TRIED AND TESTED
MG IM5 and IM6
As the EV sector continues to grow, another sub-brand enters the fray with two tech-laden models to choose from. By John Challen
The IM (Intelligence in Motion) brand might be new to the UK market, but it has existed elsewhere – Australia and Singapore, for example – for a few years now. The time is now right, believes MG, to maximise its premium electric vehicle offering with two models that will sit above the company’s existing product range within an area that it has termed ‘technology showcase’. Fitting in the gap between the likes of the ‘core’ MG4 EV and MG5S EV and the ‘aspirational/Halo’ Cyberster, IM-branded MG cars are designed to make inroads into the fleet sector, with high-quality and hi-tech vehicles.
The ‘technology showcase’ description feels pretty apt, because there are a lot of innovations contained within the IM5 hatchback and IM6 SUV models. While MG has done well with its electric vehicles, much of the success has been seen in the private sector – between 2019 and 2025, only Tesla sold more EVs than the brand – so the corporate sector offering needed bolstering. With this in mind the IM cars’ attributes have been divided into four clear categories: purposeful innovation; ultimate performance; intelligent safety and elevated experience.
There are a number of innovations on the IM5 and IM6 not seen on an MG before. These include (in no particular order): a dedicated 800V platform; battery capacity up to 100kWh; four-wheel steering; air suspension with active damping; 21-inch alloy wheels and four ‘individual and intelligent’ park assist features. Inside, there are plenty of elements to keep drivers and passengers comfortable and satisfied, including a 26.3-inch infotainment and driver display coupled with a 10.5-inch central touchscreen, a 20-speaker audio setup and heated, ventilated and massaging seats.
The two cars have similar dimensions to each other, the IM6 being slightly shorter, wider but taller to the IM5’s figures of 4,931mm x 1,960mm x 1,474mm respectively. The IM6 has the bigger boot (665 litres versus 457 litres with the seats up) and frunk (32 litres versus 18 litres) than the IM5 but elsewhere there are a lot of similarities.
Both cars share that same ‘digital platform’, a future-proof innovation built with comfort and efficiency in mind. There are two battery sizes – 75kWh (only available in the IM5) and 100kWh – and RWD and AWD options for both cars. The base IM5 with 75kWh battery is RWD, with 295hp, 450Nm and a theoretical driving range of 304 (WLTP). Next up is what is expected to be the volume seller, the RWD 100kWh long range IM5, with 407hp, 500Nm and 441 miles’ range (WLTP). The IM5 lineup is topped off by the 751hp, 802Nm AWD Performance version, which offers a driving range of 357 miles – as well an ‘impressive in a bonkers kind of way’ zero to 62mph time of 3.2 seconds.
For the IM6, there are just the two 100kWh models available, with identical power and torque figures as the IM5’s. The theoretical driving distances available from both are 388 and 313 miles, respectively, with the Performance IM6’s zero to 62mph almost as quick as its stablemate at 3.5 seconds.
Bearing in mind the above figures, the performance is very impressive in Performance spec, but it’s almost too much, certainly for a lot of UK roads. And, while double glazing and noise cancellation technology help achieve a serene and relaxed driving experience from a refinement point of view, the ride felt quite unsettled a lot of the time. Then there’s the ongoing debate about buttons or screens, with the IM5/6 firmly in the latter camp. On the launch, the menus and shortcuts took some getting used to and did seem overly complicated at times, but many aspects won us around. One example is the pop-up screen showing the rear-view, designed to be a credible alternative to the physical mirror. It’s positioned in a sensible place on the main screen and has various different timer options – and accessed via one of the steering wheel buttons and really quite effective.
“The ‘technology showcase’ description feels pretty apt, because there are a lot of innovations contained within the IM5 hatchback and IM6 SUV models”
VERDICT
Initial cost and total cost of ownership is going to be key in attracting drivers to EVs and the IM cars certainly provide bang for your buck. There is a lot of competition in the two segments that the IM5 and IM6 occupy, but the MG brand is strong and the hopes for a boost to its fleet figures are understandably high.
