Advert
The MG IM5 is an all-electric saloon, with the 100 Performance model delivering 751 hp of power, 802 Nm of torque, a 0-62 mph time of 3.2 seconds, and it has one of the fastest ultra-rapid charging rates of any EV at 396 kW.
MG is still probably best known with many drivers for being a British sports car brand from the 1960s and 70s, but in recent years, under the ownership of the Chinese company SAIC, it has been selling lots of affordable electric cars in the UK. Now MG has launched the more upmarket ‘IM’ sub-brand, with the IM5 aiming to be a Tesla Model 3 rival – but at a lower price. On paper the IM5 looks to be a technological marvel – so how does it shape up in real-world driving?
The MG IM5 is a saloon, but unlike the Tesla Model 3 which has a boot, the IM5 has a hatchback, which gives it an immediate advantage in terms of practicality for many drivers in the UK. The IM5 is also over 200mm longer than the Model 3, measuring 4,931mm in length compared to 4,720 mm for the Tesla. The IM5 has a 457-litre boot (or 1,290 litres with the rear seats folded); there’s a frunk, but it’s very small (18 litres), and there’s no space under the boot floor, so there’s nowhere to store the charging cable. If you’re looking for the bonnet opening lever, it’s hidden away under the dashboard.
The cabin features a more curvy design than a Tesla, and there’s a large storage area under the floating centre console.
The MG IM5 100 Performance model has a 100 kWh (96.5 kWh usable capacity) NCM (Nickel Cobalt Manganese) battery with dual electric motors delivering all-wheel drive.
The MG IM5 100 Performance model has the same 751 hp of power and 802 Nm of torque as the IM6 SUV, but in a car that’s smaller, lower and 112 kg lighter (2,298 kg compared to 2,410 kg). That helps the IM5 to achieve an even more rapid 0-62 mph time of 3.2 seconds, and gives it greater agility.
Thankfully, to deal with all that power and torque, the IM5 100 Performance has all-wheel drive, however its Pirelli P-ZERO tyres still struggled with grip during acceleration on cold and wet winter roads.
Despite the Performance model name, the IM5 has comfortable ride quality, and the overall driving experience is more focused around comfort than ultimate sharpness. The IM5 doesn’t feel as go kart-like as the Model 3 – its extra 200mm+ length is likely to be a factor in this, even though the IM5 has Four-Wheel Steering, which enables super-tight turns. The steering has some feel, and most control weights are well judged. The IM5 also has Intelligent Comfort Stop (ICS), which helps with smoother braking.
Another item of technology is Hydroplaning Stability Control, which MG says reduces the chance of losing control in extreme weather conditions by 80% compared to traditional vehicles. Other features include One Touch Parking Assist, and IM Advanced Driver Assist and Rainy Night Mode utilising cameras, sensors and radars to identify potential road hazards.
The IM5 has five main drive modes – Eco, Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Custom. It also has two Regenerative Braking Modes (Standard and Low). To change these settings, and for other car controls, you need to access the touchscreen.
The IM5 has a 26.3-inch driver’s instrument display combined with a central touchscreen, and a second, lower 10.5-inch touchscreen – similar to that in a Porsche Taycan. The lower touchscreen features a huge number of menus and sub-menus. This screen is easier to reach than the top screen, but you have to look down to the bottom screen, in other words you need to take your eyes away from the road, which can be challenging and dangerous if you’re using the performance of the IM5.
Which is why the most important thing that you need to know about the IM5 is that there are five customisable shortcut buttons on the lower touchscreen which can be assigned for functions such as to select Sport drive mode, brake regeneration level, climate, and driver assistance settings such as lane departure warning, speed warning, and driver attention and fatigue. There are also multifunction controls on the steering wheel (which have no markings).
MG supplied a guide about how to use the infotainment system with our press car. If a guide is needed, it usually means that the system isn’t particularly self-explanatory; in any event, the car benefits from a lot of setting up before you drive it. If you don’t do this, and don’t assign the shortcut buttons to the car controls that you regularly use, there will be a lot of searching on the touchscreen and a lot of button-pressing when you’re driving.
Even with the shortcut buttons, there are still a number of car controls that would benefit from being more user-friendly. Many manufacturers, including MG with its other models, say they are reverting to physical buttons for features such as climate controls in response to customer feedback, but not in the IM5; you need to press the temperature read-out on the screen to bring up the climate menu, although there is a secret way to swipe two fingers on the central screen to change temperature and fan speed.
There’s more over-complexity due to having to use the touchscreen to initiate the adjustment of the door mirrors; the controls for the heated seats seem more complicated than needed; and there are no media volume controls accessible, other than via one of the two multifunction dials on the steering wheel, and a hidden sub-menu in the touchscreen.
Be aware that the steering wheel-mounted paddles, which are hidden behind the very thick steering wheel spokes (which are so thick that you can’t wrap your hands around them), are, unusually, for the cruise control, not for regen braking.
And then there’s the issue of trying to get out of the car – there’s no traditional handle on the inside of the door, just a ridiculously small button that needs to be found and pressed.
The MG IM5 100 Performance has an official WLTP electric driving range of 357 miles. After a week on test in winter – in ice, snow and sun – the real-world driving range averaged 313 miles. The MG IM5 100 Long Range model is capable of up to 441 miles of combined WLTP range.
All that performance takes its toll on the car’s efficiency, which is just 3.1 miles/kWh – or around 2.8 miles/kWh in real-world driving.
Thanks to its 800V electrical architecture, the MG IM5 has a highly impressive maximum ultra-rapid charging rate of 396 kW, which is one of the fastest DC charging rates of any EV on sale. At a 350 kW DC public rapid charger this will allow a 10% to 80% charge in just 17 minutes.
The MG IM5 has a heat pump and Vehicle to Load charging.
The MG IM5 75 Standard Range is priced at £39,450, the MG IM5 100 Long Range is £44,995, and the MG IM5 100 Performance costs £48,495. The Tesla Model 3 Performance is priced at £59,990, making the IM5 100 Performance £11,495 cheaper.
The MG IM5 100 Performance is aimed squarely at the Tesla Model 3 and it hits its target. It’s a low, purposeful-looking sports saloon, which is longer than the Model 3, and it has a more practical hatchback body style rather than a boot. In addition to all-wheel drive, it has all-wheel steering. With 751 hp of power, 802 Nm of torque, and a 0-62 mph time of 3.2 seconds, it delivers supercar performance. Yet it also has a practical range of 357 miles, and, at 396 kW, one of the fastest ultra-rapid charging rates of any EV on sale. The cabin is also full of the latest technology; it would just benefit from a more user-friendly way to access it when driving. And the IM5 has a much lower price than the Tesla Model 3. The MG IM5 is yet another reason why the European car industry needs to take Chinese EVs seriously. The MG IM5 100 Performance is awarded a Green Car Guide rating of 9 out of 10.
Drive an EV for less than you think with Select Car Leasing 
Save 20-50% on an EV through salary sacrifice with The Electric Car Scheme 
ClearWatt supports buyers, sellers and owners of EVs with app-based battery health testing and detailed EV data insights available for every used EV in the UK. Take the stress out of buying a used EV with ClearWatt and save 10% on all their products with promo code “GCG10”. 
Zapmap: UK's No.1 EV charging points app 2025. Zapmap helps EV drivers search for EV chargers, plan longer journeys and pay for charging. 
With Pod, you're in good hands. With over 15 years of EV charging experience, drivers trust Pod to keep their EVs charged and ready to go. 
Paul Clarke, GreenCarGuide Editor
