MG IM6 test: this is not the MG we know.

The MG IM6 reveals a side of MG that we haven’t seen before. With up to 751 horsepower, all-wheel drive, air suspension, and a towing capacity of nearly 400 kW, this almost five-meter-long electric SUV aims significantly higher than the MG models we’ve known until now.

IM should elevate MG to a higher level

Those who still think of MG as small British roadsters that leaked oil the moment you looked at them have missed a few chapters. The brand has been part of China’s SAIC Motor for years and now focuses on building cars designed to succeed strongly in Europe. The MG IM6 adds a completely new chapter to this journey.

For this MG IM6 test, we spend a day driving through the Jura, the mountainous region west of Lake Geneva. It’s an environment where it quickly becomes clear whether this large SUV can do more than just deliver impressive numbers on paper.

IM stands for Intelligence in Motion. In China, IM Motors is a separate brand with SAIC among its investors, but in Europe, MG promotes these models under its own brand name. The IM6 is intended to be positioned far above MG’s existing models. It’s nearly 4.9 meters long, wide, and low to the ground, and looks significantly more upscale than what we’re used to from MG. From certain angles, it even bears a slight resemblance to an Aston Martin DBX.

Large screen, very few buttons

Even inside, it’s clear that MG aims high with the IM6. The dashboard is dominated by a huge 26.3-inch widescreen, supplemented by another touchscreen on the center console. The finish is of high quality, and the materials used also give a polished impression.

The seats are quite soft and feel slightly tilted forward, but there are extensive adjustment options. Additionally, the infotainment system responds extremely quickly. This is convenient since almost everything is controlled through the screen.

This is one of the weaker aspects of the IM6. Even for something simple like adjusting the exterior mirrors, you have to navigate through various menus. Technically impressive, but user-friendliness is another matter. Sometimes a simple button is just the better invention.

MG IM6 test: 751 hp is actually completely absurd

Then there’s the question that inevitably arises with 751 hp: how does it drive?

Extremely fast, of course. The MG IM6 Performance has two electric motors, all-wheel drive, and a system power output of 553 kW, or 751 hp. It also boasts 802 Nm of torque. With these specs, this SUV weighing over 2.3 tons accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. That sounds spectacular, and it is. But like with many other extremely powerful electric cars, you might wonder how much enjoyment you’ll have after just a few quick accelerations. The acceleration is particularly intense—silent, relentless, and so powerful that your body hardly has time to prepare for it.

What’s more interesting is what the IM6 does once the road starts to curve. The rear wheels can turn up to 12 degrees, reducing the turning circle to just 10.18 meters. As a result, this nearly five-meter-long SUV feels much smaller at low speeds than it actually is.

The rear-wheel steering also helps in corners. The IM6 turns inward quite easily, but you don’t get much feedback from it. Especially in Sport mode, the steering becomes heavier from the neutral position without giving you much better insight into what the front wheels are doing. The result sometimes feels more like a very good simulator than a car that constantly communicates with you.

Air suspension makes a world of difference

Technically, MG has clearly invested a lot of effort into the IM6. The version with air suspension offers excellent balance and manages to conceal its substantial weight quite well. The rear end isn’t always completely silent, but the combination of comfort and control is impressive.

You notice this difference most when driving the version with conventional steel springs afterward. It struggles significantly more with the car’s weight. If you take a bump in traffic a bit too aggressively, you’ll see that the springs and shock absorbers have to work hard. The chassis moves more noticeably, and the damping may need a bit more control in such situations.

That is precisely why air suspension actually fits the IM6’s character better. This isn’t a lightweight sports car, and it never will be even with 751 horsepower. Give such a heavy electric SUV a suspension system that provides stability, and the overall package simply works better.

Charging nearly 400 kW is the real feat

No matter how impressive 751 horsepower sounds, the charging capability is perhaps even more interesting from a technical standpoint. Models equipped with the 100 kWh battery pack use an 800-volt architecture and can charge at up to 396 kW DC under ideal conditions. According to MG, this allows the battery pack to go from 10% to 80% charge in about 17 minutes.

These figures make the IM6 particularly interesting for long-distance driving. The Long Range version with a 100 kWh battery pack achieves a maximum WLTP range of 555 kilometers, while the much more powerful Performance version, thanks to its all-wheel drive and high power output, reaches 505 kilometers.

There is also a more affordable Standard Range version with a 75 kWh LFP battery pack. It delivers 295 horsepower, has a WLTP range of 450 kilometers, and can be fast-charged at up to 153 kW. With a list price starting around 51,800 euros, this is the cheapest IM6. The versions with the larger 100 kWh battery pack are more expensive.

The lower and more streamlined IM5 starts in the Netherlands at around 48,800 euros. With this pricing, MG makes both models quite competitive.

MG demonstrates its technical capabilities

The IM6 is not merely a larger and more powerful MG. It primarily demonstrates how quickly the brand has advanced technically. All-wheel drive, an 800-volt system, nearly 400 kW of charging capacity, air suspension, and 751 horsepower are not specifications you would have quickly associated with MG just a few years ago.

Not everything is convincing. Control via the screen can sometimes go too far, and the handling feel remains detached. Additionally, the air-suspended version clearly outperforms the one with steel springs. Yet that doesn’t diminish the fact that the MG IM6 is an impressively well-equipped electric SUV. MG is aiming to make a significant leap forward with the IM6. After a day driving through the Jura, we can at least confirm that this ambition isn’t just on paper.

Text: Werner Budding