2025 MG IM6 EV review
It depends on your perspective.
Compare the new 'Intelligent Mobility' electric cars to European luxury options and they shape up as outrageously well-equipped machines that match performance offered by cars three times the price.
Or you could dismiss them as the latest in a line of new electric cars from China.
IM is the new luxury arm of MG.
In the same way that Toyota has Lexus and Volkswagen has Audi, it promises a premium experience above MG's regular models.
There are two body shapes at launch – the IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV – and three versions of each.
Entry-level 'Premium' versions of the sedan and SUV both cost $60,990 drive-away, combining a 75kWh battery with a rear-mounted 217kW/450Nm electric motor that returns a 6.8 second dash to 100km/h and claimed range of 490km for the sedan, or 450km for the SUV.
Mid-range 'Platinum' models have a bigger 100kWh battery and 300kW/500Nm motor good for 4.9 seconds and 655km in the sedan, or 5.4 seconds and 555km in the SUV, both priced from $69,990 drive-away.
At the top of the range, the IM5 and IM6 performance both cost $80,990 drive-away. Each adds a 200kW front mounted electric motor to the 372kW unit the rear, delivering a total of 572kW and 802Nm along with impressive claimed 0-100km/h acceleration of 3.2 sec (sedan) and 3.4 sec (SUV) and decent range of 575km (sedan) or 505km (SUV).
We tested the high-riding version in fully-loaded IM6 Performance trim and came away shocked by what it offers for $80,990 drive-away.
Revisiting the performance numbers for a moment, it has more power than a Lamborghini Aventador while costing less than some versions of the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux utes.
It has the grunt to match $250,000 electric performance SUVs offered by the likes of Porsche and BMW and delivers more equipment for a third of the price.
Comparing it with Porsche's electric Macan, the IM6 Performance has standard features that add thousands to the cost of the Porsche, including rear wheel steering ($3510), adaptive air suspension ($2830), a head-up display ($4120), premium stereo ($2230), panoramic sunroof ($3110), 21-inch wheels ($3960), heated front and rear seats with front ventilation ($2500) and a heated steering wheel ($510).
The IM duo don't really have optional extras – just premium paint ($1000) and a cream-coloured interior ($990).
Every model has a faux leather cabin with 256 colour ambient lighting, huge high-definition displays and five magnetic points where you can mount cabin accessories such as iPad holders, reading lights or tray tables.
The central display has clever elements including 'one touch park' and 'one touch pull out' systems that are handy when parking, as well as a built-in dashcam and a comprehensive driver assistance suite that includes 12 ultrasonic sensors, nine cameras, three radars, an inertial measurement computer and more.
It's particularly impressive at low speed, where aggressive rear-wheel-steering can add 12 degrees of angle to the back tyres, giving this 2.4-tonne SUV a tighter turning circle than many hatchbacks.
But the car's complex underpinnings lend a relatively digital feel to the driving experience – there are delays to its reactions from time to time, as though it's weighing up exactly how to respond to steering and throttle changes.
That's because it does exactly that, adjusting its suspension to resist pitch and roll, an approach that aims to keep the car's body flat in the bends.
Braking can feel a little grabby as the car juggles conventional mechanical stopping with electric energy regeneration. And doesn't quite explode away from the line the way you hope a 572kW car might – though that's probably a good news for passengers who aren't ready to be shot out of a cannon.
In short, it's not a natural athlete. Don't buy the IM6 expecting driving thrills.
It's also not the last word in comfort, with an occasionally busy ride that can feel less than settled.
But it is an impressive debut for a new brand with the potential to upset the prestige establishment.
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