Test Car Specifications
Model: 2025 MG IM6 100kWh Launch Edition
Price: IM6 from £47,995 (£52,995 as tested)
Motor: two electric motors
Battery: 100kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery
Transmission: single-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Power: 752hp
Torque: 802Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 313 miles
0-62mph: 3.5 seconds
Top speed: 148mph
Boot space: 665 litres (plus 32-litre 'frunk')
Styling
Visually, the IM6 is a little generic, and there's more than a whiff of Tesla about the styling. Apparently, it's supposed to be an aerodynamic shape, which goes some way to explaining it, but it's definitely a bit nondescript. Nevertheless, it's far from ugly, and it looks quite modern. This being the Launch Edition car, which is based on the range-topping Performance model and gets the sporty 21-inch alloy wheels and orange brakes as standard, as well as a choice of muted paintwork options. It's all very modern and reasonably handsome, but it doesn't stand out.
Interior
Just as the IM6's exterior looks a bit generic and Tesla-esque, so too does the interior. It's minimalist in the extreme, with very few buttons and no labels for the few that exist. The gears are selected via a stalk behind the wheel, and there are split paddles behind the spokes, but the only really visible buttons are the two switches on the wheel. Neither of which is labelled.
The result is a cabin that looks clean, but isn't that easy to use. Yes, there are massive screens with lots of quick responses and modern features, but the menus are quite fiddly and they take a lot of the responsibility for operating the car. Mirrors, cruise control and climate control are all operated through the screen, as are driving modes. It's distracting, to say the least, but the car has a little camera in the windscreen pillar that monitors your every move and warns you when you're distracted. It's probably necessary, given the complexity of the screens, but it's irritating the rest of the time.
For all that, though, the IM6's cabin is quite pleasant. The material quality is good, with faux leather as standard, and the build quality also seems impressive. Rear visibility is pretty awful, which is a shame, but there's a selection of cameras to help out, and that makes life a bit easier.
Practicality
The IM6 is quite a big car, so it's no surprise to see plenty of space inside. The boot measures a healthy 665 litres, and it comes with a chunky underfloor storage area, while the space is complemented by a 32-litre storage area under the bonnet. The latter isn't exactly huge, but it's big enough to store charging cables and the like, and it keeps them out of the main luggage area. Similarly, there's plenty of space for passengers, with lots of seat adjustment in the front and ample legroom in the back, as well as headroom that's adequate even for tall passengers.
Performance
Whichever version of the IM6 you choose, you get the same 100kWh battery, which is paired with either one or two electric motors. Opt for the Long Range model and you get a single motor that sends 408hp to the rear wheels, allowing a range of 388 miles on the official economy test. Both the range and performance will be more than enough for most, with the Long Range getting from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, so we're expecting it to be the top seller.
However, MG is also offering the Performance powertrain, which comes as standard on the Launch Edition models. Using two electric motors to provide a mammoth 752hp and all-wheel drive, it'll get from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 148mph. There is a range penalty for that performance, but the 313-mile range is still adequate, and our test suggested around 250 miles would be achievable in the real world, even on the motorway.
Once that range is exhausted, the IM6 offers ultra-fast charging thanks to its 800-volt electric architecture, which means it can charge at speeds of up to 396kW on a public charging point. Admittedly, there aren't many charge points that can provide that much power, but it's future-proofed, and it allows you to make the most of the 350kW charge points that are available. At maximum speed, however, the car will charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 17 minutes, which is pretty good going. Assuming you can find a charger potent enough.
Ride & Handling
Under the skin, the IM6 has a platform taken from Audi's Chinese subsidiary, and in this Launch Edition model, it's supplemented by air suspension with adaptive damping. That means the car's set-up can be controlled more tightly, with each setting defining suspension behaviour, as well as powertrain, brake and steering feel.
In Comfort mode, the car is at its least taut, which makes it quite absorbent, even if it can't quite hide its weight or the size of its wheels, which mean the odd bump will still make its presence felt. When you opt for Sport mode, the ride gets a bit firmer, but it still soaks up the longer-wavelength bumps quite happily, and only feels more rugged over shorter, sharper imperfections.
Even in Sport mode, though, the IM6's handling is quite inert, with no real feel through the steering wheel, even in its heaviest setting. Body control is good, though, so the car feels nice and stable, while the brakes are reasonably effective and consistent, despite the need to balance regenerative braking with conventional hydraulic brakes. Yet for all that, it never feels especially engaging.
What the IM6 is, however, is quiet, thanks to noise-cancelling tech, and it's easy to place on the road, which is handy given its bulk. It's quite a relaxing companion, then, if not an especially exciting one to drive.
Value
IM6 prices start at just under £48,000 and rise to £52,995 for this Launch Edition model. That's quite a lot of money, and it puts it right on a par with the Tesla Model Y. It's uncharted territory for MG, but the IM6 feels more upmarket than most of its stablemates, as well as being better equipped. Standard features include faux leather upholstery, alloy wheels and climate control, as well as a panoramic glass roof, electrically adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, and the massive screens in the front. Performance models add bigger wheels, as well as extra power, and the Launch Edition tested here gets upgraded suspension.
Verdict
The IM6 is far from perfect, thanks to its fiddly controls and limited rear visibility, but with a few small tweaks it could rapidly become a Tesla Model Y-beater. And given MG says the tech will be updated over time, there's every chance this could be the electric SUV of choice by the time the first customer cars arrive in the UK.
