| First Drive | Birmingham, England | MG 6 |
Key Facts
Pricing: from £18,995
Engine: 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door hatchback
Rivals: Skoda Octavia, Ford Focus, VW Golf
Combined economy: 35.6mpg
Top speed: 120mph (limited)
0-62mph: 8.4 seconds
Power: 158bhp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 158lb.ft at 1,750-4,500rpm
In the Metal: 
Nothing else in the mainstream hatchback marketplace looks like the MG 6, and that's a good thing. Its closest rival on form is Skoda's Octavia, and like that car the MG 6's fastback rear gives it a vast boot and aids passenger room in the back seats. The styling is neat too, the front grille being assertive enough to wear its sporting MG badge with confidence, while it's not so in-your-face to frighten away the private buyers MG is looking to attract.
That's not quite so true inside, where, despite relatively plain styling, the MG 6 betrays its Chinese roots with some pretty hard and scratchy plastics. It's not all bad, with the door and dash top finished with a softer material, but lower down the plastics are of a quality that even budget focused Koreans brands stopped using a while back. There's loads of equipment by way of compensation, but the interior fails to live up to the exterior's promise.
Driving it:
MG is making lots of noise about retaining its fun-to-drive appeal with the MG 6 and that turns out to be more than marketing puff. All versions are initially powered by a 158bhp 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which offers respectable if not sparkling performance. That's likely to be down to its newness as much as anything. The car we tested was barely run-in, so the four-cylinder unit is likely to free up a bit with use. It's flexible enough, though in these days of commonplace six-speed manuals the five-speed gearbox does feel a bit old school. It shifts decently enough though and respectable progress can be made.
For that you can thank the MG 6's chassis as much as the drivetrain. Cross-country the MG 6 reveals a drive that's right among the best for fine ride quality and tidy handling. The steering is a bit heavy while low-speed manoeuvring, but it lightens up with speed and delivers a level of feel that's unusual in this class. Grip levels are high and traction is good too - the traction control system rarely intervening. The result is a car that's not just capable on our twisty, pock-marked roads, but enjoyable. MG's chassis engineers have done a fine job.
It's also a capable cruiser, with little wind, road or engine noise on the motorway.
What you get for your Money:
MG recognises it's a tiny player in the marketplace and has to offer a value package to get customers through its doors. As a result standard kit levels are extensive, with even the entry-level S model coming with air conditioning, tyre pressure monitors, a push-and-go key system, alloy wheels and a USB/aux-in enabled stereo. The TSE version we drove gains leather sports seats, satnav, a reversing camera and dual-zone climate control.
Worth Noting
Insurance rates are low thanks to MG taking the novel approach of fitting a 120mph speed limiter. That's an industry first, and insurance premiums drop significantly as a result. Running costs won't be class leading though, with the turbocharged petrol engine's combined consumption of 35.6mpg meaning regular fills, while CO2 emissions are relatively high, too. It'll not be independently crash tested until late this year, but MG is confident of a good rating when it is.
Summary
Sure, when it comes to the hard and shiny interior it's definitely a case of 'could do better', but the rest of the MG 6 package impresses. It's fun to drive in a class that's increasingly staid, while space and equipment levels will appeal to the private buyers MG is courting. Sensible pricing and good looks add to its appeal, though MG will have to work hard to win sales in this highly competitive marketplace.
