At the controls of the new MGS6 EV, the new electric competitor of the Chinese firm.

MG is the Chinese brand of the moment in our country. By sales volume, it is the company that dominates the market, with a clear focus on the low or entry range. Last year they sold 45,163 units and grew by 46.78%.

If we expand the focus to the rest of the market, BYD with 25,556 units was the second Chinese brand that sold the most cars (although in this case they only registered plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles) and MG put it in the Spanish market more cars than historical ones like Citroën, Ford, Nissan or Opel.

So far this yearthe MG ZS is once again positioned as one of the 10 best-selling cars in our country but there is a clear gap between this SUV, the MG3 (which has a hybrid option) and the rest of the range. In fact, of the 6,031 registrations this year, the sum of both models exceeds 5,000 units.

Its electric offer, driven by the MG4 Electric, has been losing strength. Now, the MGS6 EV is the opportunity to get back on track.

MGS6 EV technical sheet

The battle for the best electric family heats up

Cars with an SUV body, electric, about 4.70 meters long and at relatively affordable prices. Space, price and autonomy to convince the client.

These are the premises that must be clear to companies that are preparing to move on quicksand terrain. Sizes where price value is important but where the customer already seriously values ​​other attributes. Until not long ago, the Tesla Model Y It was the only candidate for those looking for an SUV electric car of this size without resorting to a premium brand.

Right now, Elon Musk’s company already has to face the Skoda Elroqthe most affordable proposal (and one of the most interesting on the market) from the Volkswagen Group. And, as an alternative, Chinese proposals. we have the Lepmotor C10he BYD Seal U electric. Now the MGS6 EV is added and does so with good conditions.

Thinking about prioritizing size and price, this electric SUV arrives 4.71 meters long, 1.92 meters wide, 1.67 meters high and, above all, with a wheelbase of 2.82 meters that takes the rear seats to an enormous width. Added to doors that are close to 90º when opening or a trunk that boasts 674 liters (we believe measured to the roof) and another 124-liter front trunk where we have verified that a cabin suitcase fits, the MGS6 EV is clearly committed to the family aspect.

He does it with a car that, inside, has presence. Soft plastics well distributed and pleasant to the touch. Physical controls for gear selection and temperature or volume control with a good feel. It is not the best but in cabins where all physical buttons disappear, it is appreciated that the climate temperature and fan speed can be raised and lowered with physical controls.

The steering wheel is good, with individual buttons for each function, without touch surfaces. It is accompanied by a 10.25-inch instrument panel screen and a 12.6-inch central one. Not made a larger screen and since it is not integrated, I almost prefer it to the. increasingly common, panels larger than 15 inches.

The surface to leave the mobile phone charging wirelessly has a small textile surface and a fan to prevent it from heating up, and in the lower area there are USB sockets and a huge space where you can leave objects. Connectivity with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is wireless. These are all details that raise the perception of quality and make MG look closely at its rivals.

Where I think the proposal is a little weaker is in the system of infotainment. It feels somewhat heavy and the response to touches is not immediate. Luckily, the menus are well structured and the touch surfaces are large, so navigation is easier in this part.

In addition, there is an upper drop-down menu with which you can select the personalized driving profile so with a movement of the finger and a touch we can have the car ready in the driving mode (Comfort, Sport, ECO, Snow or custom), the level of regenerative braking and the desired ADAS systems quickly and intuitively.

We have not been able to test these driving aids because the route has mostly run along secondary roads. What is certain is that the system is not intrusive at all because it has not been correcting us as we linked curves.

Yes, it has surprised us for the better, it has been the first dynamic contact with the car. My prejudices, I expected a car with a soft and long suspension, as usually happens with Chinese cars. Or very artificial direction. But this has not happened by any means. The suspension contains the body more than I expected and the steering transmits practically nothing that happens with the wheels but it does have weight and does not feel chewy.

The MGS6 EV comes with two engines and a single battery. The latter is 77 kWh and the options are rear with a 244 HP motor or all-wheel drive, with motors on both axles, 361 HP. For the first, the approval indicates 530 kilometers of autonomy and 16.6 kWh/100 km of consumption. For the second 485 kilometers and 18.1 kWh/100 km. In both cases, the maximum charging power remains at 144 kW and the figures are not too good in a sustained load, promising to go from 10 to 80% in 38 minutes.

The test has been of short duration and we cannot draw clear conclusions about consumption. It approves 16.6 kWh/100 km, which is not a spectacular figure (a Tesla Model Y is at 13.1 kWh/100 km) but it is clearly better than the Leapmotor and BYD options whose approvals are close to 20 kWh/100 kilometers. If on the road it moves in this last figure, the MGS6 EV will move about 370 kilometers before stopping.

What has surprised us is the car’s acceleration capacity. We have tested its rear-wheel drive version and it is a car that handles well in traffic and whose first kick is enough to allow overtaking with ease. It is easy for it to fail before others but we will now move at speeds where we do not need more power. Furthermore, with Sport mode active, the first impulse is much more evident. The car announces an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds for this version and 5.3 seconds for all-wheel drive.

Regarding its role in the market, MG aspires to fight with Leapmotor and BYD with a somewhat smaller car but with rear seats and a very competitive trunk. It remains to be seen if the consumption of a Tesla Model Y, which can be found for less than 40,000 euros, does not eat into the proposal of 37,789 euros with which this MGS6 EV goes on the market, a price that includes the help of the Government and the compensation that the brand makes in the form of a direct discount to equal the 4,500 euros that the State would provide in the best of cases.

Without discounts or aid of any kind, the starting price is 45,990 euros for this car and 48,990 euros for the all-wheel drive option. Much less attractive figures and that, especially in the case of the all-wheel drive version (even if the starting price is 40,789 euros with aid and discounts) is less recommendable because it anticipates higher consumption that does not compensate for the extra power seeing the behavior of its rear-wheel drive version.

Photos | Xataka

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