Review: IM Motors IM5 Luxury RWD 75 kWh

3 hours ago
3 min read

The IM5 could be the most affordable EV on sale with four-wheel steering - an option that’s a game changer.

The IM brand is a little confusing. Somewhat related to MG but not really, somewhat luxurious but not really. A total newcomer to Singapore, it is at least represented by a strong dealer, Eurokars. But IM truly deserves attention, because its products aren’t just another generic offering from China.

Continental brakes is a surprising feature.

IM offers two models in Singapore at launch, the IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV. Although both cars are pretty similar inside and out apart from the obvious differences in body type, the sedan looks more arresting with its effortlessly supercar-like curves in all the right places. Aside from headlights that are set a tad too low and a bit oddly-shaped, the rest of the car is a looker.

Singapore IMs do without the customisable digital display in the tail lights.

There is more good news on the inside. There is a bit of British-inspired design, like the pleated leather seats as well as the way the steering wheel leather is wrapped. The interior architecture is what I’d describe as ‘organic’, with lots of round and curved shapes. I’m not sure it will age well, but at least the user interface is top-notch. Having two screens on the centre console – one focused on less essential tasks like multimedia, while the other sorts important things like climate control - is genius. I’m all for physical buttons, but this setup is the next best thing, allowing quick access to key functions without needing to fumble through menus.

The interior is cleverly laid out and has a super fast wireless charger.

The convenience technology itself is also pretty good, such as parking, which incorporates automated parking, pull-out, reverse parking, and curbside parking. The best autonomous parking in the business in my mind is done by Tesla and XPENG, and IM comes very close right after them.

I think the best part about the IM5 is how it goes down a road, and keen drivers should keep their ears peeled. Ordinarily, you may think the higher-end Cat B version is the one to go for, but in my opinion that’s not the case here. The base Cat A version has been tuned cleverly to fit right into the category’s horsepower limit, but nobody said torque had to be limited. So while the Cat B Sport version of the IM5 has 500 Nm of torque, the Cat A version only has 50 Nm less - a still very impressive 450 Nm.

There's useful storage at the frunk, if a bit shallow.

So unlike many Cat A EV cars I’ve driven, the IM5 is truly brisk on the move. You really wouldn’t be lacking any power at all. And wait, there is more. As standard, the IM5 comes with four-wheel steering, a rare option that you just don’t see at the low $200k price point. This option has gifted cars from the Megane RS to the Porsche 911 exceptional levels of agility, and I’d argue it’s the same in the IM5. Turn-in is superbly keen, corners are actively sought after and the twistier the road, the better the IM5 gets. There is a premium suspension setup, which goes some way to explaining the great handling, with multi-link at the back and double wishbones at the front. Four-wheel steering also allows the IM5 to ‘walk’ like a crab, but this function is less useful on the road than impressing a great number of passersby.

The headlights is the only weakness in the exterior design to this writer.

Despite the engaging handling, the IM5 is also notably comfortable. It is on the softer side, which in my mind is actually a plus point because the car leans satisfyingly into corners, though not uncomfortably so. I never expected so much joy driving a Cat A EV sedan.

A strong start in Singapore for the IM brand.

One thing that’s worth mentioning is that the base Luxury variant uses a LFP battery, while the Sport and Performance uses NMC. The former is thus built on a 400V architecture, allowing only a peak DC charging speed of 153 kW versus 396 kW for the 800V architecture on the Sport and Performance. It’s not a big issue I reckon, because the AC charging speed for the Luxury variant is the same at 11 kW and its DC charging speed is still competitive in the market.