It's good to see, 90 years after a British marque first made its, well, mark, that MG sales are on the up.

The company can quote impressive percentage increases of towards the back end of  last year, but if sales are in the hundreds, any improvement will seem dramatic.

But there is no doubt the firm, now Chinese owned by the SAIC Motor Corporation, with the cars assembled at Longbridge in Birmingham, is on the move.

It has recently introduced a new Astra-sized challenger, the MG3 and the more established MG6 and Magnette, both now feature improved diesel engines.

The 150PS 1.9 litre diesel now has CO2 emissions of 129g/km, down nearly 10 per cent from 139g/km and a claimed, improved fuel consumption of 57.6 mpg, up from 53.5mpg.

This takes the car down a tax bracket as well as making it more attractive for business users with a lower benefit in kind rating, down to 20 per cent.

This is achieved through advances in its engine technology with a smart charging system which saves energy by only supplying power to certain electrical components when needed and stop/start system.

The improvements don't compromise performance either, with the lively engine propelling the car to 60mph from a standing start in just under nine seconds.

It is a smooth engine that delivers plenty of torque through is six-speed gearbox and power is always on top, whether in town or on the motorway.

Handling is sharp and sporty and the car feels well balanced even under hard cornering, but road and wind noise can be intrusive.

At a starting price just over £15,500 for the petrol MG6-GT and just under £17,000 for the base diesel the cars are packed with standard equipment making them a an attractive proposition in a market that bridges the zone populated by the likes of the Golf and Astra and larger cars like the Passat and Insignia.

The styling is very European, but has a dynamic look with curves and power bulges all set off by honeycomb grille and trim and smart, eliptical headlamps.

The dash features analogue-style clock and a digital info panel that includes, full colour sat nav and reversing camera and Bluetooth capability.

The car is really a comfortable four-seater with room for a fifth, although head and legroom are decent.

For comfort, the driver has six-way adjustable seats and the passenger seat is a four-way adjustable while both are firm and supportive.

Boot space is also good with a more than adequate 485 litres.

The Magnette is the range topper and offers just about every creature comfort, including leather upholstery, sat nav, climate control, electric windows all round, radio, RDS, CD player, MP3, USB, body coloured mirrors front and rear parking sensors and cruise control for just over £21,000.

The downside is that is does feature some rather harsh plastic fit and finish.

For those looking for luxury soft touch trim, forget it but the plastic feel well-engineered and durable.