MG 6

MG 6

Average. For a first effort as the MG brand is relaunched in the UK, the MG6 has plenty going for it.

It is 16 years since the last new MG appeared in UK showrooms and since then the company in its various guises has been through numerous upheavals, not least the shutdown of production at Longbridge. But Chinese parent company SAIC has invested heavily in a range of brand-new cars, and the MG6 is the first example now on sale.

The MG6 sits somewhere between Ford's Focus and Mondeo in terms of size - a trick that wasn't successfully deployed with the old Rover 200 - but in practice the price tag puts it in competition with the mass of C-segment hatchbacks. It has the looks of contemporary design too: the slim headlights and good stance all help, although the pronounced curves and high waistline are a reminder of the Rover 75 before it.

There's more new hardware underneath too, with a freshly-developed structure and mechanicals. To begin with the only engine option is a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol offering 158bhp across all three trim levels. There's also only one gearbox option - a five-speed manual - and no diesel, although MG promise there will be more choice later on.

Despite the limited choice, you won't be wishing for a diesel immediately. Although the widely-spaced ratios hamper it slightly, the turbo unit has decent torque at lower revs and when properly wound up is surprisingly rapid - it qualifies as a warm rather than hot hatch but is enjoyably quick nonetheless. MG has clearly worked hard on its dynamics too, and the mix of composed ride and engaging handling proves there are still plenty of talented engineers working for the company.

The overall package is a little hit and miss, but the price tag is low enough that there will be a number of buyers happy to overlook some of the cheaper plastics and high emissions for what is a good value and enjoyable car.