THINGS sometimes aren't always what they seem.
Take last week when I borrowed an MG ZT+ 160 for a test drive.
Here was a good-looking car which drove well and boasted an array of features, not least a satellite navigation/TV system, which I'd only previously seen gracing the likes of BMWs.
Even more impressive was a sub £20,000 price tag which was listed for the saloon in the brochure.
"Too good to be true," I thought and so I rang an MG Rover Press officer just to make sure.
And it wasn't long before the reality of it all became apparent.
Yes, £19,580 is the on-the-road price for a basic MG ZT+ 160 with its 1.8 turbo engine. But for the precise car I was driving, it would cost almost another £6,000. Ouch.
More than £2,000 of this is the cost of the sat nav/TV, with the rest going on equipment such as an electric sunroof, ultrasonic parking aid, trip computer, part leather seats and metallic paint.
Luxury doesn't come cheap I know, and without these optional extras I wouldn't have been nearly as impressed with this ZT.
But I just can't help feeling that more than £25,000 is a lot to spend on a car from an MG range which is supposed to provide "outrageous fun for all".
Forgetting about cost though, my test car had lots going for it.
The saloon appears impressively sporty and aggressive, with a large, powerful looking body featuring chrome grilles, a deep bumper at the front and a large spoiler at the back.
The interior is also impressively designed. The cabin has an intimate yet spacious feel to it, both in the front and the rear. It also has a large boot.
My test model interior was classy and functional featuring a mixture of blacks and greys combined with shiny chrome touches and white speed/rev counter dials. Seats are comfortable and supportive, if a little too low down for my liking.
For such a big car, the ZT+ handles very well and sticks to the road without any drama. Gear changing is also easy enough.
It didn't, however, perform as well as I would have liked.
The 1.8-litre engine produces 160bhp which can take the car to 60mph from standstill in 8.5 seconds. This is far from slow, but for me it did not feel quick enough when putting my foot down. Whereas I'd class performance as better than average, with more power this could be a belting sports car.
When you've got a chassis which is as good as this, 160bhp just isn't enough.
For £21,510, a 190bhp 2.5V6 version is available, but even then I'd like to see a 200bhp plus engine beating under the bonnet.
Then we could be talking outrageous fun.
FAST FACTS
MG ZT+ 160
Price: £19,585
Mechanical: 160bhp, 1,796cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 132mph
0-60mph: 8.5 secs
Combined mpg: 34.9
Insurance group: 15
CO2 emissions: 194g/km
BiK Rating: 23%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 6yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint