MG went premium last year with the arrival of the IM5 saloon-cum-hatchback and the IM6 SUV under the IM – Intelligence in Motion – brand sold that’s sold under the MG umbrella in the UK. Al Suttie tests out the Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 rival.

MG IM5 100 Performance

List price (BiK): £48,430 (3%)  Economy: 357 miles  Test efficiency: 272 miles

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Monday

Sleek and handsome, the MG IM5 that arrived this morning looks every inch the executive saloon it is intended to be. However, this one has a slug of performance that puts it right in the mix as the quickest EVs on the planet – not just in its class but from any part of the market. Suppose the clue is in the name – the MG IM5 100 Performance – and it’s capable of 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds.

Tuesday

That performance has to be tried to be believed. The car on test is in sober Nevis Blue and looks great, but plant your foot on the accelerator to let loose the full 751hp from its twin motors and it’s anything but dull. It is stupendously fast, not just from a standing start but also when going from any speed to 70mph, which makes overtaking and joining motorways as easy as it is entertaining.

Wednesday

As the IM5 is not shouty about its pace in the way it looks, it’s fitting that its drive is balanced between refinement and entertainment. At all speeds, it’s very quiet and a comfortable place to spend long trips, yet it also has excellent body control to make use of its power when desired. The ride is a little too firm on more nadgery roads, but it’s very competent on the motorway where this breed of car needs to excel.

Thursday

Recharging the IM5 has proved to be easy and much faster than most EVs. It sucks up the electrons with glee and shows a range of almost 300 miles on around 85% of charge when the weather is a little warmer today. That’s not as much as the claimed range, but the MG’s miles to empty counter also proves unerringly accurate, which is far from the case with most EVs.

Friday

Dotting about town in the IM5 today shows the view through the rear-view mirror is hampered by the small tailgate screen, though you do get a reversing camera to help with parking. The driving position is excellent and the controls well-weighted, but the infotainment takes getting used to. The 26.3-inch main screen is impressive but has too many menus before you reach what you need. The smaller central 10.3-inch touchscreen is easier to work.

Saturday

An EV and Chinese brand sceptic friend hitches a ride this morning as we take our sons to their football match. Without asking what the car is – helped by the IM5 brand logo not giving much away – he tells me he likes this new Mercedes. When I reveal the car is an MG, he’s genuinely taken aback and full of admiration. That’s high praise for the design, materials and build quality of the IM5.

Sunday

There is much to like about the IM5 – looks, equipment, comfort – and the acceleration of this 100 Performance model is stunning. However, as a fleet driver, I’d err towards the 100 Long Range model for its better driving range and only moderately less pacey speed – let’s face it, 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds is plenty quick enough for a very capable rival to the likes of the BMW i4, Tesla Model 3 or Volkswagen ID.7.