The most expensive four-door electric cars to grace MG showrooms – from a new sub-brand known as IM – promise large-car space and prestige cabins for entry-level Tesla money.
Chinese car giant MG's entry into the prestige car market will rival Tesla – not BMW or Mercedes-Benz – on price when the IM5 and IM6 arrive in showrooms, priced from $60,990 drive-away.
The top-of-the-range, all-wheel-drive IM5 and IM6 models capable of 0-100km/h acceleration in less than 3.5 seconds top out at $80,990 drive-away, far from the $100,000 it was expected to cost.
The IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV – a size larger than a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, closer to a BMW 5 Series or X5 – will be sold in select MG dealers alongside the company's regular range.
IM (short for Intelligence in Motion) is a collaboration between MG's parent company SAIC, and Chinese tech giant Alibaba. Australian cars will be sold under the 'IM Presented by MG Motor' brand.
Prices start from $60,990 drive-away for the entry-level IM5 Premium and IM6 Premium – the sedan and SUV offered for the same price – with rear-wheel drive and a 75kWh battery pack.
It is slightly more expensive than a base Tesla Model 3 ($59,894 drive-away in NSW), and cheaper than the least expensive Model Y ($64,094 in NSW).
The longer-range, 100kWh rear-drive Platinum versions of both cars are priced from $69,990 drive-away, while the all-wheel-drive Performance grades are $80,990 drive-away.
That is about $6000 cheaper than a Tesla Model 3 Performance, which is 0.1 seconds quicker from zero to 100km/h than the IM5, but a much smaller car.
IM models covered by a "seven-year all-inclusive warranty when serviced within the IM dealer network," suggesting the full coverage may be conditional on dealership servicing, akin to Mitsubishi and Nissan's 10-year warranties.
Five seats are standard across the IM5 and IM6 range – contrary to earlier expectation – and the pair are available with batteries running at up to 900 volts, for ultra-fast charging.
MG claims driving range of up to 755km in the IM5 Platinum RWD, and 670km in the IM6 Platinum RWD – albeit under less stringent NEDC lab-test protocols – decreasing to 625km and 600km in the Performance trims.
The smaller battery claims 505km in the IM6, with the figure for the IM5 yet to be confirmed.
The 75kWh variants use a 217kW/450Nm rear electric motor for 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.4 seconds in the IM6.
Upgrading to the 100kWh variants adds a 300kW/500Nm rear motor for 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds in the sedan, and 5.4 seconds in the SUV.
Performance models use a 200kW front motor and 372kW rear motor for 553kW combined, claimed to enable 0-100km/h times of 3.2 seconds for the sedan, and 3.4 seconds for the SUV.
Certain models can recharge from 30 to 80 per cent battery capacity in a claimed 15 minutes.
A full list of standard features is yet to be published, but MG touts a 10.5-inch lower touchscreen, and an 26.3-inch upper display that incorporates the instrument cluster and further infotainment functions.
There is also a 20-speaker sound system, leather-look interior upholstery in beige or grey, a 360-degree camera, and artificial intelligence integration.
Owners can connect the car to the MG iSmart app – the same one used across the regular MG range – for remote vehicle tracking, route planning and other functions.
Rear-wheel steering is offered – possibly as standard across the range – with MG claiming the IM5 has set a new speed record through the 'moose test', a swerve-and-avoid manoeuvre intended to simulate an animal running out into the road.
Orders are now open for the 2025 MG IM5 and IM6 on the brand's website, ahead of customer deliveries due in the coming months.
2025 MG IM price in Australia
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
