MG Motor UK IM5 Hatchback

217kW Standard Range 75kWh 5dr Auto [2025]

MG has been on a bit of a roll in recent times.

After rising from the smouldering ashes of the MG Rover collapse two decades ago, it was taken over again when Chinese state-owned SAIC Motor swallowed up Nanjing Automobiles, which had saved the brand two years earlier.

It didn’t do much of note for the following decade or more, producing the odd forgettable car that barely made an impression.

However, as the industry began to turn its attention to electrification, MG saw an opportunity: everyone, including the big, established European manufacturers, was in the same boat, having never done this before. And it seized its chance.

The MG 4 EV came along three years ago – likely another average, middle-of-the-road car that would probably be just as forgettable. Except it wasn’t.

It was brilliant – and, not only that, it proved that electric cars could be made relatively affordably as, up until that point, they’d commanded a huge premium over equivalent petrol models.

Since then, MG has been producing electric cars by the bucketload. Admittedly, not all have earned the superlatives thrown at the MG 4 EV – but MG’s image had already risen in the eyes of so many – and, of course, it’s a brand that’s enjoyed a rich history in the UK.

Now it’s aiming squarely for the big players – the likes of Tesla – with its new brand of ‘IM’ vehicles.

The IM5 is, in theory, a Tesla Model 3 killer. But is it in practice? We’ll see if we can find out.