MG S5 vs MG S6

The MG S6 is the larger car in every dimension that matters. It measures 4,708mm long on a 2,835mm wheelbase, against the S5's 4,476mm and 2,730mm, so it stretches 232mm longer with 105mm more between the axles. That translates to a 581-litre boot to the S5's 453 with the seats up, 1,690 litres to 1,441 folded, and noticeably more rear-seat space. The S5 sits at the larger end of the small-SUV class; the S6 is a genuine medium SUV. If cabin and cargo room lead your list, the S6 is the step up; if a tidy footprint matters more, the S5 stays easier to park.

The S6 opens at $49,990 drive-away for the rear-drive Essence, roughly $8,000 above the S5 Essence 49 at $41,990. For that step you gain a bigger car, a 581-litre boot, a longer wheelbase, the longest range here at 530km from a 77kWh battery, and quicker charging at 144kW DC and 11kW AC. The cabin is plusher too, adding a head-up display, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting and vegan-leather trim as standard. The S5 answers with the lower price, an easier size and a warranty three years longer in time. The extra money buys space and range, not a nicer badge, since both wear the same one.

The rear-drive S6 is the distance champion here, rated at 530km WLTP from its 77kWh battery. The S5 splits the task across two grades: the base Essence 49 claims 335km from a 49kWh battery, while the $46,990 Essence 62 Long Range reaches 450km. So the dearest S5 lands between the two S6 grades, ahead of the S6 AWD's 485km but behind the rear-driver's 530. All are laboratory figures that fall in real-world driving, and any of them clears a typical week of town running. For the longest legs on a single charge, the rear-drive S6 is the pick.

Both MGs carry the maximum five-star ANCAP rating on 2025 testing, so neither is a compromise on safety. Look closer and the S6 leads the crash scores by a small margin: 92 per cent for adult occupants against the S5's 90, 87 for children to 86, 84 for vulnerable road users to 82, and 81 on safety assist to 79. Both come with the same standard driver aids: AEB, adaptive cruise, lane-keep, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Reviewers do flag MG's attention monitor and speed-sign chimes as over-eager until you turn them down, a trait shared across both cars. Call safety a wash, the S6 a fraction stronger on paper.

Both cars ride MG's ownership program, yet the warranty terms are not identical. The S5 is covered for 10 years or 250,000km, with the full decade holding when you service on schedule at an MG dealer. The S6 runs a 7-year warranty with no distance cap, so it suits a higher-mileage owner while the S5's longer term favours a low-kilometre keeper. Roadside cover extends to 10 years on both when you keep servicing with MG, and both run the same 12-month or 25,000km intervals. Neither burns fuel, so ongoing costs narrow to charging, tyres and insurance. Read it as the S5 longer in years, the S6 open-ended on distance.

They aim at different briefs. The S5 borrows the MG 4's rear-drive layout, and the AU press lands on one verdict for it: the tidier, better-balanced car through a set of bends, helped by its lighter, shorter body. The S6 trades that sharpness for space and calm, riding as a comfort-tuned family cruiser, though its larger footprint takes more room to park. Both keep welcome physical climate controls, and both draw the same complaint about a busy low-speed ride on their standard wheels, more noticeable on the S6's 20-inch rims. For a keen driver in the city, the S5 is the more engaging; for relaxed family miles, the S6 is the easier companion.

The S6 is the one to hitch a trailer to. It carries a 1,500kg braked towing rating, double the S5's 750kg, which is the difference between pulling a small camper or box trailer and being held to the lightest trailers only. Unbraked, the pair both sit at 750kg, and heavy hauling is beyond either, so weigh your load with care. For most buyers of a compact electric SUV, towing barely enters the decision, but if an occasional trailer or bike rack is on your list, the S6's braked figure is the one that counts. On towing, the bigger MG is the clear choice.

For a first electric car chosen on budget, the S5 is the natural way in. At $41,990 drive-away the Essence 49 is the lower-priced of the two, its smaller 4,476mm body is the easier one to park while you find your feet with an EV, and it still brings the five-star ANCAP rating and the same dealer network and roadside backing as its bigger sibling. Around town the base 335km range covers a comfortable week between charges. The S6 makes the stronger case for a buyer who needs the space or the range from day one, but it asks about $8,000 more to get on the road. For a budget-first newcomer, the S5 is the place to start.

It comes down to how much car you need. Buy the MG S6 if space and range lead: it is a full size class larger inside, holds 128 litres more boot, goes furthest at 530km, and charges quicker, for about $8,000 more at $49,990 drive-away. Buy the MG S5 if the lower $41,990 price and a city-friendly footprint matter more, and you value the longer 10-year warranty term and the sharper rear-drive steer. Both are five-star safe and share MG's dealer network, so there is no wrong badge here, only the right size for your life. Most family buyers will want the S6; most first-EV and city buyers, the S5.