Geely EX5 vs MG S6

The EX5 is clearly the cheaper car. It opens at $41,990 driveaway to the MG S6's $49,990, a gap of about $8,000, and because both are quoted on a private NSW driveaway basis the comparison is like for like rather than a list-price-versus-driveaway trick. Step up each range and the pattern holds: the EX5 Inspire is $45,990 and the S6 Essence AWD is $56,990. Prices move with offers, so confirm both are current before you buy, but on the road in late 2026 the Geely is meaningfully the cheaper way into a five-star electric SUV.

The S6 takes both. Its 77kWh battery claims up to 530km on the WLTP cycle, where the EX5's smaller 68kWh pack is good for around 475km, so the MG travels roughly 55km further between charges. It also charges quicker, pulling up to 144kW on a DC charger against about 100kW for the Geely, which recovers usable range faster on a road trip. Neither is a fast-charging class leader, and for buyers who mostly charge at home the difference is small. But for higher-mileage drivers and regular road-trippers, the S6 is the easier long-distance companion.

The S6 is the better hauler. It holds 581 litres to the cargo cover, where the EX5 quotes 302 litres above its boot floor, rising to about 410 with the deep under-floor storage box that is one of its cleverer touches, and 1877 litres with the seats folded to the S6's 1690. Both seat five in genuine comfort, and both have roomy back seats, but for prams, luggage and the big weekly shop the MG's larger, single-level boot is the more practical. The Geely counters with that under-floor box, which is ideal for charging cables and loose items you would rather keep out of sight.

This is the MG's strongest argument. Australian reviews are unusually consistent that the S6 rides and handles with a polish rare at the price, crediting its British and Spanish chassis tuning for composed body control, well-weighted steering and impressive quiet, and Chasing Cars called it plainly more polished than the Geely. The EX5, by contrast, is tuned firmly for comfort: reviewers repeatedly flag a soft, under-damped ride that floats and gets bouncy on rougher roads, and light, low-feel steering. The S6 is not flawless, with a firm, busy low-speed edge on its 20-inch wheels, but it is the more resolved car to drive by a clear margin. The EX5 answers with a cushier, quieter cruise if you never push it.

Both carry a current five-star ANCAP rating, so neither is a compromise on the paperwork. The S6's is the newer result, earned in July 2026, and it posts a class-leading 92 per cent adult-occupant score to the EX5's 86, along with strong child-occupant and vulnerable-road-user numbers. The EX5 edges the MG back on safety assist, at 85 per cent to 81. Both fit the full active-safety suite as standard, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera. On the record the two are line-ball, with the S6 a shade stronger on crash protection and the EX5 a shade stronger on driver-assist scoring.

The base cars tell the story. The S6 Essence RWD includes dual-zone climate, a head-up display, ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera and a panoramic-ready cabin as standard. The EX5 Complete matches it on heated seats, a heated wheel, the 360 camera and a bigger 15.4-inch screen, but reserves ventilated seats, the head-up display and the sunroof for the dearer Inspire. So dollar for dollar the MG's base grade is the more loaded, while the Geely's headline advantage is that larger central screen. If you want the comfort kit without stepping up a grade, the S6 is the easier buy.

If towing matters, the S6 is the only real option here. MG rates it to pull 1500kg braked and 750kg unbraked, which covers a small camper trailer, a box trailer or a pair of jet skis. Geely publishes no towing capacity for the EX5, so on the record it is not a car you should hitch a trailer to, a common position for front-drive electric SUVs. It is worth confirming with a dealer if towing is a hard requirement, but as things stand the MG is the tow vehicle of the two by default.

It comes down to what you weigh. For the family that wants the most electric SUV for the least money, the EX5 is the pick: it is about $8,000 cheaper in late 2026, five-star, plush and quiet, and it gives up surprisingly little on the fundamentals. For the family that will spend up for the more complete car, the S6 answers with a bigger boot, dual-zone climate, more range, a tow rating and a more resolved drive. Neither is a wrong answer. Let the budget decide first, and if the extra $8,000 is comfortable, the S6 is the more rounded long-term family car.