MG IM5 2025: Europe’s Secretly Desired Affordable Electric Saloon
Is the MG IM5 2025 Europe’s wisest electric saloon for everyday motorists? Find specs, range, charging, features, safety, price & a refreshingly honest verdict.
A Short Story of a Long Comeback
Once on a drizzly British afternoon — somewhere between ration books and rock ‘n roll — the initials MG meant freedom in four wheels. They constructed small, soggy sports cars that encouraged you to forgive them with every twist of a winding B-road. They weren’t ideal, but they were alive — and affordable enough that your neighbor’s child could afford one.
Then the dark times — bankruptcy, rebadging, and the tragedy of watching an iconic badge fade into obscurity. In stepped SAIC Motor, China’s car behemoth with the cash, factories, and ambition to make MG great once more — but powered by batteries rather than carburettors.
Fast forward to 2025: the latest MG IM5 arrives in Europe with all the hope of those original roadsters, but without any of the oil drips. Rather, it’s a chiseled electric fastback that hopes to make Teslas perspire and BMWs blush — and have you still spare enough cash for a week’s city holiday in Lisbon.
Interior: A Space Where MG Grows Up
Push the flush door handle, swing open the solid-feeling door, and you’re greeted by an interior that feels weirdly premium for a brand that used to be a punchline at your uncle’s pub meet.
The seats? Vegan leather with intricate stitching that wouldn’t look out of place in a mid-range Audi. The dashboard? Dominated by a stunning 3-in-1 wraparound display, blending your gauges, infotainment, and climate controls into one futuristic sweep. There’s no plasticky rental car vibe that older MGs often conveyed through the early 2010s. It’s all soft-touch, ambient glow, discreet switchgear.
There’s thought here, too:
Proper legroom for tall passengers — or IKEA boxes — is afforded back seats.
Rear vents and USB-C ports keep teenagers alive and devices charged.
A huge panoramic roof makes the cabin feel bright and airy, even on the grayest Manchester Tuesday.
Yes, if you poke the lower door cards, you’ll find hard plastic, but you had to be really bored (or six years old) to do that.
Daily Driving: Upgraded Technology and Features
MG’s technology pitch is straightforward: why must a family EV for the masses feel inexpensive inside or out? So you have the complete modern wish list:
Wireless Apple CarPlay& Android Auto
Smart voice assistant (that should get most of your accent)
OTA updates so your vehicle improves overnight as you sleep
ADAS Level 2+ with motorway autopilot capabilities — not quite Tesla’s “look Ma, no hands” fantasy, but close enough for motorway drudgery
Smart route planner that takes into account charging stops so you don’t find yourself stranded alongside a faulty charger in the French countryside
And the IM5’s original infotainment is based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon cockpit platform, so it’s lag-free and graphics are sharp — goodbye to five seconds of waiting for the map to load when you’ve already passed the turn.
Performance: Not Just Numbers — Real-World Punch
If you’re comparing spec sheets, the IM5 stacks up well:
Standard: 291 bhp | 0–100 km/h: 6.8 sec
Long Range: 671 bhp | 0–100 km/h: 4.9 sec
Performance: 741 PS | 0–100 km/h: 3.2 sec
But specs don’t tell the whole story. The secret sauce here is the 800V architecture — the same kind Porsche and Hyundai use in their flagship EVs. This means:
Rapid charging: 10–80% in ~17 minutes (if you can find a charger that provides it).
Less heat build-up under hard driving.
Improved efficiency under load, which translates into you being more likely to actually reach that up to 711 km on a smooth cruise.
Everyday driving? The steering is light and accurate, and the 4-wheel steering option reduces the turning circle in a way that seems almost magical. There’s a wicked rear bias in the RWD models, though, so you can really sense the IM5 wriggling around corners — a tip of the hat to those old MGs.
Safety: Making It Hassle-Free
No serious EV in 2025 can do without safety. MG is well aware of that. So you have:
Euro NCAP 5-star design targets
7 airbags standard
Actual emergency braking
Lane-keep assist that doesn’t bounce you between white lines like a nagging bowling alley bumper
Blind spot alerts
360-degree camera with actual resolution (no grainy crap)
For families: child seat anchors are convenient. For commuters: highway pilot makes long distances uneventful (a good thing).
Daily Capabilities: Designed for How You Actually Live
MG desires the IM5 to be your sole automobile, not your second plaything. Therefore, it must provide the essentials:
Spacious boot for family holidays? Check.
Level floor for greater foot room? Check.
Cushy cabin at motorway cruising speeds? Check — triple seals and laminated glass see to that.
Winter heat pump?As standard on mid and upper trims.
Smart regenbraking you can turn up or down, depending whether you like one-pedal driving or a conventional coasty feel.
In everyday terms: it’s just so easy to live with. That’s why the IM5 may make more sense for family buyers than showy rivals.
Pricing and Availability: The Sweet Spot
This is where MG pulls out its trump card. For Europe:
Standard Range: from ~€45,700 (UK ~£39,450)
Long Range: from ~€47,500
Performance AWD: from ~€55,000
Put that alongside a Tesla Model 3 (approx. €52,000+) or a BMW i4 eDrive40 (from ~€56,000) — and the MG starts to look like a bargain indeed. It’s not inexpensive, but it feels like clever money.
Launch markets? UK, Norway, Switzerland in August 2025. Rest of Europe, early 2026. MG‘s dealer network is growing — so check your local showroom before your neighbour gets in there ahead of you.
Pros and Cons: Brutal Honesty
Pros
Great value-for-money offer
Surprisingly luxurious interior
Real-world range outdoes some of its big-name competition
800V charging and high peak rates
Agile in towns courtesy of 4-wheel steering
Cons
Badge snobbery exists — some still desire a German badge for show on the driveway
Ride can be a little too firm on crumbling village roads
The MG app is getting there, but Tesla’s software advantage remains ahead for now
Final Verdict: So, Should You Buy One?
If you need to make a statement without making your bank balance cry, the MG IM5 is a seriously strong contender. It doesn’t just match on paper — it wins real hearts because it’s actually usable every day.
This isn’t the eccentric budget MG of yesteryear — it’s a serious electric saloon that whispers: “I see your Tesla. I see your BMW. I can do the same or more — for less.”
In a world of overpriced SUVs that’s pretty refreshing. If you’re EV-curious and want your next family car to do everything — the IM5 should be on your shortlist. Just don’t be surprised when your neighbour trades in their lease and copies you.
FAQs about the MG IM5 2025
Q: How much will the MG IM5 cost in Europe and the UK?
A: Expect €45,700 – €55,000 depending on spec. In the UK, it ranges from about £39,450.
Q: How far does the MG IM5 go in the real world?
A: 480 km – 711 km WLTP, but more like 400–650 km in mixed use. Very respectable for road travel nonetheless.
Q: Does the MG IM5 charge quickly?
A: Yes — due to its 800V setup, it can go from 10% to 80% in 17–20 minutes at a capable ultra-fast charger.
Q: How does the MG IM5 stack up against the Tesla Model 3?
A: It’s more affordable, better specced as standard, cosier inside, but Tesla’s software and Supercharger network still have the upper hand.
Q: When can I purchase it?
A: August 2025 in the UK, Norway, Switzerland. Rest of Europe follows from early 2026
