SOME motoring pundits have said the MG3 supermini has a ‘gutless' engine.

All I can say to that is that they have no idea how to get the best out of a car.

This bigger than average UK-assembled five door offers plenty of performance as long as you're prepared to wind it up the rev range.

It doesn't have the low speed torque of the latest tranche of small turbos because it hasn't got a turbo.

All I can say to that is - one less thing to go wrong. A friend of mine just had to have the turbo replaced in his Skoda Octavia TD and it cost him £900.

The MG3 comes at a bargain price - thousands less than other similar cars - and it offers plenty of fun, with excellent handling and road holding and positive full-of-feel steering.

The smooth and tuneful 1.5 engine revs sweetly given its head and, if you keep it in the upper rev range, performance is as good as many competitors.

Of course, doing that for too much of the time will affect economy, but it will also pull happily if gently from just above tickover in top - fifth- gear.

The ride is fairly firm, but I didn't find it too uncomfortable, even though I took a test drive through some of the rougher country lanes around.

All in all it's a very enjoyable car to drive and one that I could certainly live with as my every day transport.

Inside it's bigger than most cars in the class, with space for one six footer to sit behind another in comfort and a decent sized boot.

The front seats are hip and back hugging to keep you comfortable in harder corners and the leather covered steering wheel is a joy to use.

I drove the 3Form mid-range model, in which, though strangely named, your £9,300 buysa lot more kit than others offer as standard.

It comes with LED running lights, hill hold, six airbags, stability and traction control, DAB radio, aircon, audio remote, Bluetooth and height adjustable driver's seat.

And there is a huge array of ways to personalize your car including ten different body colours, 13 graphics packages, six alloy wheels and six interiors.