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electric, MG, Motoring

MG performance with premium quality

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MGS6 Trophy

By Bill McCarthy

In recent years MG has built an impressive UK presence. It has now ventured back into the premium sector with models in the ‘6’ range. Premium to the point that two out of three variants are over £40,000 and subject to the £410 annual Expensive Car Supplement on road tax.

The MGS6 EV is a case in point. A large SUV, it offers distinctive styling, excellent range from its 77kWh battery, and a host of hi-tech gadgetry – which can sometimes become annoying, but more on that later.

This top-of-the-range, twin-motor model is currently priced at just a fiver short of £44,000. There are two trims, SE and Trophy, both offering long range and rear-wheel drive, except in the case of this twin-motor model.

This model delivers a truly exhilarating drive, with the dual motors punching out a maximum of 361bhp to rocket the vehicle to 60mph in just five seconds. Add to this a claimed maximum range of 329 miles, and it’s quite a package.

It’s not all about performance, though. It certainly looks the part – sleek and sporty, yet aerodynamically efficient. The front design features an active grille shutter, and ultra-slim headlights that deliver an almost predatory look. Also included are aero wheel covers, which are claimed to add nearly 30 miles of range. In profile, the sporty look is rounded off with a full-length panoramic roof, a full-width light bar at the rear, and stylish 20-inch alloy wheels.

Exterior Design

The stylish interior of the MG6 EV, showcasing the advanced infotainment system and a sleek design.

Interior and technology

The interior has a real high-end feel, with ambient lighting, and powered and heated suede-style seats on either side of the floating centre console, which features storage space and a phone charging mat. 

Two screens dominate: a 12.8-inch HD touchscreen and a 10.25-inch display delivering real-time information to the driver. The touchscreen controls major functions like infotainment, connectivity, various apps and navigation functions. This model also features a Head-Up Display (HUD) and a 360° HD Surround View Camera.

The display itself is clear enough, but it is far from perfect. It is not alone in this; as technology moves on, more functions are added and are not always displayed most intuitively.

The MG Pilot Safety Suite, accessed via the touchscreen, controls the driver assistance systems, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, and Blind Spot Detection. It can be distracting, as can the constant bings, bongs and voice alerts, which are difficult to turn off. I really struggled with the overspeed limit warning, which would sometimes activate at speeds over just 20mph.


Having said that, and to make life less distracting for the driver, there are still plenty of physical controls, including those on the multi-function steering wheel. Otherwise, it’s hard to criticise, as occupants enjoy huge amounts of head and legroom and the ambient lighting and panoramic roof make the interior a pleasant experience.

On the road

On the road, the car delivers blistering acceleration, mated with decent handling for an SUV, with little evidence of leaning into corners , even with a softish ride. The claimed range is one of the closest to the real-world range I have tested and I estimated around 270 miles against a WLTP figure of 301 for this model.

Drivers can tailor the car’s behaviour with five drive modes and a true one-pedal driving mode.

Practicality and Charging

This is a proper family-sized vehicle offering space, space and more space. The 674 litre boot is class-leading and can be extended to 1,910 litres with the seats folded for van-like capacity. In addition, the front ‘frunk’ offers an impressive extra 124 litres. A vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function can power household electric items, like a grille or kettle.

Charging is on the slow side compared to competitors. Both variants support rapid charging, going from 10% to 80% charge in approximately 38 minutes using a 150kW DC fast charger.

Verdict

A fine blend of style, space and startling performance and practicality that proves MG can play with the big boys – just be prepared to mute the irritating safety aler

Factfile

  • MGS6 Trophy Long Range

  • Price: £43,995

  • Mechanical: 351bhp, 77kWh battery and twin motor driving all wheels via an automatic transmission

  • Max Speed: 124mph

  • 0-62mph: 5 seconds

  • Combined MPG: 301

  • Insurance Group: 42

  • C02 emissions: 0g/km

  • Bik rating: 3%

  • Warranty: 7yrs/80,000 miles

Motoring, Omoda

OMODA 7: A family SUV offering style and value

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OMODA 7 SHS

By Bill McCarthy

Carmakers love to make an impact with their model launches. In the case of the OMODA 7, the Chinese company launched an eye-catching if somewhat bewildering campaign titled ‘Everything is Essential’.

It featured three short films. One showing flowers fired from cannons to illustrate the built-in fragrance system, another dropping three tons of water on te car to demonstrate robustness, and a third using cats climbing over the vehicle to highlight its noise-reducing glass. Gimmicky, but it got the conversation moving.

This mid-size model starts from under £30,000 and is packed with standard kit. It will inhabit the segment that includes established SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, and Ford Kuga.

The range starts with entry-level ‘Knight’ trim from £29,915 for the petrol model, which includes dual-zone air conditioning, a heated steering wheel, and a six-speaker SONY system.
The ‘Noble’ trim tested here is from £32,000 for the hybrid, which adds a 12-speaker SONY system, a powered tailgate, and a panoramic sunroof. Both trims offer excellent value for money.

Design, Interior and Technology

The OMODA 7 offers smart styling without being a showstopper. It has a prominent front grille and stylish LED lighting cluster, and a generally pleasing profile. A distinctive feature is the lightning bolt-style rear light cluster.

The interior feels upmarket for the price, and the cabin features comfortable eco-friendly faux leather upholstery and heated and ventilated front seats. A central touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster deliver a minimalist feel.
The 15.6-inch screen is effectively the brain of the car, controlling the infotainment system, connectivity, and numerous apps and digital controls, but it can be fiddly to use on the move and distracting.

This over-reliance could affect safety ratings, especially with new Euro NCAP rules introduced for 2026, which will reward cars that retain physical controls for essential functions like indicators, wipers, and hazard lights.

As a family SUV, the OMODA 7 offers a standard boot and folding rear seats. With all seats in place, the boot provides a competitive 440 litres of space that should suit most family needs. Folding the split rear seats expands this to 1,250 litres.

Powertrain and performance
There are two powertrain choices: a 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid, the latter driven here, which uses an 18.3 kWh battery to offer up to 56 miles of electric driving.
For longer journeys, it works like a normal hybrid, with the petrol engine and electric motor working together for a total range of over 700 miles and claimed official figures of 403 mpg and CO2 emissions from 23 g/km.

We weren’t able to verify these figures during our brief drive through the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire countryside.

The incredibly high fuel economy figure is calculated from where the car starts with a full battery and runs only on electricity.

In a real-world long journey, the battery runs out after about 50 miles and the car becomes a normal hybrid. Once the battery is depleted, it functions as a self-charging hybrid, returning an estimated 40-50 mpg—respectable figures for a mid-size SUV.

The hybrid provides a smooth driving experience, with the electric motor boosting the petrol engine to deliver brisk acceleration.
On the road, it felt stable and an enjoyable drive on a series of country roads, town streets, and high-speed dual carriageways.

The ride is on the softer side, and it did feel more unsettled on lesser roads, where it struggled with potholes which have appeared after a month and a half of rain. However, the steering is well-weighted and responsive.

When needed, the battery can be fast-charged from 30 to 80% in about 20 minutes, while Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology allows you to power external devices (like camping equipment) from the car’s battery.

Safety
The car offers a strong safety package with seven airbags, advanced driver-assistance systems including emergency braking, lane keeping, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts, and a 360° camera.
Every model comes with a 7-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Verdict
The OMODA 7 combines modern design with efficiency and practicality. With its competitive pricing, generous standard equipment, and choice of petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrains, it is a serious option for families seeking a well-equipped vehicle in the UK’s mid-size SUV market.