When MG packs 742 horsepower (PS) and an 800-volt battery into the back of the car for under £50,000, the competition starts to gasp for air. The IM5 Performance is an electric sedan that takes on the Tesla Model 3 Performance – and it doesn’t flinch when it comes to numbers.
When MG For under £50k/€57k, it packs 742 horsepower (PS) and an 800-volt battery, and the competition is starting to gasp for air. The IM5 Performance is an electric sedan that takes on the Tesla Model 3 Performance – and it doesn’t flinch when it comes to numbers.
What is it anyway MG IM5 Performance?
IM5 is new, premium electric sedan MG's IM ("Intelligence in Motion") sub-brand, which launches in Europe with a UK offering and ambitions to position itself alongside Tesla, Polestar and BYD. In the UK, it Performance available from £48.495 / 57.000 €, officially from July 2025That's well below the price of the Tesla Model 3 Performance. And yes, we are talking about a hatchback with a large trunk (457 L) and an 18-liter "frunk".
Battery, charging and range: 100 kWh, 800 V, 17 minutes (10–80 %)
It is under the bottom 100.0 kWh (net 96.5 kWh) NMC battery with 800-volt architecture. On DC can do up to 369 kW and realistically from 10 to 80 % fill in 17 minutesThe charging speed, converted into "kilometers per minute", is approximately 21 km/min. On AC is standard 11 kWOfficial WLTP it is 575 km, realistic EVDB reach 510 km (combined).
Numbers in brief: 96.5 kWh usable, 369 kW DC, 17 minutes 10–80 %, WLTP 575 km, Real range 510 km. This is currently one of the fastest series charging cycles among EV sedans.
Drive and capabilities: AWD, 553 kW (752 PS), 802 Nm, 3.2 seconds and 270 km/h
IM5 Performance has two engines (AWD) with system power 553 kW (752 PS) and 802 Nm (592 lb‑ft) torque. 0–100 km/h tick in 3.2 seconds, the sprint does not stop until it reaches 270 km/h (168 mph). Mass? 2,298 kg. This is not a “hot hatch”, this is an electric missile with a family card.
They make sure he's not just a flat-plane athlete four-wheel steering (4WS) in all versions of IM5, while it has Performance yet air suspension and Continuously Controlled Damping. In practice, this means: an incredibly sharp turning circle (<10 m), very quiet highway driving and surprisingly playful responses on winding roads.
Interior and technology: 26.3-inch panoramic screen + 10.5-inch control screen
The cabin follows the tech mantra: stretched across the entire dashboard 26.3-inch "wide" screen, and below it 10.5-inch control screen. The series includes 20‑speaker audio, seats are heated and ventilated, interface supports Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless). The ergonomics aren't exactly Scandinavian, but the luxury of the equipment is, frankly, comically rich in this price range.
“IM” as a sub-brand of MG? MG used the year 2025 to debut of the new IM family (IM5 sedan, IM6 SUV), with a clear ambition – a direct attack on Tesla, but with MG's value logic.
Is it really “the most bang for your buck”? An in-depth comparison
Competitors that IM5 Performance will meet in the yard:
- Tesla Model 3 Performance (2024/25) – £59.990, 461 kW (627 PS), 741 Nm, 0–100 km/h 3.2 seconds, 262 km/h, 75.0 kWh usable (400V), max DC 250 kW, Real range 490 km. Superior efficiency and supercharger network, but less battery, slower charging, and higher price.
- BYD Seal AWD Excellence – £48.695, 390 kW (530 PS), 670 Nm, 0–100 km/h 3.8 seconds, 180 km/h, 82.5 kWh usable (800V), max DC 150 kW, Real range 445 km. Great value, but slower DC charging and lower final speed.
- Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor (MY26) – £53.160, 310 kW (421 PS), 740 Nm, 0–100 km/h 4.5 seconds, 205 km/h, 79.0 kWh usable, max DC 205 kW, Real range 455 km. Swedish Zen, excellent quality and design, but more expensive and less polished in terms of numbers.
Bang-for-buck (a bill that cuts through the noise):
- IM5 Performance: ~£88/kW (£48,495 / 553kW)
- Model 3 Performance: ~£130/kW
- BYD Seal AWD: ~£125/kW
- Polestar 2 LRDM: ~£171/kW
Even at charging speeds (average 10–80 %): IM5 adds ~21 km/min, Tesla ~12.7 km/min, Polestar ~11.3 km/min, BYD ~8.5 km/min. The difference that is felt on a long journey. (Calculated based on EV-Database data on average charging speed.)
Worse sides? A couple of journalists scolded something ergonomic oddities (several functions are buried in the screen), sound system it's not as "high-end" as the number of speakers promises, and infotainment still catching up on the last few fixes. In practice, driving Performance It surprises with balanced handling, a short turning circle and less noise than you would expect from a 2.3-ton sedan.
IM5 in the bigger picture: from Goodwood to (for now) the UK showroom
MG also embedded IM5 (and the related IM6) into the European consciousness through festival appearances and a clear message: premium technology for "people's" wallets – 75 and 100 kWh batteries, 800V charging and deceptively serious performance figures. Sales are currently in the UK, while NL and DE are in the waiting room.
Mini specifications (Performance), for a note on the fridge
- Drive: AWD, 553 kW (752 PS), 802 Nm (592 lb‑ft)
- Acceleration: 0-100 km/h 3.2 s (0-62 mph)
- Final speed: 270 km/h (168 mph)
- Battery: 100.0 kWh gross (96.5 kWh net), 800V
- Filling: DC up to 369 kW, 10–80 % in 17 minutes; AC 11 kW
- Reach: WLTP 575 km; Real range 510 km
- Dimensions / weight: 4,931 × 1,960 × 1,474 mm, 2,298 kg
- Price (UK OTR): £48.495 / 57.000 €
Conclusion: therefore – the most bang for your buck?
If value measure with cotton horses, acceleration and time at the filling station, the answer is simple: Yes. MG IM5 Performance for £48.495 / / 57.000 € offers the power of a supercar (553 kW / 752 PS), 3.2-second push and 17 minutes 10–80 % charging – all for less than the price of the Model 3 Performance. BYD Seal AWD It remains a "budget" as, but it charges more slowly and "breathes on the tube" in terms of speed. Polestar 2 is Finnish-Swedish Zen and designer chic, but more modest in numbers. Tesla? Still reigns supreme in efficiency and network of filling stations, but this time it is not the cheapest way to adrenaline. IM5 Performance it is therefore one of the few EVs where the calculator and the heart land on the same page. If MG can expand supply across the continent in time and smooth out the infotainment, it will a new definition of the "value" segment – with a slightly awkward interface, but with a convincing package logic that forces competitors to look at the price list.
