MG IM6 Review & Prices

MG, having established itself as the go-to Chinese affordable car brand for British customers (thanks in no small part to having a recognisable British name, bought from the rubble of MG Rover in 2005), is now starting to move upmarket. In the Chinese market, it’s worked with the massive Chinese retail brand Alibaba (think Amazon, but Chinese) to create a car brand called IM, or Intelligence in Motion, and now that badge is coming to the UK as part of the MG lineup.

IM models, such as this IM6 all-electric SUV, are pricier and more sophisticated than regular MGs, and they couldn’t be more obviously aimed at Tesla buyers unless MG put a big flashing sign on the roof that said “Hey Tesla Buyers, Look Over Here!’

Just as the lower-slung IM5 saloon is a direct alternative to the Tesla Model 3, so this IM6 is taking on the Tesla Model Y. There’s a definite sense that MG has taken a picture of a Model Y and had a go at it with a Sharpie to create at least a few differences, but it’s less obviously a direct copy of the Tesla look than, say, the Xpeng G6.

Like the IM5 saloon, there are slim headlights and a sense of smooth aero-efficient styling, with a hint (a very small hint) of Aston Martin DBX about the brake lights and the flick-up ‘spoiler’ line of the boot lid.

MG IM6: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 313-388 miles
Efficiency: 2.6-3.4 miles per kWh
Battery size: 96.5 kWh
Max charge speed: 396kW
Charge time AC: 13hrs
Charge time DC: 17 mins
Charge port location: Left rear
Power output: 407-751bhp

What you won’t spot on the outside is an MG badge — odd, given how well-regarded MG is — and instead there’s the stylish IM logo, which looks a bit too abstract for its own good.

Inside, there’s loads of space, with copious room for heads, knees, and legs in both the front and rear of the IM6. Even very tall people can get comfy in the back seat, and there’s a decent-sized boot, with 665 litres of luggage space. The IM6 handily gets a bigger ‘froot’ storage are in the nose than that of the IM5 too, and it can cope with 32 litres of cargo, so that’s enough for you to get your charging cables in there, leaving the boot unobstructed.

The combo of two big touchscreens means that the IM6 does without physical buttons for the most part, although thankfully it has kept a proper gear selector, mounted on the steering column. The twin-screen layout looks impressive, and MG’s systems typically aren’t the worst to use, although as ever having minor functions such as door mirror adjustment on the screen is irritating.

Unlike the IM5, the IM6 doesn’t get a standard-range rear-wheel drive entry level model, so the basic version is the long-range all-wheel drive IM6, with 407hp and the bigger 100kWh battery.

You’re unlikely to complain about a range of 388 miles on one charge, and if you really want to peel your eyelids off, and make the kids seriously car sick, there’s the option of the Performance model with its 751hp two-motor layout, and its 3.5 second 0-62mph time. The range does drop quite a bit for that model though, down to 313 miles.

It helps that the maximum charging speed of 396kW means that you can do a 10-80 per cent battery top-up in just 17 minutes. Fancy some really clever tech? Well, the IM6 comes with both adaptive air suspension (for the higher-spec models) and trick rear-wheel steering which not only tightens up the turning circle, but which also means you can steer the car sideways into tight parking spaces (although mind your tyre wear if you do that lots).

If the MG IM6 catches your eye, you can check out the best deals or leasing offers right here on Carwow. You can also buy new or used models of other MGs, and remember that Carwow can even help you to sell your old car when the time comes.

The IM6 might be aimed directly at the Tesla Model Y, but it’s a considerably more expensive car than the standard-range, rear-wheel drive, basic version of the Y. However, compare like with like, and pitch the long-range IM6 against the four-wheel drive long-range Tesla, and the MG has the advantage, being £4,000 cheaper and yet having around 20 miles more claimed range.

There’s no high-performance model in the revised Tesla Model Y lineup just yet, so the IM6 has the stage more or less to itself, and given that it’s the same price as the standard long-range four-wheel drive Model Y, it’s again going to have a significant price advantage. The Skoda Enyaq Coupe 85x makes for an interesting alternative though — it’s a bit behind on range (and way behind on charging speed) but it’s close on price, and has a higher-quality cabin than the IM6.