First Impressions of the MG6

[SN1958]

I was dropping a car off at the bodyshop next door to the MG dealer in Stafford today, Hopton Garage.
They have a Union Blue SE demonstator, I had a very good look round the car and was very impressed with the build quality and finish, paint finish is very good, panel fit is very good. I have to admit it was much better than I had expected. The doors close with a reassuring sound and feel as good as the other main stream manufacturers, under the bonnet the finish is very good and everything very tidy, the space around the 1.8T engine is begging for something bigger on later models
The looks of it dont offend me and I think it is as pleasing to the eye as many other main stream models. To me it looks generic, but I guess they are aiming at the mass market so this look is needed to compete with the main sellers.
The interior I was impressed with the seating position and adjustment, I am 6'3" and had no problems getting a good position. I do struggle in the ZS we have and dont rate that at all for getting a good driving position. I didnt feel as comfortable as I do in the ZTT. Rear space is very good and better than the ZTT, that said I never sit in the back
The layout of the dash is ok, everything is where you expect, headlining etc is good quality, top of the dash looks and feels as you would expect. Now to the downside, seat materials are not clever and didnt impress, that said I dont really like cloth seats in a car. Lower dash plastics look and feel cheap, also on this demonstrator they were all scratched, hand brake lever I dont like at all, carbon fibre effect (I assume it to be that, but its anyones guess) finish over the centre console etc is dreadful. Remote key thing looks and feels very cheap, has the looks of something that would smash if dropped (I didnt try though )
I am not convinced by some of the switch gear, it doesnt look or feel as I would expect.

Overall I was very impressed, I just feel the interior although its a reasonable attempt, it does let the car down overall. I would like to see the TSE model to see what the quality of the leather interior is like as the look and feel of the cloth seats didnt make we want to spend more time in it than I did.
I didnt get to drive it today as I was short on time, but plan to go back and test drive it next week.

I am still not sure where I fall on the rebirth of MG, I cant decide if its a good thing or not, part of me thinks 2005 should of been the end. Seeing the MG6 make me think maybe its good the name lives on as it certainly has potential. The fact its built in China also puts me off, but thats my personal opinion and something I dont apologise for, I am passionate about UK industry. I hope that eventually we might see something actually made at Longbridge and with some European components.

Maybe one day the new Chinglish MG will tempt me to owing another, the first impressions of the MG6 have been an eye opener that hopefully future models will be even better. That said the MG3 does worry me given what we have seen to date.