MG IM5 information & reviews

[markp4200]

Also the boot size on the IM5 is limited by the fact that the car has a more shapely rear, which looks far better than the ugly duckling Teslas which is a saloon not a hatchback so less practical.

Thank heavens someone has raised the issue of 'looks'.
I am still waiting for my black IM5 LR and trading in a late-model BMWi3.
However I am reading so much about range, charging times and lots of tech stuff about which car has the most tech.
I am sure I am not alone in being totally swept away by the looks of the IM5. I discounted the Tesla 3 way back - the interior is soul-less*, and the exterior of previous Tesla models underwhelming (though I haven' looked closely at the latest iteration).
Where the Tesla looks bloated, the IM5 looks so sleek with that little kick-out ahead of the back wheels. It's the interior which is where the big difference is noticeable and MG/IM really have this sorted out well.
* I have been looking at images of the latest Tesla3 and the interior of the new one reminds me much of early Skodas and Dacias with hard-edged plastics. Overall, although I'm having the long range, the performance model perhaps should be compared with the Porsche Taycan?

Of course I have made my bed, and will lie in it as I await the car but unless I am very much mistaken I will love it.
I am simply not so interested in the charging times etc. which may fall short of the manufacturer's published figures. But it will be far better than the BMW i3 (although I actually love this too) and that will be a big +.
Finally I think I'm right in saying that Teslas don't offer discounts?
IM5s are even now at the start of importing, offering great deals.

 

[KnightRider]

I'm getting about 3.3 but then the conditions here in the UK are atrocious - heavy rain, cold...so full lights on AC on heating on etc.

 

[LenEV2016]

Autocar just ran a group test with the IM5 LR Vs Tesla 3 LR and mercedes cla, it came in third but they did praise it.

: The big MG is comfortable, quick and competent, plus it's bursting with tech. But there are some dynamic rough edges and it lacks character.

 

[tsedge]

So IF that is accurate, the IM5 LR is 75% as efficient as a Tesla, which means that its 96.5kWh usable battery is effectively 72.4kWh or about 88% of the Tesla's range in the real world. Disappointing but not disastrous.

 

[LenEV2016]

So IF that is accurate, the IM5 LR is 75% as efficient as a Tesla, which means that its 96.5kWh usable battery is effectively 72.4kWh or about 88% of the Tesla's range in the real world. Disappointing but not disastrous.

Yeah the three cars drove exactly the same route, speeds conditions.
The could probably get better figures for the Tesla as that was the long range dual motor they used, the long range rwd is even more efficient, the Tesla is also 82kwh but 79kwh usable.
Same ball park so good enough I suppose

 

[tsedge]

Yeah the three cars drove exactly the same route, speeds conditions.
The could probably get better figures for the Tesla as that was the long range dual motor they used, the long range rwd is even more efficient, the Tesla is also 82kwh but 79kwh usable.
Same ball park so good enough I suppose

Arguably that was actually the right Tesla to compete on performance grounds anyway. But such comparisons are always difficult, the IM5 is an altogether bigger car and a hatchback - they are quite different and may well appeal to different groups.

 

[MikeJS]

Autocar just ran a group test with the IM5 LR Vs Tesla 3 LR and mercedes cla, it came in third but they did praise it.

: The big MG is comfortable, quick and competent, plus it's bursting with tech. But there are some dynamic rough edges and it lacks character.

View attachment 41721

Very surprised at the 3mpkwh as IM6 drivers a reports 3.3

 

[LenEV2016]

Arguably that was actually the right Tesla to compete on performance grounds anyway. But such comparisons are always difficult, the IM5 is an altogether bigger car and a hatchback - they are quite different and may well appeal to different groups.

At the risk of being pedantic the rwd long range has exactly the same 0-60 time (4.9) and within 10mph of the IM

The AWD LR is .7 sec quicker (4.2 secs)

The IM is definitely a bigger car there is however every bit as much space in the back of the 3 (having sat in both) and the 3 has a bigger boot.

Agree the IM is heavier as they weigh about the same as HMS Queen Elizabeth

The big difference is the hatchback.

 

[LenEV2016]

Very surprised at the 3mpkwh as IM6 drivers a reports 3.3

It obviously just reflects the driving conditions on the day, we can't really compare owners getting 3.3 mpkwh unless they did exactly the same route, speeds and conditions of the test day.
Any figures other than that are irrelevant

 

[tsedge]

At the risk of being pedantic the rwd long range has exactly the same 0-60 time (4.9) and within 10mph of the IM

Ah, I thought it was slower than that.

The AWD LR is .7 sec quicker (4.2 secs)

Not much difference really, but I suppose they want room for the Performance model.

The IM is definitely a bigger car there is however every bit as much space in the back of the 3 (having sat in both) and the 3 has a bigger boot.

Yes, I meant externally.

Agree the IM is heavier as they weigh about the same as HMS Queen Elizabeth

God bless all who sail in an IM!

The big difference is the hatchback.

Yes, for some a killer difference and for others, meh.

 

[pvrima]

Excellent review of the IM5 Performance with some fun footage.

 

[sidious]

Iching closer and closer to 4mi/kWh in mixed driving in standard range IM5. Eco mode; I turn the heating off after 1-2 mins and switch on steering and seat heating. I also take my foot off he accelerator well before stopping at a red light to let the regen get the most out of the momentum. It shows 47 mins as time duration because I stopped at a 30 mins physio appointment + for coffee. Overall well pleased with it. I'm very confident I can do 4+ easily come summer.

 

[LenEV2016]

Sorry but never bought a car to run around in December with no heating on, no matter how good seat, wheel heaters are

 

[sidious]

Sorry but never bought a car to run around in December with no heating on, no matter how good seat, wheel heaters are

It was more a test to see how much I could get in the summer. I'm getting 3.4 with heating turned on on most trips, so it's not too bad.

 

[tonyrome]

I've noticed in the past that they're very pro Tesla. I doubt getting the right car would have made much difference the Tesla will always win given they rate efficiency as the be all and end all for EVs.

Most people won't care about efficiency, with a range of 440+ miles on the LR it'll be rare that people will charge away from home. The difference between 1.5p per mile and 2.5p per mile certainly won't cause me sleepless nights.

There are millions of people without a driveway or garage, who will have to charge at high-priced public chargers. They will definitely care about efficiency!

I find it strange that most people seem to be fixated on range, when it comes to EVs. No-one thought that way with petrol cars. It was all about mpg and efficiency. Just because a car had a massive fuel tank and could still cover hundreds of miles, wouldn't have changed the fact that everyone knew it only did 15mpg or whatever. Yet, when it comes to EVs, it's all about range, even when that 'impressive' range is only because a massive battery has been fitted!

We need to get back to efficiency being the important factor because it matters and it will matter more and more, as the price of electricity rises.

 

[NLMGSAN]

Fully agree. I'm one of those without an option of a private charger. In my neighbourhood prices are still decent. But where I work it is almost twice as high. Even with current high petrol prices my previous Hybrid would beat my EV on pure price per mile when charging there.

 

[Vidal]

There are millions of people without a driveway or garage, who will have to charge at high-priced public chargers. They will definitely care about efficiency!

I find it strange that most people seem to be fixated on range, when it comes to EVs. No-one thought that way with petrol cars. It was all about mpg and efficiency. Just because a car had a massive fuel tank and could still cover hundreds of miles, wouldn't have changed the fact that everyone knew it only did 15mpg or whatever. Yet, when it comes to EVs, it's all about range, even when that 'impressive' range is only because a massive battery has been fitted!

We need to get back to efficiency being the important factor because it matters and it will matter more and more, as the price of electricity rises.

The people without a drive tend to be city/town dwellers - these are less likely to be looking at a car the size of the IMs, they'll be looking at easy to park smaller cars. However, range is still important because: -

A big range means that you have to charge up less often, especially important if you're using public chargers who wants to have to plan a 30 mins stop every few days. It also means the 80% fast charge figure is higher and will still give a decent range. So you're able to tackle longer journeys and reducing the frequency of visits to charger.

That said, most EV drivers buying now will be the ones who have access to a home charger. Only the most committed will be buying one without. That's why efficiency isn't important, range is.

I expect with more renewables coming online the price of electricity will actually fall, it's only so high at the moment as it's fixed to the price of gas. Plus more competition in the charging market will bring prices down, we're already seeing that with the subscriptions offers like Ionity's plans.

 

[NLMGSAN]

In countries with sufficient space for larger houses, yes. And affordable in terms of mortgage conditions as well.

But that is not where I live. And we still buy EV's. Last year, 40% of the new cars were EV. This year with the Iran war it will surely pass the 50% marker. Moreover, second hand EV prices have increased significantly during in the past 4 months (in contrast with the whole of 2025).
Even smaller EV's (not the smallest) consume 15+kwh/100km on the average. An EV as a family car is not small at all.
There is an easy way to reduce power consumption. Limit the acceleration of the EV. There is no reason to do 10-100 in 3.5 seconds.

 

[tonyrome]

The people without a drive tend to be city/town dwellers - these are less likely to be looking at a car the size of the IMs, they'll be looking at easy to park smaller cars. However, range is still important because: -

A big range means that you have to charge up less often, especially important if you're using public chargers who wants to have to plan a 30 mins stop every few days. It also means the 80% fast charge figure is higher and will still give a decent range. So you're able to tackle longer journeys and reducing the frequency of visits to charger.

That said, most EV drivers buying now will be the ones who have access to a home charger. Only the most committed will be buying one without. That's why efficiency isn't important, range is.

I expect with more renewables coming online the price of electricity will actually fall, it's only so high at the moment as it's fixed to the price of gas. Plus more competition in the charging market will bring prices down, we're already seeing that with the subscriptions offers like Ionity's plans.

I live in a city but still drive long distances and have used an EV for those trips. I have regularly driven 1,000 miles in one go, across five countries, in an EV. The price of public chargers becomes a huge factor in the cost and it is possible for a journey, especially one in winter and at high speed, to be more costly than the same journey undertaken in a very powerful V8 petrol car.

I also spend a lot of time abroad and the price of electricity is massively different in other countries. The average price in Germany is 30p/kWh - at home, 24 hours a day, as there's no overnight tariff. Think yourselves extremely lucky, when you get a small increase - or even a large one - in the price cap over there...

 

[Vidal]

In countries with sufficient space for larger houses, yes. And affordable in terms of mortgage conditions as well. But that is not where I live.

I live in a city but still drive long distances and have used an EV for those trips. I have regularly driven 1,000 miles in one go, across five countries, in an EV. The price of public chargers becomes a huge factor in the cost and it is possible for a journey, especially one in winter and at high speed, to be more costly than the same journey undertaken in a very powerful V8 petrol car.

The video review was about EVs in the UK, my comments relate to average UK drivers who rarely do more than 8000 miles in a year (I did say for most people, not everybody).

I often do longer journeys visiting family but because I have enough range for this journey having a 750bhp rocket is costing me only pennies more each month. That said I'm not an average UK driver as I do +15k.

There is an easy way to reduce power consumption. Limit the acceleration of the EV. There is no reason to do 10-100 in 3.5 seconds.

You're missing my point, I'm saying we don't need to limit the consumption (again for the average use-case) because if you have enough range for the journey the cost is minimal, pennies. A decent range gives you the ability to keep your charging costs low which is all that matters in reality.

Also, one other point, some of the fastest accelerating EVs, Tesla Model 3, Model Y, are also the most efficient.

Your personal situations may differ.