Name: New New MG3 models and Specifications
Brand: MG

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The Hybrid+ combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 100kW electric motor for 191bhp and an official 0-62mph of 8.0 seconds.

1.5 Hybrid

The only engine option isn’t turbocharged, so it feels a bit gutless and asthmatic at low revs. On quicker roads, it’s easier to make use of the engine’s maximum grunt, which arrives at a 4500rpm – but once you’re that high up the rev range, be prepared for quite a lot of vibration and harshness.

1.5 VTi-TECH

This entry-level trim gets you alloy wheels, air-conditioning, rear parking sensors, electric windows all round and an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system. Given the MG 3's budget-focused nature, it's the one to go for.

Excite

Despite the MG3’s affordable price tag, even the entry-level SE trim comes with lots of standard equipment. The list includes 16in alloy wheels, air-con, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, automatic headlights and adaptive cruise control.

This range-topping trim brings sports seats up front, cruise control, a reversing camera and a few other upgrades, including built-in sat-nav.

Exclusive

If you don’t mind spending a little bit extra, we’d upgrade to the top Trophy trim. It still costs less than most of the MG3’s rivals but adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery and rear privacy glass.

Trophy

Hatchback

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive 5dr [Navigation]

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1.5 Hybrid SE 5dr Auto

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1.5 Hybrid Trophy 5dr Auto

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New MG3

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Price is where the MG3 really comes into its stride. It undercuts virtually all small car alternatives, including traditional value-focused options like the Suzuki Swift. Only the&nbsp;Citroën C3 and Dacia Sandero will cost you less.&nbsp;

Better still, the MG3 is predicted to depreciate quite slowly, retaining more of its list price after three years than all of its rivals, including the VW Polo. That’s great news because it should keep PCP finance rates competitive or get you more money if you decide to sell in three years.

Don’t let MG’s keen eye on price make you think the MG3 skimps on equipment. Even the entry-level SE comes with 16in alloy wheels, air-con, front and rear electric windows, adaptive cruise control, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, automatic headlights, touchscreen infotainment and parking aids.&nbsp;

We think SE trim is all you could ever need, so it's our pick, but we could see why you’d upgrade to Trophy trim. For not much more money, it&nbsp;adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery and rear privacy glass.

No matter which trim you go for, the MG3’s hybrid engine promises to keep running costs low, with an official 63mpg efficiency figure and CO2 emissions as low as 100g/km. That’s around the same performance as the Renault Clio and Swift but slightly better than you’ll manage in the 1.0-litre Hyundai i20.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/mg-motor-uk">MG</a> gives you a seven-year/80,000-mile warranty, which it says demonstrates its faith in the reliability of its products. Sadly, the brand didn't perform that well in our 2023 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars/n26137">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;– it came&nbsp;25th out of 32 car makers included. Vauxhall did worse, coming 30th, but most rival brands did better.

In terms of safety, every MG3 comes with a good amount of safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>), lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning and plenty of airbags. Upgrading to Trophy trim adds rear cross-traffic alert and blind-zone protection.

<h2 dir="ltr">Buying &amp; owning&nbsp;overview</h2>

Strengths Affordable list price; slow depreciation; low running costs

Weaknesses Reliability score could be better

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There’s currently only one engine choice for the MG3, called the Hybrid+,&nbsp;and it's a 1.5-litre petrol with a 100kW electric motor and a small hybrid battery.

You'll have to wait a while if you want a non-hybrid petrol engine, but having driven the Hybrid+, we think it has enough performance for most small-car users.

The engine produces loads of oomph from a standstill, and when you deploy the full 191bhp, the MG3 will&nbsp;officially sprint from 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds.

That’s faster than all its non-hybrid rivals,&nbsp;including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i20/hatchback/review/n53">Hyundai i20</a> and VW Polo, and around a second quicker than the full-hybrid&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/clio/hatchback/review/n97">Renault Clio</a>. In the real world, that means you’ll have no trouble getting up to speed or nipping into gaps.

There’s more to life than being fast in a straight line though, so what's the MG3 like on a twisty road?&nbsp;Well, due to its&nbsp;fairly firm suspension set-up, it controls body lean surprisingly well, and the steering gives you enough feedback to push on. Even so, the Clio is still more capable dynamically and more fun.

It’s a similar story when you’re driving in a relaxed manner. You can tell the MG3 is firmly sprung, but it’s never uncomfortable and you won't find yourself&nbsp;swaying in your seat, like in&nbsp;the much softer <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c3/hatchback/review/n17364">Citroën C3</a>. There's enough damping to easily cope with larger potholes and imperfections without much fuss.

The MG3 isn’t quite as smooth-riding as the Skoda Fabia or VW Polo, and the steering is quite slow and heavy around town, making it more effort to navigate tight turns in than the C3.

It will, at least, be quiet around town, because the hybrid system allows it to drive on electricity alone at low speeds. Even when the engine kicks in, it's not&nbsp;intrusive, and wind and road noise are kept low even at motorway speeds.

The MG3's three-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">automatic gearbox</a> is pretty unintrusive as you drive around normally. There's no hesitation as you set off&nbsp;or when you put your foot down, thanks to assistance from the electric motor.

<h2 dir="ltr">Driving overview</h2>

Strengths Quick in a straight line; comfortable ride

Weaknesses&nbsp;Rivals are more fun to drive; slow steering

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

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OUR PICK

Hybrid+

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At a time when many manufacturers are removing their small car offerings from the market, MG has given the MG3 a whole new lease of life.

Now, that might seem a bit strange but there's actually good logic behind it. You see, with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a> going off sale, it’s the perfect time for a new generation version of the affordable MG3 to swoop in and take a piece of the action.

Better still, while the MG3 has always been one of the cheapest small cars you can buy, coming&nbsp;with plenty of standard equipment, it now gets <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">regular hybrid</a> technology to help improve performance and efficiency.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Mxt_rkmr3o?si=P3DRRbipBlhFOwAq" width="560"></iframe>

That should in turn help it compete against rivals,&nbsp;including the similarly affordable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/swift/hatchback/review/n54">Suzuki Swift</a>&nbsp;plus the big names of the small-car market, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz</a>, Seat Ibiza, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/review/n47">Skoda Fabia</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">VW Polo</a>.

So, is the new MG3 a worthy alternative to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">best small cars</a>? Read on to find out...

While the MG3’s driving position is sound enough, placing you in line with the steering wheel, it's not&nbsp;the easiest car when it comes to finding your perfect driving position.

Every version comes with a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, but the steering wheel only adjusts up and down. You also don’t get adjustable lumbar support, which is a shame because some extra lower back support would go a long way. The Renault Clio will probably&nbsp;be more comfortable on a long drive.

The driver’s seat is mounted quite high, which helps to give you a good view out over the front of the car, while narrow front window pillars mean you can see lots when you pull up to junctions. Rear visibility is hampered slightly by wide rear window pillars, but the large rear windows ensure you can still see plenty over your shoulder.

Better still, to make parking really easy, every MG3 comes with rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, while stepping up to top Trophy trim upgrades that to a 360-view camera. Visibility at night is better, thanks to the top trim upgrading the standard halogen headlights with bright LED ones.

Every MG3 gets a&nbsp;10.25in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">touchscreen infotainment</a> system. It’s far better than the system in the previous-generation car, and even a slight step up from the set-up in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4 EV</a>.&nbsp;The display is clear and, for the most part, responds really quickly to your prods, only hesitating slightly when you open certain features.&nbsp;

Our only real demerit is that it’s controlled almost entirely through touch and even incorporates the air conditioning controls. That makes it far more distracting to make changes on the move than the physical controls you’ll find in the Honda Jazz, Renault Clio and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n33">Vauxhall Corsa</a>.

Better news is that DAB radio, Bluetooth, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> smartphone mirroring, and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-sat-nav-apps/n24915">sat-nav</a> are all standard across the range. Given the MG3’s price tag, that’s quite impressive.

So too is the showroom appeal of the interior, thanks to its mixture of textured plastics and, if you go for Trophy trim, leather. When you start to prod around, things are less impressive, with a lot of scratchy-feeling plastic. Build quality isn't as good as in the Swift and a long way behind the VW Polo and other pricier rivals.

<h2 dir="ltr">Interior overview</h2>

Strengths&nbsp;Decent infotainment system; good-looking interior

Weaknesses Build quality could be better; lack of lower back support in front

The 2024 MG3 is a great value small car with an efficient hybrid engine&nbsp;and a low price

Despite its status as a small car, the MG3 is not too cramped inside. It's less roomy than the Dacia Sandero but is roughly on a par with the Hyundai i20, so it's not bad for a car with such a budget price tag.

Indeed, even a six-footer sitting in the front passenger seat won’t complain that they don’t have enough head or leg room. What’s more, the interior is wide enough that you won’t be rubbing shoulders, even if they’re quite broad.&nbsp;

You’ll find plenty of storage spaces dotted around up front, including door bins that’ll take a large bottle of water, a space for your phone at the base of the centre console and&nbsp;two&nbsp;cupholders. There's storage between the seats, extending&nbsp;beneath the armrest, which&nbsp;is covered in a really flimsy sliding plastic tray.

It’s fair to say that the Sandero will give your rear-seat passengers more space, but there’s more than enough head and leg room for a couple of tall adults to get comfortable on a long drive. Things will likely be a little bit of a squeeze with three people sat across the rear bench, but no more so than in the Suzuki Swift.&nbsp;

Disappointingly, rear-seat versatility is a really weak point of the MG3. You see, where most <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small cars</a> have rear seats that at least split 60/40 and fold, its rear bench doesn’t split and instead folds flat as one solid piece. What’s more, once folded, there’s a step up from the boot floor to the seat backs.

The boot itself offers 293 litres of storage and has a usefully square opening, but&nbsp;the sloping rear seatbacks meant we could only fit three carry-on suitcases and a soft overnight bag in there. For comparison,&nbsp;a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris/hatchback/review/n31">Toyota Yaris</a> took four carry-on cases while&nbsp;the Honda Jazz and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> managed five.

<h2 dir="ltr">Practicality overview</h2>

Strengths Lots of front and rear space

Weaknesses Poor rear seat versatility; small boot

excite

Exclusive Nav

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trophy

Some rivals are better to drive and have better interiors, but the MG3’s cheap price tag, comfortable ride, efficient hybrid engine and standard equipment levels make it a very appealing choice among its small car rivals. We'd stick with the entry-level SE trim, but top-spec Trophy is not a big step up in price. 

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought almost exclusively as first cars or by people with no children – but the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

Small

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Low running costs compared with solely petrol or diesel equivalents</li> <li>Very low official CO2 emissions to benefit company car drivers</li> <li>The same usability as a regular car</li> <li>Smooth transition between electric and engine power</li> <li>Small practicality compromise over conventional models</li></ul>

Not so long ago, hybrids were the preserve of Hollywood stars, environmentally conscious 'early adopters' and the odd&nbsp;minicab driver looking to save a bit of money on fuel.

Since the collapse in demand for diesel, however, they have become&nbsp;much more popular, and it's easy to see why, with&nbsp;low tax bills and&nbsp;impressive MPG figures&nbsp;just a couple of the perks they offer.

There are two types of hybrid: 'self-charging'&nbsp;models, which mix petrol&nbsp;and electric power in an effort to maximise&nbsp;efficiency, and&nbsp;plug-in hybrids that can travel many miles purely on electricity before their engines need to cut in. This category is for the former type of cars.

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