2011 MG6 Magnette review
MG6 GT
By Bob Hume, 09th November 2011
The demise of MG at Longbridge a couple of years ago cannot go unmentioned - it was the catalyst for a much-needed rebirth of a legendary badge.
The Chinese company, SAIC is now responsible for the running of the reborn MG company; having recognised the value of the badge and acquired the brand shortly after it went into receivership.
The new custodians seem to be doing a very good job indeed.
2011 MG6 GT
The tested car was the range-topping MG6 Magnette TSE in metallic Granite Grey.
The new car looks great. There are few Eastern influences in the design and the brand‘s Britishness has been illustrated by a decidedly European set of aesthetics; purposeful front and rear with large overhangs, sweeping bonnet and a-pillars with a hint at a BMW ’hockey-stick‘ c-pillar.
New 2011 MG6 GT
There is a high shoulder line, leaving a large flank to accommodate a pair of subtle coaching lines. Front light clusters, tail lights and grille are all nicely done and the car sits on impressively beefy 17” rims.
The tested car was the 1.8 turbocharged petrol launch version, which is still the only choice available at the moment. The 158bhp that it produces is transmitted to the road very nicely. There is little turbo lag and best performance is released by wringing out the revs, just like the MGs from the past.
2011 MG 6
The driving experience is extremely satisfying, especially when you push it. More spirited driving is rewarded with good power uptake and confidence-inspiring handling.
I‘m unsure about just how the nose stays in the right direction when you‘re pointing it into a corner at speed, or how the rear stays in place when you lift off early but it just does but my guess is that it‘s thanks to superb geometry and suspension.
2011 MG 6 boot - a roomy 498 litres with the seats in place
Many of my colleagues have mentioned the lack of a sixth gear, leaving the car feeling under-geared at cruising speed. This didn‘t seem to be a big problem but I concede that it probably could use the extra cog. A newly developed 6-speed gearbox is on its way.
2011 MG 6 - superb interior
The cabin is airy, spacious and generally a very pleasant place to be. The leather seats are electrically adjusted, heated and comfortable. Displays, instruments and switches are placed BMW-perfect. In fact, the only beef I had was that there was nowhere handy to put my phone once it was paired to the Bluetooth system, except for in my pocket or the door-bin.
MG6 - 1.8L 4 cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine
Materials-wise, the interior was exceptional for a car in this class, easily beating both the Mazda and Ford in terms of quality. All of the tactile surfaces are nice to touch - even the ’hidden‘ panels, like the ones under the steering wheel were of the same great quality. In my opinion, cabins can win or lose sales and the MG6 has little to worry about in this area. The usb/MP3 compatible stereo and sat nav are good quality, easy to use and intuitive.
New MG6 Magnette TSE
When you consider that the MG6 has been placed in the C-segment alongside healthily established competitors like the Mondeo, Passat and Mazda6, it‘s no secret that it has its work cut out for it. New MG cars have a major problem: they need people to test drive them. The MG 6 is such a good car that you‘d swear it was at least in its second generation - it really is that good.
I'd advise anyone that's in the market for a car in this segment to get a drive in the MG6 and have a good look at the figures.
