2027 MG IM8 review: Australian-exclusive international first drive

Chinese cars are currently booming in popularity in Australia, with brands such as BYD, Chery and GWM dominating the sales charts.

But the first Chinese marque to successfully make inroads in Australia is arguably MG, which paved the way for many others in the mainstream space.

MG was also the first with a premium sub-brand in the form of IM (short for Intelligence in Motion), launching last year with the IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV – both high-end all-electric offerings priced similarly to an equivalent Tesla.

Keep in mind, that was before Denza entered the market with its off-road SUV offerings, and the Zeekr 7X lit up the sales charts.

While MG has been a pioneer for Chinese car brands, others (like the aforementioned models) have quickly come in to steal the limelight, so to recapture that attention, IM is expanding its portfolio with a model designed to target one of Australia’s largest segments.

Enter the MG IM8 – or LS8 as it is known in overseas markets – a large SUV with three-row seating and a unique powertrain specifically designed to overcome Australia’s long-distance travel needs.

That powertrain, unlike the rest of Australia’s IM line-up, is a range-extender electric vehicle.

And for those who are confused by all the different types of hybrid systems available now, I’ve got you.

Essentially, a range-extending electric vehicle (REEV) is an electric car that also features a small petrol engine to function as a generator for when the battery needs charge.

The benefit is that owners have what is functionally an EV (because the internal combustion engine never drives the wheels; it only charges the battery to power the electric motors), without the need for lengthy recharge times, since petrol refuelling is an option.

Here with the IM8, there is a 1.5-litre petrol engine to act as a generator, which has been specifically engineered to accommodate Australia’s lowest (and therefore cheapest) 91RON regular unleaded fuel.

The powertrain also features a sizeable 66kWh battery pack, which on its own can propel the IM8 a claimed 430km before needing a recharge via cable or petrol-engine generator.

Combined, the driving range at full capacity is a massive 1600km – though that is tested to the less stringent CLTC standard.

In the real world, expect something close to 1200km – which is still mighty impressive given that will cover a Melbourne to Sydney journey (and then some) without stopping.

Drive is also sent to all four wheels via twin electric motors that pump out 390kW/670Nm for a claimed 0–100km/h acceleration time of 4.0 seconds.

While that level of performance is impressive, this is a large family SUV after all, and its spritely acceleration time matters less compared to what else the IM8 can do.

One major downside of the REEV powertrains – and hybrids in general – is the added noise that accompanies the combustion engine roaring to life.

To solve this, IM has added active noise cancellation in the second row, which – the brand claims – means there is no perceivable increase in unwanted noise when the engine comes on.

We’ll have to wait until the car launches in Australia for a more accurate assessment of this claim, but – in our brief test – we did note how quiet and serene the cabin remains across varied driving conditions.

The biggest draw for the IM8, however, might be its sheer size.

Measuring 5085mm long, 2000mm wide, 1807mm tall, and with a 3060mm wheelbase, the IM8 is sized right up against large SUV best-sellers like the Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.

And big dimensions mean big practicality.

A generous interior space means sitting in the first two rows is capacious and comfortable – definitely suited to family SUV buyers.

IM has yet to reveal a seven-seat version of the IM8 – only a two-row, five-seater and three-row six-seater with second-row captain’s chairs – but a version combining the two is expected to be revealed soon.

Assessing the boot capacity of the six-seat version, the IM8 still offers bundles of boot space with all three rows in place.

Big cars also often feel unwieldy with large turning circles that are unsuited to tight, inner-city conditions. But IM has addressed this as well.

Built on its Digital Platform, and sharing the IM5 and IM6’s rear-wheel steering, means the IM8 feels surprisingly nimble and agile for a more-than-five-metre-long SUV.

The turning circle is claimed to be 9.7 metres, making it easier to turn around in a tight spot than a Mini Cooper.

While that is great to have in a large SUV, I have found in the past that rear-wheel-steering systems can often feel unnatural in real-world scenarios, so again we will have to see how well this translates to Australia’s bustling streets.

As a premium brand, the interior also has to be a knockout, and here the IM8 delivers on a high-quality fit and finish.

We’re talking soft-touch leather on the seats, a suede-like headliner, high-end materials and finishings, and an equipment list that would make a premium German brand envious.

The sample car we drove had features such as heated, cooled and massaging front and rear outboard seats, a massive 15.6-inch passenger display screen, air suspension, a roof-mounted second-row entertainment screen, power-adjustable second-row seats, and more.

Of course, the caveat here is that we’re still unsure how many of these features will make their way to Australian cars – nor how much this whole package will cost.

And that may be the biggest hurdle to success for the IM8 in Australia.

Denza is betting that Aussies will now spend big on a Chinese car, but the B5 and B8 models are more off-road-leaning with some upmarket trappings.

The IM8 is fully in the premium space, with some light-off-roading ability, so will customers drop $80,000 or more on such a model?

Luckily, we won’t have long to wait to find out, as the IM8 is scheduled to arrive Down Under in the first half of 2027.

And given the trajectory that Chinese brands are going at the moment, by the time it arrives in showrooms, it could very well find a massive audience in Australia.

Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.

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