The MG S6 goes farther than just about any electric vehicle (EV) you can buy with a Category A certificate of entitlement (COE) today.
With a beefy battery and an efficient motor powering the rear wheels, the car can cover 530km on a single charge, more than the 450km or so range of its peers. This should be enough to reach Genting Highlands from Singapore in one go with plenty of kilometres to spare.
While rivals have to stop for at least one charging session in Kuala Lumpur, the MG’s driver will already be at the summit, checking in to the hotel. For those who keep their motoring within Singapore, that range advantage translates to two extra
days of driving, or at least one round trip between Changi Airport and Tuas.
Among Category A EVs, only the Kia EV5, which is a slightly smaller car, does it better – by 10km – using a larger battery than the MG. The S6 is the fourth model built on MG’s dedicated EV platform. It comes after the MG 4 hatchback, the Cyberster two-seater convertible and, most recently, the S5, which is a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that rivals the BYD Atto 3 and Aion V.
The S6 uses the same 77kW Nickel Maganese Cobalt battery as the Cyberster, rather than the smaller capacity lithium iron
phosphate battery used in other MG EVs.
At 4,708mm long, the S6 is aimed at the likes of the BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y. Unlike BYD and Tesla, which offer their cars in a variety of outputs, the MG S6 is sold here exclusively with 109kW.
This qualifies the MG for the more affordable Category A COE, even though the car is offered with 180kW elsewhere.
At the most recent COE tender exercise on Jan 21, the cost of a Category A COE is $12,133 less than a Category B one, so that is the minimum savings from tuning down the S6. The lower power output also means a saving of $416 in
annual road tax, at $1,556.
The S6 looks more grown-up than MG’s other EVs, mostly because the car is larger than the models before it. The overall styling is also more subdued, and this approach may appeal to those who want to drive an EV but do not want to make a
big fuss about it. Aside from the “missing” radiator grille and lack of exhaust pipes, there is very little to signal its EV status. Pop the bonnet and, instead of an engine, there is a bin to store a bit of shopping. Refreshingly, the S6 avoids the trend of finicky pop-out door handles for good old-fashioned handles, which are much more intuitive to use.
Even though the seat is mounted above the battery pack, the driving position feels natural, making entry and exit easy while maintaining good all-round visibility. Further enhancing the ease of use is the array of physical switches for functions like setting the mirror positions, dual-zone airconditioning and the volume.
For everything else, there is the 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Its menu structure is quite flat, so it rarely takes more than three taps on the screen to getthe job done. You can connect your phone – whether Apple CarPlay or Android
Auto – to the system wirelessly or with a cable.
The car is also equipped with head-up display, which is uncommon among Category A COE models. There are plenty of driving aids on board, including a speed-limit warning which was a bit unreliable during the test drive. It flagged 40kmh instead of 70kmh on part of Adam Road, triggering chimes. Since speed-limit monitoring, along with others like lane assist
and driver monitoring, resets each time the car is started, the programmable hotkey is a lifesaver. It allows the driver to restore the preferred setting with a single click, bypassing the need to toggle each feature through the screen.
Accommodation at the back certainly feels like an upgrade over previous MGs, with more room for shoulders, hips and knees.
The adjustable backseat can recline a bit more than usual, which is useful during long drives. Just as relevant for road-tripping
is the spacious boot, which can be expanded from 674 litres to 1,690 litres by folding the rear seats. This is more than sufficient for a family weekend getaway.
Be careful when using the footactivated boot opening function. The sensor under the bumper can be overly sensitive, mistaking a casually moving foot as the cue to start closing the boot while you are still loading up the trunk.
Good thing then that the hatch will stop trying to close when something – or someone’s neck –
gets in its way.
The upholstery is a combination of vegan leather and a suede-like material, which has a muted, almost dusty, look. It is comfortable and holds occupants in place better than fresh, slippery leather.
Overall, the MG’s cabin feels more robust and functional than luxurious; more like a Toyota than a Lexus, which is not a bad thing for a family car. The S6’s motor output may have been tuned down to comply with the Category A COE criteria, but
the car still has plenty of torque – at 350Nm – which is more than the turbocharged 2-litre in a BMW 5-
series.
What this means is that the EV delivers effortless progress, even with passengers on board. The car is more responsive in the Sport drive mode, especially when getting off the line. But compared with the MG’s earlier models based on the same EV underpinnings, the S6 feels like a more grown-up car and is better enjoyed with a more relaxed driving style, trading
sharpness for comfort. It does well in the ride department. Even though the suspension is quite soft, the car remains composed even when driven briskly over uneven roads, unlike some EVs which tend to pitch and bob quite a bit.
The steering feels reasonably accurate, if not quite as precise and satisfying to use as the S5 before it. Crucially, the car is frugal. The test car averages 14.6kWh/100km, which is just a bit more than the S5 that was reviewed in 2025. This
translates to an operating range of nearly 550km, which is even better than claimed.
Call it the ultimate pair of sensible shoes if you will, but MG’s biggest achievement with the S6 is making the electric transition feel remarkably painless.
LEE NIAN TJOE
Download PDF to read. Reproduced with permission
www.mg.com.sg/mgs6