MG IM5 and IM6

On one side, the MG IM5, a sleek saloon with harmonious proportions. On the other, the MG IM6, an imposing coupé SUV whose lines look slightly unbalanced between a plunging nose and a raised tail. Beyond sharing the same technical base, both feature flowing lines, like many cars built in China, all of which unashamedly eye Tesla and the design simplicity that helped make it a success.

The MG IM5 takes on the Tesla Model 3, the MG IM6 the Model Y. There is clearly room for one or more contenders, as the Californian brand has been slow to renew an already narrow line-up.

Back in Europe for barely six years under the Chinese flag of SAIC, MG, short for Morris Garages, has built its new reputation on excellent value for money, with powertrain options comparable to those of the big mainstream manufacturers: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and petrol.

Europe first

Within the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) group, MG has made Europe its priority. It is all the more surprising, then, that the brand’s octagonal logo is missing from both the IM5 and the IM6, replaced only by the letters MG discreetly placed on the rear of the cars.

In its place is the logo of IM, for Intelligence in Motion, a new brand created and sold in China by SAIC in partnership with the technology groups Zhangjiang Hi-Tech and Alibaba. Fitting the traditional MG badge would have required a new type-approval procedure, and therefore costs and delays.

Step into either of these new MGs and the ‘Chinese car’ impression dominates: a 26.3-inch screen serving as the dashboard, a tilted 10.5-inch touchscreen at the top of the centre console, and that’s it. There are just two clickable scroll wheels on the steering wheel, to adjust the volume and some driver assistance systems without taking your eyes off the road.

Everything on screen

Everything else goes through the screen: drive modes (Eco, Sport, Custom, plus Snow on the IM6 Performance), mirror adjustment, regenerative braking settings and audio settings are all handled on the touchscreen, at the expense of keeping your eyes on the road. Unless you use voice control, which is distracting too.

Lacking ergonomics and potentially dangerous, this ‘touchscreen for everything’ approach can be infuriating, but it does have its upsides. Most parking manoeuvres can be carried out with a single command. This is the One-Touch iAD system, available as One-Touch Park, One-Touch Curbside Parking, One-Touch Pull Out and One-Touch Reverse. The names say it all and, until proven otherwise, it works very well.

Both cars come in three versions depending on the nominal battery capacity: the IM5 and IM6 are offered as 75 Standard Range RWD, 100 Long Range RWD and 100 Performance AWD, the first two with rear-wheel drive and the third with all-wheel drive. We were able to test both ends of the range, the MG IM5 75 Standard Range with rear-wheel drive and the MG IM6 100 Performance with all-wheel drive.

Supreme comfort

Behind the wheel of both the SUV and the saloon, the sense of comfort is undeniable. The materials used, such as the faux leather, are supple and breathable without quite reaching luxury level. As with Tesla, they do not rival the great British or German flagships. The right driving position is quickly found, and off we go for a tour of the Swiss and French Jura.

Before heading into the hills, we make for Ferney-Voltaire, once home to the French writer and philosopher. This French town on the outskirts of Geneva has adopted the label ‘Ville prudente’ (Careful Town) rather than ‘flowery’ or ‘eco-friendly’, which hints at thrilling prospects…

So we cruise along at a leisurely pace, enjoying the comfort and the quiet, all the more so as electric serenity reigns beneath the double-glazed panoramic roof. On the downside, the IM6’s sloping roofline greatly reduces the size of the rear window, and therefore rear visibility. It is a major flaw the IM5 saloon shares.

Sound immersion

A short motorway detour towards Lausanne is a chance to appreciate the quiet in the cabin, thanks to the aerodynamics and excellent sound insulation. The noise cancellation system, which cuts up to 12 decibels, isolates you a little from the outside world, but brings real serenity on board.

It is also the perfect moment to enjoy the sound system and its 20 speakers, four of them in the headliner to create immersive sound. Not Dolby Atmos, we are told, but just as good. From the central touchscreen (where else?), you choose the listening mode, from the most precise and detailed sound to the most reverberant and atmospheric: ‘Hi-Fi’, ‘Studio’, ‘Recital’ or ‘Concert’.

So how would you like your Paul Dukas ‘Sorcerer’s Apprentice’? As if you were behind the desk at Abbey Road Studios in London, or in the Royal Albert Hall? And that AC/DC live album? Either way, the sound system in the MG IM6 and IM5 is truly stunning.

two electric motors (751 hp!)

In the Vaud Jura, the route passes close to Nyon and its vineyards, but we all know the rule about drinking and driving. This motorway stretch also highlights a feature exclusive to the IM6 Performance: flick the indicator (still a manual operation!) and the view of the side you are heading towards appears not only in the door mirror but also on the instrument display. Redundant but neat.

Now for the serious business: the winding road that climbs the Jura towards Les Rousses. Despite weighing 2.41 tonnes and standing 1.67 m tall, the SUV behaves impeccably, carving neatly through the hairpins, helped by its four-wheel steering. The power of its two electric motors (751 hp!) makes overtaking effortless, with the drawback that consumption climbs too, to 29 kWh/100 km.

After an obligatory stop at the Fort des Rousses, a temple to the divine Comté cheese, we tackle the climb to the Col de la Faucille, which peaks at 1,320 m and has featured in the Tour de France 41 times. Beyond the summit, an exceptional view over the valley and Lake Geneva gives us wings. No more time to savour the scenery: we head down in Sport mode, attacking the bends and keeping pace with motorcyclists…

Up and down

This is where the IM6’s weight and height take their toll: body roll and pitch are on the menu, and you need a firm grip on the wheel and a strong stomach. On the 8% descents, the brakes are up to the job, though we would have liked a sharper bite from the pedal. Gex, Divonne-les-Bains… By the bottom, consumption has returned to a reasonable level, averaging 22.9 kWh/100 km over a total of 90 km.

Overall, and even though it was on a calmer route including town driving around Lake Geneva, which lends Geneva something of a seaside air, the IM5 saloon is more pleasant to drive and to live with, while still offering 295 hp. Lower and 200 kg lighter, there is no contest. Which raises the question: are 751 hp and a 239 km/h top speed (and the consumption that goes with them) really necessary? Performance at the expense of driving pleasure, that is the dilemma.