MG's premium IM sub-brand is bringing its 2027 IM8 large SUV to Australia in the first half of 2027, and the most interesting number in the spec sheet is 1600km of total driving range. That figure leans heavily on the IM8's range-extender powertrain, which uses a petrol engine purely as a generator instead of driving the wheels.
IM Motor regional general manager Steven Xu told Australian motoring media the IM8 is geared specifically for Australian conditions. Listening to dealer chatter so far, the brand is treating big-family-SUV buyers as the priority audience, not the badge-conscious EV early adopters who already bought a Model Y two years ago.
For Aussie shoppers tired of either thin EV range or thirsty petrol V6 family wagons, Carseekers sees the IM8 landing as a genuine third-way option, particularly for households that drive 30km on weekdays and 800km on long weekends.
How the range-extender powertrain actually works
The IM8 pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 66kWh battery and dual electric motors. Crucially, that petrol engine never connects to the wheels. It runs only when the battery needs topping up, acting like a generator on a caravan rather than a traditional engine.
The electric-only range is rated at 430km on China's lenient CLTC test cycle. Even with a more conservative real-world haircut, that should comfortably cover most Australian buyers' weekly commute on pure electric, with the petrol generator only firing for highway road trips.
The petrol engine is tuned to run on 91RON unleaded, which is Australia's cheapest pump fuel. That is a deliberate Aussie-friendly tweak, because rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 hybrid still expect 95RON to hit their advertised consumption figures.
Charging speed and the price tag we are watching
MG claims the IM8 can refill from 30 to 80 per cent in around 12 minutes on a fast charger, which is competitive with the best dedicated EVs. Owners can also plug in at home like any normal EV when stopped overnight.
IM has indicated the IM8 will sit above the all-electric IM6, which currently lists from $60,990 drive-away. Expect IM8 pricing to start somewhere north of that mark, likely in the $65,000 to $75,000 drive-away band depending on spec.
That puts it in direct conflict with the petrol Toyota RAV4 Edge, the Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid, and the Kia Sorento hybrid, all of which are wait-list cars in Australia right now.
Family seating: five, six, or seven
IM has shown the IM8 in five- and six-seat configurations so far, with a seven-seat version expected before launch. For Australian buyers, the seven-seat layout is the only version that really matters: large hybrid SUVs without a third row are a tough sell in this market when rivals like the Sorento and Hyundai Ioniq 9 all carry three rows.
The six-seat variant could find a niche with families wanting captain's chairs in the second row for kids in booster seats, but expect dealers to push the seven-seat as the volume model. If you want the six-seat, lock it in early with a written allocation rather than relying on a verbal promise.
What this means versus rivals like the Sealion 8 and Kluger
The IM8's main rivals in seven-seat form are the BYD Sealion 8 hybrid, the Toyota Kluger hybrid, and the Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid. Each takes a different approach: BYD pairs a smaller battery with a petrol engine that drives the wheels, Toyota and Hyundai use traditional series-parallel hybrid systems with no plug.
The IM8 is the only one of the four where you can complete most weekly driving on pure electric power without the petrol engine ever firing. That is a significant fuel-bill difference for buyers who keep cars on lease for three to four years and rack up a lot of city kilometres.
The trade-off is unfamiliar technology for Australian dealers. Service procedures, warranty handling, and parts availability for an EREV powertrain are all newer here than for a Toyota hybrid, and that gap will narrow over time but is real today.
Buyer behaviour to watch as launch approaches
MG dealers in Australia tend to play hard on test-drive bookings for new models, hoping to lock buyers in before competitor models arrive. The IM8 will likely follow that playbook, with launch allocation deposits being pushed in late 2026 ahead of the first-half-2027 deliveries.
Watch the deposit terms carefully. Refundable deposits with no commitment to a specific spec are fine. Non-refundable holds against unspecified launch trim are not, and you should walk away from any dealer pushing them.
For buyers cross-shopping the IM8 against the Toyota RAV4 hybrid or Toyota LandCruiser Prado, the IM8's headline 1600km range is the marketing hook, but the real value sits in the EV-only daily driving cost. Run the numbers on your own commute before deciding whether the EREV pitch is worth the extra complexity.
What Carseekers thinks
The IM8 is the most interesting large family SUV launch coming to Australia in 2027 simply because nothing else in the segment runs petrol-electric the way this one does. If MG nails launch pricing under $70,000 drive-away for the seven-seat, it will be a genuine threat to the Toyota and Hyundai hybrids. If it lands closer to $80,000, it becomes a niche pick for buyers who really value the EREV format over a proven hybrid.
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The finer details
Your questions answered.
When is the 2027 MG IM8 coming to Australia?
MG has locked in a launch in the first half of 2027 for the IM8 in Australia. Pre-launch deposits and dealer allocations are likely to open in late 2026, with first customer deliveries to follow shortly after the launch date is confirmed.
How does the IM8 reach 1600km of total range?
The IM8 uses an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) setup, where a 1.5-litre petrol engine acts as a generator to charge the 66kWh battery rather than drive the wheels. The combined battery and petrol range is rated at up to 1600km on the CLTC test cycle, with real-world figures expected to be lower.
How much will the MG IM8 cost in Australia?
MG has indicated the IM8 will price above the IM6, which currently starts at $60,990 drive-away. Industry expectation is a starting price in the $65,000 to $75,000 drive-away range depending on the seat configuration and feature pack.
Will the IM8 have seven seats?
MG has shown five- and six-seat IM8 configurations and a seven-seat version is expected before Australian launch. The seven-seater will be the volume model for the local market, given Australian buyer preference for three-row seating in this size class.
What petrol does the IM8 require?
The petrol generator engine is tuned to run on Australia's lowest-grade 91RON unleaded fuel. That is a deliberate cost-conscious choice and matches typical pump fuel rather than the 95RON some hybrid rivals require for advertised consumption.
How does the IM8 compare to the Toyota Kluger hybrid?
The Toyota Kluger hybrid uses a traditional series-parallel hybrid with no plug, while the IM8 can run on pure electric power for daily driving and only burns petrol on long trips. For buyers with high city kilometres, the IM8 should deliver lower fuel costs than the Kluger, but service network and resale data favour Toyota for now.
