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The Tesla Mannequin 3 has nearly single-handedly moved the needle for electrical autos (EVs) ever because it was launched over 5 years in the past.
It was the nation’s hottest EV earlier than its SUV sister mannequin, the Mannequin Y, got here alongside and even challenged stalwarts just like the Toyota Camry because the nation’s best-selling mid-size sedan.
However it hasn’t had a lot competitors within the medium electrical sedan area… till now, with the arrival of the IM offered by MG Motors model and its IM5 mid-size sedan and IM6 mid-size SUV siblings.
So, let’s cost into evaluating the Mannequin 3 and IM5 to see how MG’s new sub-brand stacks up towards the American EV pioneer.
How a lot?
Tesla has had this area of interest section of the market – an electric-powered mid-size sedan – just about sewn-up with the favored Mannequin 3 because it was first launched in early 2019, with the present facelifted model arriving in 2023.
Because it has been since launch, the Mannequin 3 is offered in three variants with costs beginning at $54,900 earlier than on-road prices for the entry-level Rear-Wheel Drive with a single motor, rising to to $64,900 earlier than on-roads for the Lengthy Vary with all-wheel drive, and topping out at $80,900 plus on-roads for the Efficiency flagship.
Now although, the Mannequin 3 has a direct rival following the launch of the IM5, which can be supplied in three mannequin grades – Premium, Platinum and Efficiency.
IM has taken a barely totally different strategy with its powertrain and battery technique, particularly for the mid-spec variant.
Just like the usual Mannequin 3, the entry-level Premium ($64,990 drive-away) has a single electrical motor and a 75kWh battery, and the flagship IM5 Efficiency ($80,990 drive-away) matches the range-topping Tesla sedan with twin motors and a bigger battery pack.
However, whereas the Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary has twin motors, the mid-spec IM5 Platinum ($69,990 drive-away) stays rear-drive however makes use of a bigger 100kWh battery to maximise driving vary.
Additionally, as talked about, the IM5’s sticker costs are drive-away (together with statutory on-road expenses), whereas Tesla expenses additional for them.
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CarExpert can prevent 1000’s on a brand new Tesla Mannequin 3. Click on right here to get an awesome deal.
What do you get?
In each of those automobiles, it’s nearly a query of what you don’t get, for the reason that IM5 and Mannequin 3 are among the many most technically superior autos on sale immediately and have a beneficiant degree of ordinary gear.
Within the IM5, even the entry-level Premium comes with:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Automated LED headlights
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- Palms-free energy tailgate
- Proximity entry and begin
- Panoramic glass roof
- Rear privateness glass
- 26.3-inch touchscreen
- 10.5-inch touchscreen
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB digital radio
- Leatherette upholstery
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- Heated rear seats
- 12-way energy driver’s seat
- 6-way energy passenger seat
- 60:40 break up/fold rear seats with adjustable backrest
- 256-colour ambient lighting
- 50W ventilated wi-fi cellphone charger
- 20-speaker sound system
- Highway Noise Management
- 3 x USB-C shops (2 x entrance, 1 x rear)
- Twin-zone local weather management
- ‘Clever’ hidden entrance air vents
- Warmth pump
Other than the larger battery and extra highly effective electrical motor (which we’ll clarify later), the Platinum variant provides 20-inch alloy wheels with high-performance Hankook tyres and the choice to suit air suspension, which is normal on the dual-motor IM5 Efficiency together with repeatedly managed dampers and Pirelli P Zero rubber.
By comparability, the entry-level Tesla Mannequin 3 Rear Wheel Drive matches the IM5 on most key particulars, besides it does have smaller 18-inch alloy wheels, solely a single 15.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, a nine-speaker audio system and ventilated entrance seats – not heated and ventilated like within the IM5.
Stepping up a grade, the Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary provides a 17-speaker sound system whereas the Efficiency model has distinctive sports activities seats with air flow, plus adaptive suspension, high-performance brakes, carbon-fibre inside and exterior trim highlights, and 20-inch alloys.
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CarExpert can prevent 1000’s on a brand new Tesla Mannequin 3. Click on right here to get an awesome deal.
Are they secure?
Each of those autos come outfitted with an in depth array of superior collision avoidance techniques and driver aids.
Customary options on each embrace:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise management
- Lane conserving help
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross visitors alert
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- 360-degree parking show
Whereas Tesla expenses additional for superior autonomous driving features, together with automated parking as a part of the $5100 Enhanced Autopilot bundle, that is included within the IM5 via simply accessible one-touch widgets on the massive multimedia display screen.
The IM5 additionally has what MG calls a digital chassis, which employs a sophisticated NVIDIA Orin N processor and a myriad of high-tech elements – 12 ultrasonic sensors, 9 high-definition cameras, three millimetre-wave radars, a positioning unit and inertial measuring system – so that every one the techniques work in unison with the powertrain, braking, four-wheel steering and air suspension (when fitted) techniques to ship most security.
It additionally has an ingenious Wet Evening Mode, which makes use of the high-resolution cameras and sensors to show a transparent, real-time view of the car’s environment whereas eliminating blind spots on the centre display screen.
The IM5 has but to be examined by ANCAP however is anticipated to match the Tesla Mannequin 3’s most five-star ranking.
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CarExpert can prevent 1000’s on a brand new Tesla Mannequin 3. Click on right here to get an awesome deal.
What are they like inside?
There’s a real wow issue to every of those automobiles when it comes to inside design and packaging.
The Tesla Mannequin 3 has an actual minimalist vibe about it, with only a single 15.4-inch touchscreen floating above the centre of its horizontal T-shaped dashboard to regulate all car features past steering, acceleration and braking.
There’s loads to navigate via, together with the gear selector, air flow controls, and a lot extra that it may be quite overwhelming at first. However it does have a bunch of enjoyable options, similar to traditional video video games and in-car karaoke.
With its normal black inside, it feels stark and scientific however gives loads of area for each entrance and rear occupants, and has a variety of helpful small-item storage options.
The IM5 follows a equally tech-heavy theme, however does so with much more type and natural shapes to its flowing dashboard design.
It’s topped by a 26.3-inch extensive display screen on prime, which mixes the motive force’s instrument cluster and infotainment system, whereas a separate 10.5-inch display screen within the centre console gives quick access to important features just like the air-conditioning, car controls, phonebook, audio and the 4 designated automated parking manoeuvres.
It has some enjoyable options like in-car Karaoke as effectively. However with soft-touch artificial leather-based masking nearly each floor, the IM5 feels extra premium and alluring.
Additionally it is bodily bigger than the Mannequin 3 too, using on a 2950mm wheelbase that’s 75mm longer, thereby creating an much more spacious cabin.
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CarExpert can prevent 1000’s on a brand new Tesla Mannequin 3. Click on right here to get an awesome deal.
What’s below the bonnet?
As we’ve outlined already, the entry-level and flagship variations of the IM5 and Tesla Mannequin 3 comply with the identical powertrain philosophy, whereas the mid-spec fashions are extra distinctive.
The entry-level IM5 is pushed by a single electrical motor on the rear axle that produces 217kW of energy and 450Nm of torque, powered by a 75kWh lithium iron phosphate battery supported by a 400V electrical structure.
It will probably speed up from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.8 seconds, has a claimed driving vary of 490km and a most DC fast-charging price of 153kW.
Each the Platinum and Efficiency variations characteristic a extra superior nickel manganese cobalt battery with 100kWh of capability, and an 800V electrical structure for fast-charging at as much as 396kW.
The one-motor Platinum produces 300kW and 500Nm, which helps it speed up from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.9 seconds, and delivers a claimed driving vary of 655km, whereas the dual-motor Efficiency pairs a 372kW/500Nm rear motor with a 200kW/302Nm motor on the entrance axle, propelling it to triple figures in simply 3.2 seconds (claimed), however lowering the driving vary to a still-respectable 575km.
Compared, the usual Tesla Mannequin 3 has a single rear-mounted electrical motor that produces 208kW and is paired with a smaller (and equally LFP) 60kWh battery that may cost at a most price of 170kW to ship a claimed 513km of vary.
Just like the IM5, each the dual-motor Lengthy Vary, which produces 366kW, and the Efficiency with 461kW, characteristic a larger-capacity NMC battery pack with 79kWh of capability and a most cost price of 250kW.
Because of this, neither can match the IM5 for driving vary, with the mid-spec Lengthy Vary able to a claimed 629km and the Efficiency masking 528km on a single cost.
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CarExpert can prevent 1000’s on a brand new Tesla Mannequin 3. Click on right here to get an awesome deal.
Value of possession
Tesla gives a sub-par four-year guarantee that solely covers autos for the primary 80,000km, with a separate eight-year assure for the battery and drive unit.
The IM5 is roofed for as much as seven years and limitless kilometres if the car is maintained inside MG’s service community, in any other case (or if used for business functions) it drops down to 5 years.
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CarExpert can prevent 1000’s on a brand new Tesla Mannequin 3. Click on right here to get an awesome deal.
CarExpert’s Choose
The Tesla Mannequin 3 has been Australia’s hottest electrical sedan for a number of years now with out a lot in the best way of a direct rival.
However the IM5 has arrived simply on the proper time to make the most of the anti-Elon sentiment following his stint within the White Home earlier this 12 months. And it’s greater than a match in each technical side, together with efficiency, driving vary and fast-charging functionality.
The candy spot is undeniably the mid-spec IM5 Platinum, which just about eliminates vary anxiousness with greater than 650km of driving vary, plus the newest in-car tech and a genuinely luxurious and spacious cabin for lower than $70k.
MORE: Discover the MG showroom
MORE: Discover the Tesla showroom
