I didn’t expect the stupidly quick MG IM6 to be this much of a rocketship

Introduction

I’m not personally in the market for a family-focused electric SUV, but if you are the MG IM6 is a perfect alternative to the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Skoda Enyaq, Kia EV5 and much more besides. It’s really quite brave of Chinese parent company SAIG to take on those established rivals, with only the smallest MG badge on the back giving folks any idea of its origins.

Buyers can currently choose from three model options, with the £40K-ish 100 Long Range car offering up to 388 miles thanks to a sizeable 100kW battery pack. The £42,995 Performance and £44,995 Launch Edition models boast the same battery but lose some of the range in favour of blistering performance. We’re talking 0 to 62mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 148mph. That’s going to munch through your range reserves, but interestingly the MG IM6 can be charged at up to 396kW.

Those are some big stats surrounding this SUV, but is it any good? The reasonably premium price takes it way above the affordable price tags seen on most of the ‘normal’ MG range, save for the high-end Cyberster sports car. Nevertheless, the overall package is a strong one. Let’s take a look…

The styling

I could tell the lack of recognisable badge, save for tiny MG letters on the rear of the car, left a lot of people wandering past my IM6 clearly pondering what it was. The curves are quite cool and the bulbous arches cover some neat alloys, but the sides are innocuous save for the pop-out door handles when it’s unlocked and cameras on the front wings.

For me, the rear end is probably the design highlight. There’s a cheeky nod to Aston Martin with tailgate contours that trace the width-wide taillight cluster.

There’s a whiff of Tesla about the overall shape, and the styling isn’t dramatic enough to make folks want to find out what it really is. If you’re a fan of low-key SUVs, that’ll make the MG IM6 appealing. Given its performance characteristics, I wondered if it’d come out of its shell a bit in something like the bright orange as seen on the MG4.

Depressingly the rear window offers visibility levels comparable to a Polestar 4, as in, there is very little to see. A tiny rear-view mirror gave me an inkling what to expect as I cast my gaze towards the back seats. I found myself using the 360-degree camera setup more often than not, although the door mirrors are nice and chunky, so reversing the MG IM6 was easier than expected.

Things get a little more interesting on the inside, where the main draw is the really comfortable seating. Coverings are akin to something found in a private jet and this effect is enhanced by some curiously coloured deep pile carpeting. Admittedly, some of the plastic areas are a bit cheesy, like on the tip of the door card where they’ve been disguised to look a little more premium. However, the effect is tempered by soft touch leather-effect areas that balance it out nicely.

There’s a lot of space inside the IM6 too, with seating for five and a very high roofline to accommodate a handful of adults with ease while also offering up a generous armrest divider in the middle. The full glass panel roof helps boost the airiness inside as well. Anyone with small children, meanwhile, will be more than satisfied by a very large 665-litre boot supplemented with a 32-litre frunk under the bonnet.

The drive

While the two-wheel drive Long Range model is going to be perfectly adequate for most family-focused buyers, it’s hard to see thrill seekers avoiding the Performance and Launch Edition models. I had the latter and it is a car that bristles with power.

There was 751bhp at my disposal, but with something like 2,800kg of weight to lug around, I’d anticipated more of a sedate, wafty experience. In Sport mode, the MG IM6 is a bit of a beast and, in fact, feels almost overpowered. The chassis and handling are okay but this is a big old brute and didn’t feel like the sort of think I’d want to throw around with abandon.

Straight line acceleration is definitely a talking point, but as with all fast EVs, the novelty does wear off and I’m sure it would be even less popular with children in the back. They’d laugh the first time, possibly, but motion sickness tablets and some sick bags might be advisable to keep those chintzy carpets looking like new I’d think.

Driven sensibly though, the MG IM6 is enjoyable although its length and width make it a handful in tight lanes and chaotic traffic situations. Efficiency wasn’t exactly brilliant either, with my time in the car getting about 2.6 miles per kWh on average, but this is a big and heavy car I suppose.

I enjoyed most of my time in the Comfort driving mode, which highlighted its smooth, effortless driving appeal. Air suspension then added a touch of up and down novelty on arrival at destinations, while doing its best to help with the handling when I was giving the car the beans.

The technology

While the interior isn’t amazing to look at, one of the most dominant features in the cockpit area is the infotainment screen. The 26in panoramic panel starts in the middle of the dash and runs right across in front of the steering wheel. The latter gets in the way of the view a bit, mind, but aside from that this expansive screen is decent enough.

Most of the core controls sit down in the 10.5in digital screen in the middle of the centre console, above a wireless charging pad. This looks good but it’s less fun to use, especially on the move as some of the controls aren’t immediately obvious. Familiarity does make using it a little bit easier and there are quick access controls for everyday essentials, like the screen demister that is nigh on essential during the winter months.

I was less enamoured by the need to dip into this screen for adjusting door mirrors, with a tap on the screen needed for each side of the car and adjustment then made via the scroll wheel on the right of the steering wheel. Curiously, the wheel has very few controls, which makes the reliance on that middle screen even more essential. There are app widgets on the top screen, but I found most of my time was spent picking through the lower panel, which also offers access to both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

MG IM6 verdict

There are plenty of options when it comes to beefy family-focused SUVs. While the MG IM6 is undeniably fast, I reckon much of the performance factor might simply be lost on a lot of buyers. Plus, its bulk and average handling, even with the air suspension, doesn’t really make it the sort of car to throw around anyway.

There’s no disputing the excellent space inside and I loved the comfort provided by those seats. Less impressive was the touchscreen-centric tech and anyone who prefers a rear window they can see out of might feel rather intimidated by the bulky MG IM6. Nevertheless, if you’re tired of Tesla, this could make a good alternative.

MG IM6 technical specifications

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