What's all this about?
MG has updated the 6, giving it a cleaner diesel engine, more equipment in simplified trims, a spec-for-spec price cut (we'll expand on this shortly) and a better interior.
What's the starting price for an MG6 now?
A mere £13,995 for the MG6 S entry-level, rising to £17,995 for the MG6 TL. In between is the MG6 TS at £16,195. MG is quoting 'up to £3,000 value-for-money improvement' over the 2014MY car, because even S cars now get heated front seats, LED daytime running lights (DRLs), 16-inch alloys and an electronic parking brake as standard, plus an electronic differential called E-Diff. TS models add part man-made leather seats, rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control, auto-dimming mirrors and the all-new MG touch infotainment system, which we'll come onto shortly. The TL gets proper leather and HID headlights, which can turn to illuminate more of the road during cornering, a rear-view camera, dual-zone climate control and electric seats.
Tell me more about MG touch.
Developed in collaboration with NNG iGo, it comprises a seven-inch touchscreen with App-based operation of its major functions. Mirrorlink v1.1 and iGo by NNG navigation are also included and it forms part of a vastly improved interior.
What makes you say that?
Even on the reasonably inexpensive 2014MY car, the cabin quality was laughable when held up to the harsh comparative light of modern standards. Chief antagonist in the old interior was the handbrake, a particularly dunderheaded piece of ergonomics that trapped thumbs on a whim. Luckily, as you may have already picked up, it has been replaced by an electronic parking brake - huzzah! The instrument cluster in the 6 is redesigned too and there are new trims to feast your eyes on.
Can we get on to motive power?
Really, the key motor here is the DTi-Tech 1.9-litre diesel (it's actually a 1.8, but we digress), which MG had a go at cleaning up last year. Those 2014 changes moved it down into Band D for VED but now the Longbridge firm has had another crack at reducing consumption, emissions, VED and BIK. It still makes 150hp and 350Nm, but CO2 falls 10g to 119g/km while average economy climbs from 57.6- to 61.4mpg. That emissions number sees the car dip into VED Band C, meaning (after the free first 12 months of tax, the same as the old car) the 2015MY MG6 will be £80 a year cheaper to tax at £30 annually. This greener performance is largely achieved by the car being, on average, 75kg lighter than before, which also sees the 0-60mph time shaved by half a second to 8.4 seconds.
How do I spot the new car?
By looking really, really hard and - perhaps - being a big MG fan in the first place. The new bits at the front are the headlamps, grille, lower air intake, LED DRLs and a 'dramatic' feature line; on top models, the grille is highlighted in chrome. At the back, there's a black lower bumper and re-shaped exhaust pipe.
Matt Robinson - 8 Apr 2015
