MG IM5 Review & Prices

The MG IM5 is a flagship electric car that doesn’t look like anything else in the MG range - apart from its IM6 SUV sibling, that is. It’s powerful, premium and good to drive, but feels its price in places with a few rather unpolished edges.

In China, IM is a luxury sister brand to MG, so that’s why the IM5 in the UK doesn’t even carry an MG badge and looks nothing like the MG3, MG HS or MG S6. This separation from the rest of the range means it’s a bit like buying a Charlie Bighams ready meal - still cheaper than going out to eat, but a bit posher than the rest of the shelf at Tesco.

The obvious alternative to the MG IM5 is the Tesla Model 3 - it costs nearly the same, but the big-battery models in particular offer a very impressive blend of range and power that even the brilliant Model 3 struggles to match. You might also consider the BYD Seal, Hyundai Ioniq 6 or œ`å.

Compared to the avant-garde Hyundai or the sleek Model 3 and Seal, the MG IM5 isn’t unattractive - but it doesn’t look as slick. It’s a little bit bulbous, like the styling features from a bigger car have been transplanted onto a smaller model. The curved silhouette, eye-catching alloy wheel designs and curved rear lightbar look good, though.

The interior is similarly sinuous, though there are plenty of straight lines when it comes to the two massive screens. The upper one is a monstrous 26.3 inches across and combines driver information and infotainment, while there’s a smaller 10.5-inch display lower down for your climate controls and vehicle settings.

MG IM5: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 304-441 miles
Efficiency: 3.1-3.5 miles per kWh
Battery size: 73.5-96.5 kWh
Max charge speed: 396kW
Charge time AC: 10-13hrs
Charge time DC: 17 mins
Charge port location: Left rear
Power output: 295-751bhp

Physical switchgear is severely limited, which is a shame as the screens themselves aren’t very easy to use. The menus are unintuitive, the onscreen buttons absolutely tiddly, and the interface itself hasn’t been naturalised for the UK very well, with the occasional spelling error or awkward word choice.

Practicality inside is okay, with plenty of space for your gubbins under the central armrest and a wireless phone charger. Rear passengers enjoy lots of legroom but headroom is only just about okay - and the floor is set very high, so they’ll need to stretch their legs out or spend a journey with their knees up around their ears.

The boot is a good-sized 457 litres, which is smaller than the Tesla Model 3’s or Kia EV4 Fastback’s but larger than the Hyundai Ioniq 6’s. It’s also a hatchback, which makes loading bulky or awkward items easier than the saloon competition.

The most impressive bits of the MG IM5 are the motors and batteries. There are three powertrain options. The entry-level car has a single motor and a range of 304 miles, which is okay but not exactly stellar, and beaten by the key alternatives. But get this motor with the larger battery and the official range is 441 miles, which is way more than the Ioniq 6 or EV4 Fastback can manage - and only 25 miles behind the long-range Tesla Model 3.

Not so fussed about range? Try the dual-motor car, with an astonishing 751hp and all-wheel drive for less than £50,000. It’s just as quick as the Tesla Model 3 Performance but £10,000 cheaper. Better yet, the big-battery IM5s charge super-quick, capable of 10-80% top-up in just 17 minutes.

Whichever version you choose, the MG IM5 is pretty good to drive. It’s quiet and refined on the motorway, and standard rear-wheel steering makes it impressively easy to manoeuvre around town too. The suspension fidgets a bit over bumps and potholes, though, and it feels large to park or navigate tight spaces.

Verdict

The MG IM5 is a bit of a hidden gem - if you can put up with slightly shonky software, sub-par rear seats and an unknown badge. In range, charging, and performance terms, it’s right up there with the very best, and stunningly good value at the same time.

If you want to get your hands on one, check out the latest MG IM5 deals on Carwow, as well as IM5 lease deals. You can also browse used MGs from our network of trusted dealers, and when it’s time to sell your car, Carwow can help with that, too.

Despite all that impressive technology, the MG IM5 is reasonably priced. The base model starts at less than £40,000, which is about the same as the Tesla Model 3 and Kia EV4 Fastback – though the Kia will go much further on a charge.

Where the MG really flexes its value for money muscles is with the big battery versions, which start at less than £45,000 for the long range model and under £49,000 for the ludicrously fast version.

Equipment is near-enough identical across the Standard Range, Long Range and Performance trims, so the price is based on the battery and motors you choose. The only difference is that Performance models get 20-inch alloy wheels compared with 19 inches on the other two.

That means adaptive cruise control, LED lights all round, front and rear parking sensors, four-wheel steering and artificial leather upholstery all come as standard.

The IM5 is big and heavy to drive in town but it’s also quiet, refined and surprisingly manoeuvrable

In town

The IM5 is a physically larger car than a Tesla Model 3 or Hyundai Ioniq 6 and you can feel that when you’re squeezing round tight streets or trying to fit into tiny parking spaces. All cars get lots of tech to help with that, though. The key is four-wheel steering on every model - a feature often reserved for top-end luxury cars - which reduces the size of the turning circle drastically.

The suspension is a bit clattery around town, though. It shakes about when you go over potholes and bumps, and there’s quite a lot of side-to-side movement too. You’ll also need to make good use of the all-round cameras, because visibility out of the rear is appalling.

On the motorway

The IM5’s suspension smoothes out on the motorway and you can enjoy excellent refinement, more than enough power for any sliproads or overtaking, and pretty good adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping aids. It’s a relaxing car to travel for long distances in, with comfortable seats.

On a twisty road

Not many of this car’s alternatives are actually fun to drive, and so it’s not really a big deal that the MG IM5 is really dull on a twisting country lane. You can carry plenty of speed through the corners and the body doesn’t lean too much, but the steering doesn’t give you much idea of what the front wheels are doing.

That’s especially true of the Performance model. The acceleration is hilarious, but it feels more like a party trick than something that turns the IM5 into a proper sports saloon. A Tesla Model 3 is more satisfying to drive quickly.

There’s loads of passenger space and a useful hatchback boot, but the high rear floor makes the back seats less comfortable than they should be

There’s plenty of space up front and the seats are comfortable, with lots of adjustment to help drivers of different sizes find a decent position. The steering wheel adjusts generously too, although the sheer amount of dashboard and screen in front of you can make the IM5 feel like quite a big car from behind the wheel.

Storage is good rather than outstanding. There’s a useful compartment beneath the central armrest, a wireless charging pad for your phone, while the open area beneath the centre console is handy for larger odds and ends. The glovebox is a reasonable size too, but the door bins are small.

Space in the back seats

The MG IM5 is nearly five metres long - it’s a big car - so it’s no surprise that rear legroom is very generous. Even tall adults can stretch out behind an equally tall driver, and the wide cabin means sitting three abreast isn’t too much of a squeeze.

The problem is the floor, which is unusually high relative to the seat base. That leaves adults sitting with their knees raised and very little support beneath their thighs, so despite all that legroom it isn’t actually as comfortable in the back as you’d expect. Headroom is fine rather than exceptional beneath the sloping roof, although being able to adjust the angle of the rear backrest is a nice touch.

Boot space

There’s 457 litres of space with the rear seats upright, which is a respectable amount but not exceptional for such a large car. The Tesla Model 3 and Kia EV4 Fastback are more capacious, while the Hyundai Ioniq 6 has less room.

What really helps is that the whole rear window lifts with the bootlid. The IM5 might look like a saloon, but it’s actually a hatchback, so getting big suitcases, boxes or other awkward loads inside is much easier than it is in an Ioniq 6. Fold the rear seats and capacity increases to 1,290 litres, while there’s also a tiny 18-litre compartment under the bonnet just about suitable for a charging cable.

A high-tech cabin with loads of standard equipment, but very frustrating software

The IM5’s cabin looks suitably posh and comes with loads of standard equipment, but frustrating software and some less-than-luxurious details stop it feeling truly premium.

The enormous 26.3-inch screen stretching across the dashboard certainly makes an impression when you first get in. It’s joined by another 10.5-inch touchscreen lower down, while standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mean you don’t have to rely entirely on MG’s own software. You also get a 20-speaker stereo, wireless phone charging and heated and ventilated front seats.

That’s just as well, because MG’s interface is one of the weakest parts of the car. There are very few physical controls, so even simple functions can require a poke around the screens, and some of the buttons and icons are ridiculously small. The menus don’t always seem logically arranged either, while odd translations and spelling mistakes make the whole system feel as though it needed another round of polishing before reaching UK customers.

The cabin itself is much better. Its swoopy design feels more special than anything in a normal MG and the seats are comfortable, while the huge panoramic glass roof makes it feel light and airy. Look and prod around a bit more closely, though, and there are enough ordinary-feeling materials to remind you that this costs Tesla Model 3 money rather than Mercedes EQE money.

There are two battery sizes and three versions of the IM5. The Standard Range gets a 75kWh battery and an official range of 304 miles. The Long Range upgrades to a 100kWh battery and manages an excellent 441 miles, while the much more powerful Performance uses the same battery but drops to 357 miles.

The Long Range is therefore the sweet spot if you regularly cover big distances. Its 441-mile figure beats the 380-mile Kia EV4 Fastback and the 338-mile Hyundai Ioniq 6. Only the Tesla Model 3 really has it beaten among similarly priced alternatives, with its Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive version officially capable of 466 miles.

Charging is arguably even more impressive. The Standard Range needs 26 minutes for a 10–80% charge, but the 100kWh cars have an 800V electrical system that can handle a 400kW fast-charger. Thus equipped, 10–80% takes just 17 minutes. That marginally beats the Hyundai Ioniq 6’s 18-minute best and comfortably sees off the EV4’s 31 minutes, while even a Tesla Model 3 tops out at 250kW. You can also charge at 11kW at home, which is handy if you’re lucky enough to have three-phase electricity.

Road tax costs £10 for the first year and £200 per year after that under current rules. Better still, the Expensive Car Supplement threshold for electric cars increased to £50,000 in April 2026, so even the Performance slips underneath it in standard form.

MG IM5 Euro NCAP score (2025): 5/5

Adult occupant: 89%
Child occupant: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 85%
Safety assist: 87%

The MG IM5 scored a full five-star verdict when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2025, with good scores in all categories.

There’s lots of active safety equipment as standard, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and driver attention monitoring - and it’s not too difficult to turn all of this off for a quieter drive, though there’s no quick shortcut button like you get in lesser MGs with their ‘MG Pilot Custom’ function.

The MG IM5 is still far too new for there to be any meaningful long-term reliability data, and it’s also a much more technologically complicated car than most of MG’s existing models. The occasional software oddity we encountered doesn’t exactly inspire total confidence, although that doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about how reliable the motors, battery or other major components will be over several years.

At least the warranty is reassuring. MG covers the IM5 for seven years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first, while the battery has its own eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty. Both warranties are transferable if you sell the car.