IM 6 Luxury (75 kWh) Review: Heavyweight Contender With A Gentle Touch

Singapore’s Cat A COE category isn’t exactly where you’d expect to find a large, fully electric SUV lurking. After all, Category A is meant for the modestly powered - cars with up to 110kW (or 147 bhp in ICE speak). So, when IM Motors announced the new IM 6 SUV would have a variant that falls under Cat A, the collective eyebrow of the motoring community went up faster than an ERP gantry light at 7.29am.

This is a properly sized, properly heavy electric SUV, mind you. It tips the scales at just under 2.3 tonnes - about as heavy as two compact hatchbacks combined. But despite the numbers, this IM 6 manages to pull off something remarkable: it doesn’t feel its size.

Under the sleek, slightly futuristic bodywork sits a 75 kWh battery, feeding a 146 bhp motor that produces a very healthy 450 Nm of torque. Yes, it’s no drag-strip hero, but that torque figure ensures that in typical Singaporean traffic - stop, crawl, go, stop again - it glides with an effortless grace. Overtaking a lumbering van on Lornie Highway? No sweat. Slotting into a gap on the CTE before the next ERP gantry? Consider it done.

And let’s not forget: This SUV is about as refined as they come in its price segment. The interior build quality is top-notch, easily challenging more established European rivals. Step inside and you’re greeted by seats that are both supportive and plush, designed for actual human beings rather than crash-test dummies. Head and legroom are generous for all five occupants, with ample space to stretch out in comfort on longer journeys.

Then there’s the boot, a cavernous 665-litres of space that laughs in the face of weekend grocery runs or Changi Airport transfers alike. Fold the rear seats down and you could probably fit in a small sofa. Or two, if you’re creative.

The Tesla Model Y has long been the benchmark for space in this class, but the IM 6 gives it a proper scare. The full glass roof stretches almost the entire length of the cabin, flooding it with natural light and giving a sense of airiness that makes even the most claustrophobic passenger breathe easier. On a sunny day, it feels like driving a greenhouse; thankfully, one that’s been properly tinted.

Where things start to get a little odd, however, is with the 10.5-inch vertical infotainment screen. It controls everything - climate, media, drive modes, even the mirrors. That’s not the problem; the problem is its positioning. Mounted unusually low on the centre console, it demands you take your eyes off the road more often than you’d like. Adjusting the air-con temperature suddenly becomes a test of trust in your lane-keeping assist.

Thankfully, IM Motors redeems itself with the crisp digital instrument cluster that sits right in front of the driver. It’s beautifully rendered, and all your camera feeds - be it reversing, 360-degree or blind-spot views - are displayed here in stunning clarity. For a brand that’s still finding its footing in the market, this kind of attention to usability deserves a nod of approval.

Out on the road, the IM 6’s ride quality is genuinely impressive, thanks in no small part to its advanced air suspension system. Unlike traditional coil springs, this setup uses air chambers and adaptive dampers that continuously adjust based on road conditions and driving mode. The result? A level of ride sophistication that belies its weight and price tag. It soaks up uneven surfaces, speed humps and expansion joints with composure, making it ideal for Singapore’s mix of polished expressways and occasionally patchy roads (that seem to appear more often these days).

Handling wise, it’s not what you’d call “fun” in the traditional sense - there’s too much mass for that - but it is composed, secure, and confident.

The benefits of this air suspension go beyond comfort. It also maintains a consistent ride height regardless of how many passengers or suitcases you’ve stuffed in the back, ensuring the IM 6 never looks saggy, even when fully loaded for a family road trip.

The steering is light yet precise, making it surprisingly easy to manoeuvre through tight multi-storey car parks or squeeze past a delivery truck parked creatively along Tanjong Katong Road; and in the urban jungle, that’s far more useful.

As for efficiency, the IM 6 claims an energy consumption of 4.6 km/kWh, translating to a range of around 390 km. In real-world Singaporean conditions (read: air-con always on at 22 ℃ , 50% stop-start traffic), expect a bit less; perhaps somewhere in the 320–340 km region. Still, that’s enough to get you from Woodlands to Sentosa and back several times before needing to plug in.

So, what’s the catch? Well, aside from the low-mounted touchscreen and the slightly firm seat cushioning on longer journeys, there isn’t much to moan about. Sure, it’s not a performance EV, but it was never meant to be. It’s about refinement, practicality, and comfort - three qualities it absolutely nails.

Verdict

The IM 6 75 kWh SUV might not be a household name yet, but it’s proof that the EV game in Singapore is evolving beyond Teslas and BYDs. It’s spacious, beautifully built, and rides with the smooth confidence of something far more expensive. That air suspension system gives it a composure that few Cat A cars can dream of.

If cars had personalities, the IM 6 would be that well-dressed uncle who doesn’t talk much at family gatherings but somehow always drives off in quiet style. And in a city obsessed with flash and badge appeal, that’s a rather refreshing thing indeed.

Photos by Azfar Hashim

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