Derived from the MG6 five-door hatchback, MG Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon is, according to the promotional material, entirely British. It was conceived here, designed here, engineered here – and apparently even built here. It’s as British as fish and chips. Or rain during a caravan holiday with your wife and mother-in-law.
Except it isn’t. Not really. And this is where some of the criticism has come in. Although the car was certainly styled here in Britain, it was actually built all the way over in China by the same company which owns MG Rover. Then, it was packed off to our green and pleasant land where a geezer fitted an engine.
It isn’t really British, and therefore expectations should be managed better.
The benefit of a car such as this being exported over, though, is that it’s going to be cheap. Cheap – but any good? Is this just another substandard product that is priced so low you don’t even care if it falls apart while you’re filling up several shopping bags in Tesco? OSV takes a closer look to find out with our MG Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon review.
Overview Of The M6 Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon
On The Road
This saloon is derived from the MG6 five-door hatchback, and we must admit that we had some rather negative preconceptions about the way it would drive. We were apprehensive doubters who didn’t believe MG were going to come good with such a low-priced saloon built overseas.
However, it’s surprisingly entertaining out on the road. The steering is accurate, the handling is nice and eager, and the ride quality allows you to tackle some of our worst road surfaces without feeling the bumps, lumps and tears too much.[vc_single_image image=”44999″ img_size=”article-image”]Performance is pretty good, and the 1.9-litre all-aluminium diesel engine has enough power to get you from rest to 62mph in just 8.9 seconds. It makes for a good motorway cruiser, where drifting along at 70mph is effortless. There is plenty of punch on tap when you need it, as well as available torque of up to 4000Rpm.
There is also the option of a 1.8-litre petrol engine which covers the 0-62mph dash in 8.6 seconds before maxing out at 120mph, but with only 158bhp available, it will feel underwhelming at times.
Take it off the motorway, and you’ll find that the car acquits itself nicely. Handling is good throughout the town, and there is minimal body roll. The ride is well managed and firm, assisted as it is by supple and taut suspension, but the brakes are a tad frustrating and lack a bit of bite. They just don’t feel as assured as some of their rivals.
But it’s perhaps the agility of this car which is the biggest surprise. It’s a bulky saloon, but thanks to its suspension setup it manages to feel very agile even on twisting roads. Indeed, you don’t need much of an imagination to make comparisons to the original Ford Focus.
Interior, Design & Build
[vc_single_image image=”44998″ img_size=”article-image”]The interior is a bit hit and miss. We’re still not keen on the vast cowing that holds (or hides) the instruments, but a semi-matt finish has improved the look of the slab of plastic ahead of the glovebox which was previously an eyesore. Moreover, the irritating handbrake, lightweight key and an unreadable (in bright sunlight) climate control display are other causes for concern, while the drab colours give the cabin a decidedly sombre atmosphere.
However, the interior does look modern, and it has improved. The overall quality is better than it was back in 2010, the driving position is very good, and there is a lot of space both up front and in the back. The boot is also spacious and has a usable shape.
Equipment
Equipment levels are strong and are one of this cars strengths. You get treated to a reversing camera, integrated satellite navigation, cruise control, multi-m edia in-car entertainment, a speed limit warning system and a parking radar all as standard.
The Magnette saloon also comes with a USB input which is supposed to enhance the in-car entertainment system. Rather frustratingly, we couldn’t synch it up with our iPod.[vc_single_image image=”45000″ img_size=”article-image”]
Costs Of The MG Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon
Prices start out from almost £16,000 and rise to just shy of £20,000 for the TSE model.
Running costs are not fantastic but reasonable. Although the engine is performative and yet budget-friendly enough to buy outright, we only managed to achieve average fuel returns of 41mpg. There a number of energy and economy-saving devices fitted to the engine, though, including regenerative braking and stop/start, so the numbers are better than they would have been.
Residual values, meanwhile, are not expected to be great while its reliability is also a cause for concern.
Pros and Cons Of The MG Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon
Pros:
Cons:
Budget Friendly
With prices starting from less than £16,000, this is one of the cheapest saloon’s on the market today.
Drives Well
We must admit that the drivability of this car caught us off-guard. And if anyone has read Clarkson’s stinging review, you’ll be surprised to learn that it isn’t half as bad as he says it was.
Spacious
It’s not the most elegant saloon to ever be designed and put together, and while the interior certainly has its flaws there can be no denying that it’s not spacious. It’s as vast as they come.
Lack Of Dealers
There just aren’t that many M6 Motor UK dealers in Britain at the moment, and as such we have to put a big fat question mark over this car’s viability.
Poor Running Costs
Managing just over 40mpg at best off the diesel engine means this saloon might be inexpensive to buy outright, but it is going to rinse you at the pumps if you’re not careful.
MG Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon vs Mazda 3 Fastback Saloon vs Volkswagen Jetta Saloon
There are no direct rivals to this car. But for the sake of argument and balance, let’s see how it compares to its nearest rivals in the comparison section of our MG Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon review.
MG Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon vs Mazda 3 Fastback Saloon
The new Mazda 3 Fastback Saloon is derived from the Mazda 3 hatch. It’s longer but still looks smart, and represents a solid alliterative to either the MG or the Jetta.
There is a trio of engines available in the Fastback’s range, and all of them are performative and efficient. An entry-level 1.5-litre diesel kicks things off, but it can’t really compete with the better 2.2-litre diesel unit. The former takes 11.0 seconds to cover the 0-62mph, which makes it significantly slower than the MG, while the latter covers the same distance in just 8.0 seconds, which makes it faster than the MG.[vc_single_image image=”44997″ img_size=”article-image”]The petrol engine, meanwhile, delivers up to 120bhp, which is not especially impressive. It gets you from rest to 62mph in 8.8 seconds and is at home on the motorway.
The entry level might not set your pulses racing on the road, but fuel economy returns of 74.3mpg are not to be sniffed at. Moreover, it’s totally free to tax. The most powerful diesel is not expensive to run either and can return 72.4mpg. The petrol, meanwhile, achieves average returns of 50.2mpg.
The interior is well-built, stylish, and a comfortable place to sit. It’s not much different from the impressive Mazda 3 hatch, and can boast the same top-quality fit and finish. The controls feel solid and durable, and they are all easy to use.[vc_single_image image=”44995″ img_size=”article-image”]The ride quality matches the MG’s, and tearing over some of our worst road surfaces won’t present you and your passengers with too much of a problem. The controls are easy to reach, while the touchscreen infotainment system is effective and nice to look at.
The MG offers a generous amount of standard equipment, and so does the Mazda 3 Fastback Saloon. Air conditioning, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a DAB digital radio and alloys are all included in the initial purchase price.It’s hard to make relevant comparisons with the MG Magnette Saloon because it doesn’t really have a direct competitor, but if you want a spacious and practical saloon, this Mazda scores well on both counts. There is plenty of head and legroom upfront and in the back, and lots storage spaces are dotted about the cabin. The saloon’s shape, though, means you get a fairly small boot. Measuring just 419-litres, it’s a bit of a disappointment.
Prices:
Mazda – £17,000 – £23,000
MG – £16,000 – £20,000
MG Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon vs. Volkswagen Jetta Saloon
The new Volkswagen Jetta Saloon has been unfairly compared to the VW Golf. But in truth, it’s very much its own man, making its own way in the world. It looks distinct enough to be set apart from the Golf, has an extended wheelbase, and has more interior space.
However, to get a good idea of how his saloon drives, it’s well worth casting your mind back to the previous Golf hatch because both cars share the same suspension setup. As such, the Jetta feels secure, has plenty of grip, and is very responsive.[vc_single_image image=”45001″ img_size=”article-image”]The steering is focused, accurate and sharp, and although there is only one diesel engine on offer, it’s a promising 2.0-litre diesel unit that comes in two power guises – 108bhp and 148bhp. There is also a 1.4-litre petrol engine available, but it requires a good amount of work to get the best out of it.
Overall, this car can’t match the MG for drivability. It can, though, offer better running costs. Thanks to BlueMotion Technology, all engines are fairly inexpensive to run. The cheapest of them all is the 108bhp 2.0-litre diesel which can achieve fuel economy returns of 71mpg. The 1.4-litre petrol engine doesn’t fare badly at all either, and returns around 52mpg on average.[vc_single_image image=”44996″ img_size=”article-image”]The Magnette Saloon’s interior certainly has its flaws, but at least it feels largely modern. The Jetta’s interior, by contrast, feels a bit behind the times. The overall quality is not what you expect from a contemporary VW, while the layout looks harsh and dated.
The Volkswagen Jetta saloon is practical, though. It’s long and spacious, and those up front and in the rear should be comfortable enough even on lengthier trips. However, its boot is only measured at 510-litres, which is actually over a hundred litres less space than you get in the Golf hatch. The car is very reliable, though, and comes with lots of safety equipment.Price:
Volkswagen – £19,000 – £25,000
Verdict Of Our MG Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon Review
This is the first car that MG Motor UK have tried to sell in Britain, and it couldn’t really have chosen a tougher market to make its mark in.
We feel that the Magnette will need to undergo one or two iterations before it can truly compete with the more established models in this sector, but if you can ignore unjustified expectations (such as ‘it’s British, it has to be good!’), it’s not a bad car at all in isolation. It’s cheap; it handles very well, and it looks smart. It’s not a world beater, but the MG Motor UK MG6 Magnette Saloon is a solid effort from the brand.[vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#00625a”]
Want to learn more? Click below to view the review for the competitors in this article…
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Volkswagen Jetta Saloon Review
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Mazda3 Fastback Review
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