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If imitation is the kindest form of flattery, then Tesla should be blushing.
The American automaker almost singlehandedly pushed the fast-forward button on electric vehicles (EVs) and forced the rest of the world to catch up.
And here’s proof that it has: the MG IM5, a four-door battery-powered sedan that mirrors the popular Tesla Model 3 in almost every conceivable way, but also moves the needle a little further forward in other areas.
Here are seven things we like about the MG IM5.
Finally, Tesla has a direct rival
The MG IM5 largely follows the same formula as its most direct rival, the popular Model 3, with a three-variant lineup that focuses on value, range and performance, respectively.
The IM5 range kicks off at $60,990 drive-away for the entry-level Premium, which has a single electric motor on the rear axle, a 75kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, and a 400V electrical architecture.
The mid-range IM5 Platinum, which costs $69,990 drive-away, picks up a larger 100kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery and higher-voltage 800V electrics, as well as a more powerful motor, but still retains a rear-drive configuration.
And the range-topping IM5 Performance that we’re focusing on here costs $80,990 drive-away and has the same battery and electrical architecture, but adds a second motor on the front axle to add more, well, performance.
Not surprisingly, pricing for the IM5 is almost lineball with the Model 3, which starts at $54,900 plus-on roads for the entry-level Single Motor version, then rises to $61,900 plus on-roads for the dual-motor Long Range, and tops out at $80,900 plus on-roads for the dual-motor Performance flagship.
Loaded with luxury
In the IM5 Performance, you get a truckload of standard equipment and genuinely luxurious touches, including ultra-soft synthetic leather trim across the spacious five-seat cabin, plus dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and a double-glazed panoramic glass sunroof.
There’s also a 256-colour ambient lighting system and a 20-speaker audio system that incorporates active noise cancelling technology to make the cabin even quieter.
One thing you cannot ignore is its massive 26.3-inch widescreen digital display across the top of the dash, and a secondary 10.5-inch screen in the centre console.
In front of the driver, the digital instrument display features all the vital information in a clean, logical and simple layout, while the infotainment section has wireless smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices, as well as embedded apps such as Spotify, YouTube and even TikTok.
Magnetic style
The MG IM5 not only looks sharp on the outside with its sleek aerodynamic body and stylish 20-inch wheels, but also on the inside where it offers a clean and modern cabin design.
It can also help entertain your passengers or keep up their appearances with a clever collection of accessories that attach in different areas of the car through ultra-strong magnets.
There’s one at the top of the dashboard in front of the passenger, where they can add a tablet or perhaps even an illuminated makeup mirror. And there are more on front seatbacks for rear passengers, which accommodated a leather tote bag in our test car, as well as in the boot, allowing you to tailor your experience in a myriad of ways.
Digital chassis
Taking the digital revolution a step further, MG uses high computing power provided by an advanced NVIDIA Orion chip to improve the driving experience of the car itself.
With a so-called Digital Chassis, the IM5 constantly monitors inputs and the road ahead to adjust certain elements of the car, including the air suspension and driver assistance functions, to ensure a smooth and enjoyable drive no matter the conditions.
Genuine performance
And when the road opens up, the IM5 Performance has the ability to warp the horizon.
With 572kW of power and 802Nm of torque on tap from its two motors (200kW/302Nm at the front axle and 372kW/500Nm at the rear), the IM5 is claimed to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 268km/h. It’s very, very fast.
But more than that, it also has the ability to cover over 575km (WLTP) on a single charge. And, thanks to its high-voltage underpinnings, the battery has a maximum DC fast-charge rate of 396kW and can take as little as 15 minutes to replenish from 30 to 80 per cent.
Cutting-edge convenience
Beyond the fact its electric platform delivers extreme performance and long-distance driving range, the IM5 also introduces cutting-edge conveniences like its one-touch parking assistant.
Using an array of cameras and sensors around the vehicle, drivers can request the vehicle takes over common parking manoeuvres from the centre screen. The One Touch Park function scans for suitable spaces and will automatically reverse into the correct position, whether it’s a perpendicular or parallel spot.
With One Touch Kerbside, it will ensure the vehicle maintains a safe distance from the kerb, therefore protecting its stylish 20-inch alloys from being scratched. And it also works the same when leaving a tight parking space with the One Touch Pull Out function.
And then there’s One Touch Reverse, which automatically retraces the last 50 metres travelled. This is particularly handy if you find yourself in a tight dead-end driveway or alley.
Advanced safety
All that hardware, including 12 ultrasonic sensors, nine high-definition cameras, three millimetre-wave radar devices and the NVIDIA Orion N chip, are also key to the IM5’s comprehensive suite of advanced safety systems, which includes autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection and more.
Uniquely, the IM5 has a function called Rainy Night Mode which uses the cameras and sensors to display a live feed of the road ahead (or behind) onto the screen in front of the driver using artificial intelligence to enhance vision and highlight potentially obscured objects such as pedestrians and other road users.
Rounding out the comprehensive safety package are seven airbags, including a centre airbag between the front seat occupants, and the MG IM5 has a maximum five-star ANCAP rating.