Published:
13 April 2012Sit in the driver’s seat of the MG 6 and you are faced with large, clear dials and a steering wheel that benefits from a good rim width. The rest of the cabin stretches out from that point, with the most significant switchgear sitting high up and central on the dashboard.
The abundance of buttons takes some getting used to, particularly in conjunction with the colour screen that functions as a sat-nav and multimedia interface. It’s an excellent standard feature, but the graphics on this screen are evidence that the MG is not quite up to class standards inside. So is the oddly designed handbrake, whose shiny plastic and awkward shape make it less than pleasant to hold.
Still, the electrically adjustable leather sports seats, standard on TSE versions, are very decent. There’s also a good amount of rear legroom – noticeably more than in the Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus – and a comfortable 60/40 split bench that will seat three with some elbow squeezing or two with plenty of space.
The boot of the hatch is another selling point. At 472 litres with the rear seats in place, it can carry a lot more than the 316-litre hold of the Focus or the 350 litres available in a Golf.
Visibility is about average for the class, although the raked rear window provides a narrower view than that offered in most rivals.
Even though the cabin of the MG 6 has substantial merit, it’s still marred by too many niggling issues in its quality and ergonomics. Odd touches such as a driver’s cupholder that requires a two-handed effort to fit a cup in it, average graphics and some poor materials let it down.
