Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 MG3 Hybrid+ Trophy
Price: MG3 Hybrid+ from £18,495; Trophy from £20,495
Engine: 1.5-litre petrol engine and 100kW electric motor
Transmission: three-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Power: 194hp
Torque: 313Nm
Emissions: 100g/km
Economy: 64.2mpg
0-62mph: 8.0 seconds
Top speed: 106mph
Boot space: 293-983 litres
Styling
The old MG3 could reasonably have been accused of being bland. It wasn’t an ugly thing, but it looked cheap and uninteresting, whereas the new model looks far more modern. It isn’t necessarily more attractive – that smile effect of the lower grille feels a bit creepy – but you can see what MG has tried to do and how it fits with the electric MG4. Whether you like the design will come down to taste, but the image looks right among other mainstream hatchbacks, and that’s progress for MG.
Interior
MG has become popular by building cheap cars with plenty of kit, and the new MG3 falls into that mould, but the problem is that as well as being cheap, it feels cheap. Much of the cabin design has been taken from the MG4, which is fine if a little dull, but the 3 has added in some really tacky, plasticky switchgear and features that makes the whole thing feel a bit too lightweight. In fairness, everything seems quite well stuck together, but it doesn't necessarily feel that way, and that's going to hold the MG back a little.
That said, the same is true (at least to an extent) of the Suzuki Swift, and it hasn't harmed sales, so we can't judge the MG too harshly on that front. Especially as it looks more modern than the Swift, thanks to a digital instrument cluster that's cramped and chaotic, but modern and high-tech, and a reasonably large touchscreen infotainment system. Though neither screen is especially clever, they both do the job well enough, and the inclusion of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay means most customers will barely interact with the proprietary software anyway.
What they will interact with, however, is the steering wheel, and that's a bit of an issue for the MG3. In a bid to make the wheel look clean but still provide lots of functionality, MG has ended up giving switches numerous jobs, which means the pictograms are vague and the switches take a lot of getting used to. Sometimes you're just prodding at stuff to see what it'll do. Fortunately, there's no mention of a self-destruct system in the handbook, so you can do so relatively safely, but there is a risk of irritation if buttons don't do what you expect.
Practicality
The MG3 may be remarkable for its value, its hybrid system and its performance, but it isn't especially remarkable when it comes to practicality. Not that it's bad in any particular way, although reach adjustment on the steering wheel would be nice, but rear cabin space is just about acceptable and the 293-litre boot is adequate without troubling the best cars in this class. By way of a comparison, that capacity is slightly greater than that of the Toyota Yaris, but you'll find much more space in the back of a Renault Clio, so it's somewhere on the accepted supermini spectrum. Not terrible, not great.
Performance
No matter which version of the MG3 you choose, you get the same 1.5-litre hybrid system, which combines an electric motor and a four-cylinder petrol engine to produce 194hp. That plentiful output is then directed to the front wheels via a three-speed automatic gearbox.
Despite the somewhat interesting decision to choose a three-speed transmission, it’s a powerful system for such a small car – the electric motor alone has more power than a Mazda2 – but while performance is perky enough, it doesn’t quite make it into the bounds of being a hot hatchback. Getting from 0-62mph, for example, takes eight seconds (the gearbox is to blame for that) and the top speed is a mere 106mph.
But economy is much more important, and the MG3 scores well on that front. Official figures suggest an economy of 64.2mpg and emissions of 100g/km, both of which are solid for something in this class. And we managed to improve on that economy over a mixture of roads, although it should be mentioned that you won’t necessarily better it on a long run, where the electric motor has less chance to help out.
Ride & Handling
The advantage of the MG3’s lightweight cabin is that the car feels light on its feet, with reasonable agility and responsiveness that make it quite good fun to drive. There is some body roll and the steering is a bit light, but it doesn’t feel detached and it allows you to chuck it about with a little abandon. It can’t quite match the best in the class – the Mazda2, Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 – for poise, but it really isn’t bad at all. Not that many customers will be buying this as a sporty option anyway, despite that powertrain.
Instead, customers will likely be more worried about urban agility and comfort, and the MG3 scores pretty well in those stakes, too. Again, a Peugeot 208 is a little smoother on the road, but the MG takes advantage of its relatively small alloys to absorb the bumps quite nicely. It’s hardly like sitting on a cloud – no small car is – but it’s more comfortable than something like a Skoda Fabia, and that will be ample for most customers.
Value
The MG3's cabin might feel cheap, but there's a good reason for that: it is cheap. Basic SE models start at £18,495 (fractionally less than you'll pay for a Suzuki Swift), and that pays for the touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, alloy wheels and satellite navigation, as well as climate control and a reversing camera. It has pretty much everything you need, and though it sounds more expensive than a basic Renault Clio (£18,095), it's a full £3,000 less than the cheapest hybrid Clio, and that makes a big difference. Even this top-of-the-range Trophy version, which comes with leather upholstery, heated seats and automatic wipers, as well as privacy glass and keyless entry, only costs £20,495. If you want a lot for your money, this is hard to beat.
Verdict
In many ways, the MG3 is really very good at what it does. It drives neatly enough and the hybrid system generally works quite well, while the design is fairly modern and you get plenty for your money. But despite the price, that interior is unforgivably cheap, and it spoils what is otherwise a very well sorted small hatchback.
