the numbers matter more for EV buyers is range and charging, and here the RWD is the star: 530km WLTP against the AWD’s 485km, the difference down to the extra motor and roughly 100kg the dual-motor car carries. Both peak at 144kW on DC, taking 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 38 minutes, and both get a heat pump as standard, so winter range should hold up better than the LFP-equipped budget set. An 11kW onboard AC charger, vehicle-to-load capability and five regen settings including a proper one-pedal mode round out a genuinely complete EV spec sheet. Towing is rated at 750kg unbraked and 1500kg braked.

The mafia test

Built on MG’s Modular Scalable Platform, the MGS6 EV is 4708mm long on a 2835mm wheelbase, and the cabin space it liberates is frankly staggering. The rear door aperture is enormous, which anyone wrestling child seats will appreciate, and rear legroom borders on the absurd. The boot swallows 581 litres with the seats up and 1690 litres folded, and yes, it comfortably passes the mafia test. The RWD adds an 86-litre frunk; the AWD makes do with 67 litres because there is a motor in the way. A powered tailgate is standard on both.

The interior is where MG’s transformation over the past few years really shows. The Grey Ivory option pairs light upholstery with Nordic Ashwood-style trim and looks far more expensive than it is, and fabric-look suede on the seats is a welcome change from the wall-to-wall black plastic of MGs past. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated outer rears and a heated steering wheel are all standard, and MG has kept proper physical climate controls rather than burying everything in the screen. Thank you, MG.

That screen is a 12.8-inch unit alongside a 10.25-inch driver display, and MG’s latest operating system is night and day compared with the software the brand was shipping five years ago: quicker, cleaner, and far more logical. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 50W wireless charging and an 11-speaker sound system with subwoofer are all included, plus built-in YouTube and TikTok apps for entertainment while you charge.

On the road

The ride sits a little on the firm side, though it remains comfortable with it. The AWD shows some noticeable jiggle over imperfect surfaces, likely down to that extra 100kg. The payoff is grip: both variants feel 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 everything composed, and the whole car drives with a polish that would have seemed impossible from MG three or four years ago.

Our pick? Unless you need all-wheel drive, buy the RWD. It rides slightly better, goes 45km further on a charge, gets the bigger frunk and saves you $7000, and the only things you give up are the glass roof and a turn of pace few family buyers will ever use.

Five stars, ten years

The MGS6 EV carries a five-star ANCAP rating, with full points for driver protection in the full-width and side impact tests and strong child occupant scores. The complete MG Pilot suite is standard, including adaptive cruise, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot detection and a 360-degree camera, plus a Custom function for saving your preferred assistance settings, and seven airbags including a front-centre unit.

Warranty coverage is 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.