When the gates of Longbridge clanged shut in 2005, with the loss of 6,000 jobs, many must have thought that the death knell had sounded for one of Britain’s most famous car brands writes Peter Carroll.

But six years down the line MG is still with us, albeit under Chinese ownership, and has just launched its long-awaited, first all-new car for 16 years.

The MG6 arrives in final production form as a family-sized five-seater hatchback with coupe-influenced styling and high levels of equipment across its three trim levels.

• See more pictures of the MG6 in our gallery to your right

Prices were confirmed yesterday and range from £15,495 for the entry level S to £18,995 for the flagship TSE — a car that is packed with premium features like leather seats, climate control air conditioning, satellite navigation and a reversing camera, all as standard.

This makes the 6 cheaper to buy than similarly-specified rivals like the Skoda Octavia or Ford Focus. The MG is also more spacious inside and benefits from a huge boot too.

But perhaps biggest surprise is that MG has delivered, as promised, a real driver’s car with sure-footed handling and a surprisingly sporty feel.

Design

With its heavily-raked roofline and narrow windows the MG6 is very much a contemporary vehicle, with few ‘retro’ touches. I suspect its looks will grow on people. Saloon variants will arrive in the summer.

Inside, cabin quality is higher than that of the pre-production car I drove last year with an improved ‘soft-touch’ dashboard, along with touches of chrome and carbon-fibre-style trim.

The famous octagonal badge is present and correct on the steering wheel but the overall interior look is slightly anonymous and the plastics are harder and cheaper the lower down you go.

The seats in the TSE are comfortable but on the soft side and lacking both lateral and under-thigh support.

Leg room is generous but taller drivers may struggle for headroom, especially if the optional sun-roof is specified because you sit high in the front seats.

The designer handbrake is similar to the Saab 9-3′s ‘thumb-trapper’ and a little awkward to operate. I felt too much effort was needed to halt the car on a hill.

On the road

There’s only one power plant at the moment — a turbocharged 1.8 litre petrol developing nearly 160hp. A 1.9 litre diesel is in development but won’t be ready until next year.

The petrol is going to give you around 30-35mpg but it sounds peppy and revs freely to above 6,000rpm.

The MG has only five, rather long gears, but can hit 60mph in around eight and a half seconds. The car’s top speed has been limited to 120mph in order to keep insurance costs down.

While the 6 is designed first and foremost as a family car it’s also possible to have some fun in it. The chassis feels rigid and taut and the car is stable and assured at speed. It handles with poise and suppleness and, provided you keep the revs up, loves attacking twisty B-roads.

There’s masses of grip and very little roll through corners. The steering has been set up to be considerably sharper and weightier than in the Chinese version of the car.

The chassis could certainly cope with a more powerful engine and I suspect MG could put out a real screamer of an MG6 if it wanted. Instead, however, bosses will probably look to fit smaller, more economical power plants to the 6.

Ride quality is firm but comfortable and refinement levels are high, though you certainly hear the engine if you put your foot down.The car will not be rated by Euro NCAP until later this year but is expected to achieve at least four stars.

Verdict

It seems to me that there’s little point carping about whether or not the 6 is a ‘proper’ MG.

This is the first of a new generation of cars and the firm should be allowed to forge a distinct identity for itself in the 21st century.

The car’s interior could still be improved and its relatively high CO2 emissions of 184g/km mean it may not find favour with fleet buyers.

With no diesel in the range the MG6 is still a work in progress, at least as regards the European market, but at least it is off to a promising start. It’s spacious, comfortable and acquits itself very assuredly on the road.