AS the first brand new car on British shores to bear the MG badge for 16 years the MG6, quite frankly, has a thankless task on its hands.

To live up to more than eighty years of sporting heritage and carry the hopes of countless enthusiasts that the marque can rise to prominence again is a tough ask indeed.

And for every fan keeping their fingers crossed for something worthy of the MG name, there is probably a sceptic predicting a flop and lamenting the passing of another classic British brand into Chinese ownership.

Those all too eager to become detractors, though, will be disappointed I am afraid.

Because, while there is plenty of room for improvement, the MG6 GT gets a couple of basic things just about right, things which will be welcomed by MG drivers of old - it looks pretty good and it's good to drive.

Although manufactured by parent company Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in China, the 6 is shipped to Britain in kit form and assembled at MG's Longbridge headquarters in Birmingham, where the team which designed it are also based.

And, on the outside at least, they have done a pretty good job.

Sharp, angular lines give the MG6 GT a muscular presence while the low slung front grille and air intake create a road-hugging look and finishing touches such as a rear spoiler, alloy wheels and prominent MG badging all add to the sporty feel.

The styling successfully brings the MG look bang up to date and certainly won't look out of place on the road today.

Settle-in behind the multi-function steering wheel and there are some pleasant surprises, too.

The leather sports seats on this top of the range TSE trim are firm and supportive but not uncomfortable and the driver gets a six-way automatic adjustment function so he or she can get comfortable.

There's also oodles of room for a car which seeks to blur the lines between large hatchback and small saloon. Three adults will fit in the back with ease, although the piggy in the middle will have to straddle an intrusive transmission tunnel, and there's plenty of headroom despite the raking fastback roofline.

The boot is also one of the biggest in the sector with a capacity of 472 litres and almost trebles in size with the rear seats folded down.

You get plenty of hi-tech gadgetry for your money with aircon, electric windows all round, and a decent stereo with USB and aux-in sockets fitted as standard even on entry level S models.

Step up to TS and you get satnav, rear parking aid and cruise control while my TSE test car also boasted dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and the addition of a rearview camera to aid reverse parking.

With all this bristling kit at your fingertips it's a shame that the quality of the interior lets down the MG6. Leather upholstery aside, the fixtures and fittings are largely plastic and have an economy feel.

On the road, though, there are few complaints.

The 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol powertrain, coupled with a five-speed manual gearbox, is the only option available currently and offers some lively performance in keeping with that MG heritage.

Acceleration is nimble, with 0-60mph possible in 8.4 seconds, and there is plenty of pull throughout the rev range.

Top speed is limited to 120mph to help keep insurance costs down but, nevertheless, you'll have more than enough pace for all eventualities.

Handling is pin sharp with plenty of grip, giving you the confidence to really take on windy country roads and have some fun. The steering offers plenty of feedback while staying just the right side of heavy.

The ride is firm but, again, just the right side of uncomfortable and, in fact, adds to the sporty feel while engine, road and wind noise rarely become an issue.

Unfortunately the engine lags behind many current rivals in terms of cleanliness and economy with average fuel consumption of 35.6 miles per gallon and CO2 emissions of 184g/km meaning fuel and tax bills won't be the cheapest.

A diesel version is due next year and should offer some improvement in this area. In the meantime MG's keen pricing policy may provide some mitigation.

All in all, though, there is plenty of potential on show in the MG6. Despite the marque's history, under it's current ownership it is perhaps best regarded as a new entrant into the European market.