MGS6: See what a price war in the EV market can do

A year ago, for NIS 180,000, you could buy one of the well-equipped versions of the Chinese electric crossovers: The BYD Atto 3, Lynk & Co 02, and Leapmotor C10. Even the smaller, well-equipped Geely Geometry C carried a price of over NIS 170,000. Today, all of them are offered as zero-kilometer cars at tens of thousands of shekels less. Israelis did not really identify exceptional value for money here.

The result: MG is now launching, at this price, and you will even get NIS 1,000 in change, the S6. This is a significantly larger electric vehicle, classified in the industry as D-segment rather than C. About 25 cm more in length, more space in the rear seat and trunk, additional power and extended range. The size of a seven-seat gasoline crossover, but as a very spacious five-seat electric vehicle. The S6 replaces, in the Chinese manufacturer’s internal hierarchy, the Marvel R, which was launched in Israel three years ago with a starting price of NIS 206,000, showing how much EV prices have fallen since then despite continued tax increases.

This is part of a renewed offensive by the Chinese manufacturer in the electric market. Alongside it, the smaller S5 is also being launched, replacing the electric ZS, with a starting price of NIS 149,000.

Unlike other Chinese manufacturers that suffered a decline in sales in Israel in 2025 due to reduced demand for EVs, MG actually posted a 30% increase to 8,500 cars. MG, which is also the best-selling Chinese brand in Europe, identified in time that the electric revolution was not going to happen so quickly and added three hybrid models and one plug-in hybrid to its lineup: The MG3 supermini, the hybrid ZS, and the HS sold as both hybrid and plug-in. Another plug-in, the seven-seat S9, will join soon.

Can the S6 generate an electric comeback?

Twenty years ago, China’s SAIC identified an opportunity and acquired the British MG brand, immediately gaining a well-known marque with a clear identity. Along with it came British engineers and designers who relocated to Shanghai, a move that later became more common in the industry. The S6 is a Chinese car, but it doesn’t look like one. It looks more European. A slightly refined, slightly wagon-like crossover, different from other Chinese models that recruited German designers. Some of this comes from its dimensions: 4.71 meters long, 1.91 meters wide, 1.67 meters high, with a wheelbase of 2.84 meters. It’s a shame that any color that isn’t metallic requires a NIS 1,900 surcharge.

The European DNA is felt even more strongly around the driver. Half the EV market is an unsuccessful copy of Tesla, with screen-only operation and no physical buttons, a victory for manufacturing costs and showroom impact, but a safety risk on the road when every time the driver wants to lower the air-conditioning they have to take their eyes off the road. The S6 won’t kill you when you want to change the temperature. There is a 12.8-inch screen for operation and multimedia, but also a smaller 10.25-inch screen as a digital instrument cluster, plus a head-up display projecting speed data onto the windshield.

There are also physical buttons for controlling air-conditioning intensity and temperature, and for audio volume. They require sliding up or down rather than using more effective rotary dials, but it is still advanced technology without side effects. When using the screen, the division between sub-menus is clear and easy to navigate, including Android Auto, but the fonts are too small. There are also none of the complications beloved by the Chinese: For example, the charging port opens with the central locking and doesn’t require an additional button press.

Material quality is good, with extensive use of soft-touch plastics. Our car came with the dark interior version. An extra NIS 1,600 gets you a light interior that significantly upgrades the cabin, but is more challenging to keep clean over time.

The front seating position is comfortable, and both front seats are electrically adjustable. Outward visibility is excellent thanks to the large windows. Rearward visibility is also better than average.

The rear seat is one of the car’s standout points. Space is huge, both for knees and head. The floor is flat, and even a teenager or a full-grown adult will not complain about lack of room. There is also enough space for three toddlers in child seats. The panoramic roof, with an electric blind, further enhances the sense of space. There are air-conditioning vents and two USB ports. The backrest angle cannot be adjusted as in some cheaper Chinese crossovers.

A near-wagon-like capacity of 493 liters is paired with an electric tailgate. The compartment is lined with soft materials. There is no under-floor compartment and no spare wheel, but the 12-volt battery is located there. At the front, under the hood where there is no engine, there is also a very large front trunk with a capacity of 124 liters, which can hold the charging cable and other permanent gear, leaving the rear trunk free for shopping.

12.8-inch multimedia and control screen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, physical control switches for audio and climate control, ventilated front seats with electric adjustment, heating for all five seats. There is also fast wireless phone charging, a smart key, 20-inch wheels, roof rails, an opening panoramic roof with an electric blind, electric tailgate, an 11-speaker stereo system, and 360-degree cameras.

The S6 received a full 5-star rating in the latest European crash test. The safety specification includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, and more. The alerts are a bit intrusive, especially when the Chinese test car insisted, for some reason, on shouting at me in Polish. Ah, globalization.

The test car was the rear-wheel-drive version, with 245 hp and a 0–100 km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds. For those who want more, there is also an all-wheel-drive version that adds a front motor, increases output to 361 hp, and cuts the 0–100 km/h time to 5.1 seconds, all for an extra NIS 10,000.

Performance is excellent, even when selecting the calmer driving modes rather than Sport, which must be chosen via the screen. A successful chassis allows the power to be exploited even on more challenging roads.

There is a relatively large battery here, 77 kWh, with a claimed range of 530 kilometers. We achieved 400 real-world kilometers in mixed driving, mostly relaxed intercity or urban. That’s quite a lot, and more than you’ll get from the Atto 3 and its peers. Very gentle driving or mostly urban use will improve the figure, but there is still a relatively large gap between the manufacturer’s claim and reality.

Three-phase home charging is at 11 kW. Fast charging peaks at 144 kW, which is a bit slow by market standards and means you’ll need nearly 40 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%. Regeneration level can be adjusted, but via the screen, and even at maximum there is no true one-pedal driving for those who prefer it.

Unlike many EVs that transmit every urban pothole directly to your back and ears, the MG once again demonstrates its British genes. It is comfortable in the city without being too soft outside it. It also delivers European road manners, with good body control in corners and precise steering. It’s not a sporty Kia EV6, but it’s very good, especially for the price. Investment is evident here as well, with Michelin Primacy tires rather than some anonymous Chinese brand.

The S6 is launched in Israel simultaneously with Europe. There it is compared to the Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4, which no longer reach Israel due to pricing that would now place them around NIS 250,000. Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are also present there and imported here. The MG is NIS 70,000 cheaper, so in Israel it has virtually no direct competition.

This is a spacious and well-equipped crossover, easy to operate, comfortable, quick, and with good road manners. The range is less impressive but still usable, and fast charging is somewhat slow. Most importantly, it does not feel like a Chinese car. At a price only NIS 20,000 higher than well-equipped family electric crossovers, it delivers strong value for money and illustrates the growing difficulty faced by European and South Korean manufacturers in competing with Chinese pricing.