MG IM6 Review 2025

Few categories of car reflect today’s zeitgeist as well as electric SUVs. Combining the elevated seating positions that modern motorists love with the battery-powered drive systems which attract ultra-low taxation for company car drivers, it’s easy to understand why UK roads are bristling with examples of the Tesla Model Y. Yet the Muskmobile’s dominance might be cut short thanks to the arrival of a — sorta — British-branded rival in the shape of the MG IM6.

Yes, our tongues were firmly pressing against our cheeks referring to MG as British because this once ‘jolly good show, old boy’ sports car brand has been Chinese-owned for the past two decades. While today’s line-up of MGs does little to pay homage to its octagon-badged forebears, the familiarity of its thruppenny bit-shaped logo has helped its contemporary cars gain a foothold in a few other recent newcomers from China can hope to.

All of which makes the symbols applied to the MG IM6 — as well as its lower-slung IM5 sibling — all the more curious, because none of them are eight-sided. In fact the MG initials only appear once on the entire car and even then are in the same typeface as the IM6 label on the opposite side of the tailgate.

Inevitably there’s a reason for this — it’s not really an MG. In China, IM — for Intelligence in Motion, don’tcha know — is a standalone marque resulting from a joint venture between MG’s owners SAIC and technology hotshots Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. That’s why IM’s percentage symbol-esque logo abounds inside and out.

Using the MG name, albeit in the smallest possible way, reduces costs as there’s little need for separate brand awareness building marketing campaigns, expensive trademark registrations and dealerships footing the bill for IM-specific signage. At least until such a time when it’s felt IM needs that separation much in the way DS was divorced from Citroen... Okay, maybe not the best example — try Polestar and Volvo. That segues conveniently into referencing the Polestar 3 as another alternative to the MG. 

Styled to closely mimic the themes of the IM5, being both 27mm shorter and 195mm taller than its hatchback relation dilutes the MG IM6’s overall elegance, resulting in a once-noticed-can’t-be-unseen top-heaviness.

Salvation comes in the form of a key advantage of the IM6’s additional height — a more capacious interior, ably demonstrated by its boot capacity figures. With the rear seats in use there’s 665 litres of volume at your disposal representing a 208-litre increase over the IM5, while the 1640-litre cargo bay with them folded is an expansion of 350 litres. Thanks to a taller bonnet line, the IM6’s ‘frunk’ is almost twice as big at 32 litres.

Both models share the same 2950mm wheelbase — that’s the distance between the front and rear wheels — so while legroom is likely to be similar for both of these new MGs, the IM6 will likely feel more spacious thanks to its greater headroom, amplified by the standard fit thermally insulated glass roof.

Also shared is the entire dashboard design, complete with the ultra-wide 26.3-inch display screen combining key driving-related data to the right and infotainment functions towards the car’s centre. The same angled centre console with twin cupholders, a smartphone charging pad and a 10.5-inch portrait touchscreen slot in beneath, the latter apparently used for most of the IM6’s functionality —climate control operations included, sadly. 

Useability aside, the IM6’s five-seater interior looks more integrated than that of the XPeng G6 and will likely feel more upmarket than the glossy black plastic-intense cabin of the Ford Capri.

One key area the MG IM6 differs from the IM5 is that its only available with the larger-capacity battery, which is labelled 100 to reflect its overall capacity rather than the usable figure illustrated below:

• IM6 100 Long Range — single-motor, rear-wheel drive, 96.5kWh battery, 407PS, 500Nm of torque, 0-62mph 5.4 seconds, 146mph top speed
• IM6 100 Performance and 100 Launch Edition — dual-motor, all-wheel drive, 96.5kWh battery, 751PS, 802Nm of torque, 0-62mph 3.5 seconds, 149mph top speed

Making the most of the battery’s energy reserves is the 100 Long Range with a WLTP Combined cycle claim of 388 miles. Prioritising power for the 100 Performances and 100 Launch Edition shaves the driving potential of those IM6s down to trims that potential back down to 313 miles.

Plugged in to a conventional 7kW AC domestic wallbox, the MG IM6 requires 16 hours to zap the battery up from 10% charge to full. Occasions when use of a DC ultra-rapid public charger are needed will see you escalated from a 10-80% state of charge in just 17 minutes if it’s capable of serving up a 350kW flow.

Generous levels of standardised kit for the IM6 reflect how although it’s expensive for an MG, value for money has not been deleted from the offer. There’s a whole host of safety related gear, plus four-wheel steering that encompasses a ‘crabbing’ mode, One Touch automatic parking, laminated front and rear side windows to minimise exterior noise, a 20-speaker sound system and what MG calls Rainy Night Mode. This comprises rear-facing cameras mounted in the front wings with their images shown on the main dash display in case your door mirrors are obscured by moisture.

Good news if you fancy an MG IM6 of your own because orders are already being taken with customer deliveries expected to start imminently. 

Least costly and set to be the sweetest spot in the line-up is the £47,995 MG IM6 100 Long Range. There’s a £3k jump to the brisker IM6 100 Performance at £50,995, while the limited availability flagship IM6 100 Launch Edition will set you back £52,995.

Keep this page bookmarked for further news on this important new range and to read our forthcoming full and comprehensive MG IM6 review in the weeks ahead.