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Once the domain of the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, MG's IM5 all-electric sedan is now dominating the premium passenger car space.
Electric Cars
It is no secret that new-car buyer preference has shifted heavily away from what once-popular passenger cars to SUVs, but interest in large luxury sedans in particular has drastically dwindled in all but one model.
According to VFACTS sales data to the end of April this year, only 469 premium large sedans over $70,000 have sold, a drastic 33.9 per cent decline over the same period in 2025.
Segment stalwarts like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class are both down – by 14.3 and 80.8 per cent respectively – despite new and refreshed models being recently made available in showrooms.
Leading the pack however, is newcomer MG IM5, which has notched 148 new registrations so far this year, which accounts for 31.6 per cent of the entire segment.
The only other model in the segment with triple-digit sales figures after four months is the Mecedes-Benz E-Class on 107 sales, which is followed by the BMW 5 Series (73 sales).
Even the new-to-market Volvo ES90 has only managed to find 67 new customers so far this year, leading the fifth-placed Porsche Taycan on 37 sales (-49.3%).
However, the elephant in the room is the Audi A6 and A7, which are expected to soon be revealed in new-generation guise.
While local launch timing may not be this year, it could be the shake-up the premium sedan segment needs to regain some ground lost to SUVs.
For reference, the premium large SUV over $80,000 segment has amassed 7047 sales so far this year, down 12.6 per cent over the same period in 2025.
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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.
