The wait is over. MG finally dropped their mid-size EV in Australia today.
It’s not a subtle play. This is the MG S6 Essence, and it’s priced to hurt the Tesla Model Y’s feelings. $49,99 drive-away for the base model. The all-wheel drive version costs $56,99 drive-away.
Look. That single-motor RWD version makes 180kW and promises 530km of range on the WLTP cycle. A generous figure, sure, but you have to wonder if you’ll get it in the real world. The dual-motor AWD kicks that up to 266kW, shaving 45km off the range estimate down to 485km, but letting you sprint to 100km/h in just over 5 seconds. The RWD does it in 7.3. Not fast, not slow. Adequate.
MG kept the battery secrets to themselves. They won’t list the capacity or chemistry on Australian spec sheets, though overseas documents confirm a 77kwh NMC pack. You’ll get 144kW charging on a 150kw DC fast charger, taking 10% to 80% in 38 minutes. Both trims come with a heat pump. Good. And one-pedal driving. Also good.
It sits on the same platform as the MG 4 and the smaller S5. It replaces the Marvel R. The Marvel R never saw Australian soil, mostly because MG never bothered making it in right-hand drive.
Dimensions matter here. At 4708mm in length and 1912 mm wide, it’s 84 mm shorter than a Model Y but 70 mm narrower. It is also 20 mm taller. Does it fit the same garage? Yes. Is it tighter on the hips? Probably.
The name ‘Essence’ usually means top-shelf for MG. That implies there might be a cheaper, stripped-down version coming later. Who knows? Maybe. Maybe not.
Standard gear is actually thick. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated outer rear seats, a panoramic fixed glass roof, a head-up display. Wireless Apple CarPlay. A 12.8-inch screen. Ambient lighting that will look great in Instagram stories but do little for the driving experience.
You get 50w wireless charging, so your phone won’t starve. You also get adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera. Blind-spot monitoring is standard, which is non-negotiable these days.
Interiors offer a choice between ‘Grey Ivory’ with some Nordic Ashwood fake wood or ‘Dark’ with faux carbon fibre. ‘Dark’ feels less likely to stain, honestly. Exteriors are standard in Dover White, with paid options in Stratford Gold, Black Pearl, Camden Grey, Piccadilly Blue, Sterling Silver, or Diamond Red. Pick your poison.
Seven-year warranty. Unlimited kilometres. If you stick to dealer servicing, they extend it to ten years or 250k kilometres. That is a lot of miles for a cheap EV.
MG currently has seven EVs in the market. The 4 (in two trims), the S5, this new S6, the IM6, the IM5 liftback, and the Cyberster convertible. An electric U9 ute is on the way too.
They were the fourth-best-selling EV brand last year. Sales dropped nearly 22%.
Undercutting the Tesla and BYD isn’t new news for MG, but this model slots perfectly below the IM6 ($60k drive-away) and above the S5 ($38k). If this price holds up, and the build quality isn’t abysmal, Kia’s position might wobble.
We’ll see how the market reacts. MG has a rival to Australia’s best-selling car, finally. Whether anyone cares is a different story.
