Both my teenage children were knocking around when my shiny MG6 loan car was delivered, and, to my slight surprise, neither the MG name or the famous octagonal badge barely registered at all with them. Never heard of it, they said. Unsurprisingly, the model name "Magnette" meant even less.Conversely, buffs of the oft-revived marque will know that the very first MG - Old No.1 - was built for Morris Garages Ltd's General Manager Cecil Kimber at the firm's Longwall St, Oxford depot in early 1925. And some may know that the first Type K1 and K2 Magnettes were produced between 1932 and 1934, that their six-cylinder, 1086/1271cc engines produced 39/48bhp at 5500rpm. And there may even be some who also know that the gudgeon pins at the top of the Magnette's forged steel, H-section, 6.5" con-rods had a 0.5625" diameter. (All true, honest!)Too much information? Okay, we'll skip the Series ZA and ZB 4-cyl, 60/68.4bhp Magnette saloons of 1953-1958 produced under the auspices of the then newly-formed British Motor Corporation, and make no mention of the many, often badge-engineered MGs made during the subsequent British Motor Holdings, British Leyland Motor Corporation, British Leyland, BL, Austin Rover Group, Rover Group, British Aerospace, BMW and MG Rover Group eras, and come straight to the present.Like the current two-seater TF, the 2011 MG6 GT hatchback and Magnette saloon are manufactured by MG Motor UK which is owned by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, China's largest car company. The MG6 was designed and engineered at Longbridge, Birmingham, with final assembly there from largely pre-built assemblies shipped-in from China.Despite being called MG6s, they're powered by a four-cylinder, 1.8-litre, 158bhp turbo petrol engine which feeds power through a five-speed manual gearbox to the front wheels. (The 6 in the name is just a number, and in time it will be part of a range which may also include Zero, 3, 5 and 7 models - a bit like BMW, then, apart from the Zero.)The MG6's engine block can be traced back to the K-series motor developed by Powertrain Ltd (a subsidiary of the old MG Rover Group), as used in Land Rover Freelanders and various Rovers and MGs as well as road racers like the Caterham 7, Lotus Elise and Ariel Atom. Substantial changes were made to that engine which then became the N-series, which in turn powered the later, Birmingham-built MG TF 2-seaters.The MG6's TCI Tech engine is a further developed version of that N-series – even the block is heavily modified. The chassis is derived from Rover 75 underpinnings, but the MG6 is otherwise essentially a new car. However, like the Rover 75, the MG6 doesn't fit neatly into a normal size segment, sitting between C-sector (eg Focus) and D-sector (eg Mondeo).Assuming you're past being a teenager you may be aware that, apart from a few best-forgotten exceptions, MGs have historically always been both affordable and sporty. A 0-60mph time of 8.4 seconds isn't too shabby, while top speed has been capped at 120mph to keep insurance costs in check (groups 13/14 on the 1-50 scale).On the road it doesn't feel blindingly quick, and if you want to wring the most out of it then the gearbox requires a good workout as, despite its 158lb/ft from 1750-4500rpm, torque isn't in over-abundant supply. Also, it was quite tricky to conduct a smooth, passenger-friendly gearchange in my MG6, this being I suspect due to slightly less than perfect fuel injection mapping.So, it's not the fastest thing on wheels, but MG's founder Cecil Kimber would certainly be proud of the new 6's chassis, suspension and steering, all of which have been suitably tuned for a taut but civilised and comfortable drive. It grips well in corners, the ride is comfy, body roll is minimal, and the steering is well-weighted and responsive, whether darting around a bumpy urban roundabout or cruising down the motorway.Of equal importance to most potential buyers is the competitive pricing which starts at £15,495 for the basic S-spec GT five-door hatch and rises to £19,995 for the top-of-the-range TSE-spec Magnette four-door saloon tested here. To me there seems little logic in spending from £500 to £1000 more for a saloon with fixed rear seats and a 498-litre boot than for an otherwise similar hatchback with a 472- to 1268-litre luggage capacity, but there you go.he top spec TSI is well equipped with super-efficient dual-zone climate control (brrrrr) with chilled centre armrest box, electric windows all round, electric sunroof, cruise control (confusing and fiddly), satnav (read on), MP3-compatible audio system, RDS radio, single CD player, mini-jack and USB inputs (the latter not iPhone or m4p compatible), Bluetooth phone connectivity (but no Bluetooth music streaming), a comprehensive trip computer, leather sports seats (very comfy, front and rear), a small full colour screen and an audible front and rear parking aid with rear camera.Despite all this I'd save myself £4000 and go for the low-spec, aircon-equipped S model and buy a portable £150 satnav device, as the TSE's destination input doesn't accept postcodes of any length, it doesn't accept house numbers higher than 100 and its in-dash card memory wouldn't accept my road as an entry, even though, I might add, it is over two miles long, has been in existence for at least 130 years and has a tube station and the world's most famous tennis venue on it.Other niggles? The handbrake has an unusual action and needs a damn good tug, while the lower dash, central tunnel and lower door trimmings are made of unfashionably hard-touch plastics. Apart from the what-look-like Honda-sourced heating/ventilation/aircon controls, the general feeling of the switchgear and interior design is more nineteen nineties than twenty teenies.That said, the MG6 is fundamentally a sound car. While on test it recorded an average of 33.2mpg – hardly record breaking, but at least it's closer than most to its official combined figure, in this case 35.6mpg. The 6 also goes well enough, rides and handles very well and doesn't look at all bad either. It's an encouraging start for MG Motor UK and I suspect that my teenagers will be somewhat more aware of the MG octagon by the time they reach their twenties. Engine 1796cc, 4 cylinders Power 158bhp Transmission 5-speed manual Fuel/CO2 35.6mpg / 184g/km Acceleration 0-60mph: 8.4 seconds Top speed 120mph Price £19,995 Details correct at publication date
