The previous MG 3 was low-cost and pretty good-looking to have a look at, so it’s no shock it offered like gangbusters.
That was regardless of its moaning and gutless powertrain, a scarcity of driver help know-how and customarily regarding stage of security efficiency, and a pervasive sense of cheapness, right down to the robust petrochemical odor of its plastics.
The brand new MG 3, launched in Australia in 2024, is a vastly superior providing in nearly each means… although it’s dearer. After chopping and altering costs a bit, the MG 3 continues to be dearer than its predecessor however extra inexpensive than rivals on this ever-dwindling section.
It’s additionally certainly one of simply two autos on this section to supply a standard hybrid powertrain, with the opposite being the Toyota Yaris. Thoughts you, there are different economical choices with much less or no electrification, so whereas the section has shrunk, there’s nonetheless loads of competitors for the MG 3.
How a lot does the MG 3 price?
The MG 3 lineup consists of three petrol-powered variants and two hybrids.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2025 MG 3 Vibe | $21,990 |
| 2025 MG 3 Excite | $23,990 |
| 2025 MG 3 Essence | $25,990 |
| 2025 MG 3 Hybrid+ Excite | $27,990 |
| 2025 MG 3 Hybrid+ Essence | $29,990 |
The Toyota Yaris Hybrid vary, for context, opens at $28,990 earlier than on-road prices.
Use our comparability device to see how the MG 3 Essence compares to its rivals.
What’s the MG 3 like on the within?
The MG 3’s inside has unquestionably been constructed to a worth, however that doesn’t imply MG sacrificed type or practicality.
There’s a good-looking dashboard design with a symmetrical, dual-cowl structure. The 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen handle to have a free-standing look and but look neatly built-in.
Orange stitching particulars add a pop of color, whereas a strip of patterned trim runs throughout the dashboard, and has an identical sample to the upholstery within the previous MG 3. That is plastic, nevertheless.
Supplies are a mixture of soft-touch however not particularly upscale leatherette throughout the entrance of the sprint and on the door playing cards, and arduous plastic for the tops of the sprint and doorways.
We’d fortunately sacrifice a few of that soft-touch trim for softer trim on the perimeters of the centre console the place your knees could relaxation, as like in lots of inexpensive autos it’s unpleasantly arduous down right here.
Likewise, we’d fortunately sacrifice the gloss black trim used on the centre console and centre stack, which in our freshly cleaned tester was already gathering mud.
There are some significantly cheap-looking trim items, like the ability window surrounds, whereas the dashboard does bow within the center should you press it, whereas the glove field lid slams open.
Countering these are well-damped stalks, whereas the atmosphere is improved via the usage of a darkish headliner and LED lighting for the vainness mirrors (although not the dome mild).
A part of the rationale the MG 3’s inside appears to be like so neat and up to date is as a result of MG has sacrificed a lot in the best way of bodily switchgear. There’s only one row of bodily buttons beneath the touchscreen, and solely two of those relate to the local weather management.
Whereas we respect the 2 square-shaped toggles on the steering wheel may be programmed to manage temperature and fan velocity, we’d love for MG to incorporate a few buttons or toggles for these on the centre stack the place a passenger can simply attain.
Because it stands, a passenger might want to regulate them on the touchscreen. If smartphone mirroring is getting used, this implies urgent the house button after which tapping the local weather widget on the house display screen – not too laborious, however not as simple as a bodily management both.
MG’s newest era of infotainment is extra enticing and intuitive than ever, with trendy graphics and an anchored shortcut bar that seems on the right-hand aspect of the display screen until you’re utilizing smartphone mirroring.
It’s let down by a scarcity of wi-fi smartphone mirroring, in addition to a reversing digicam that appears like safety cam footage from the 2000s.
The digital instrument cluster is neat, and provides off Volkswagen ID vibes.
MG designers could not have taken a lot inspiration from the MG model’s again catalogue, however they seem to have been impressed by the Allegro from defunct sister model Austin. Like that small automotive from the Seventies, there’s an enormous, oddly square-shaped steering wheel.
For a urethane tiller, it doesn’t really feel too dangerous. However it feels far too giant, and it’s awkward in operation.
The seats have enticing material upholstery and really feel good and mushy, an indicator of recent Chinese language automobiles. However whereas they’re a lot squishier than rivals’, they had been nonetheless supportive in additional spirited driving.
Storage up entrance is spectacular. There’s a shelf on the base of the centre stack, just under the only USB-A and USB-C retailers, which is giant sufficient for a cell phone.
Shifting alongside the centre console, there are two cupholders with a detachable divider, whereas there’s additionally a deep storage cubby forward of the centre console bin and armrest. The centre console reminds us of SUVs just like the Honda CR-V, such is its versatility. It’s let down considerably by the dearth of a rubberised ground, although, so issues will rattle round some.
The storage doesn’t finish with the centre console, because the cavernous bottle holders within the doorways can simply match 1.5L water bottles from Woolworths.
Moreover a scarcity of bodily switchgear, the one gripes we now have concerning the entrance of the cabin are the oddly positioned door lock controls (on the sprint to the appropriate of the steering wheel) and sloping door playing cards that make it arduous to relaxation your arms up excessive.
Step into the again and when you received’t discover a fold-down centre armrest or map pockets, one can find rear air vents (hardly a given on this section!) plus a USB outlet.
There’s a relatively tall centre tunnel that eats into the legroom of the centre-seat occupant, although as with each automobile on this section we wouldn’t be seating three abreast again right here, anyway.
There’s a ample quantity of headroom and legroom for 2 passengers round 180cm tall, nevertheless I discovered my head brushed the roof barely if I sat again.
There are three top-tether anchor factors for youngster seats, in addition to ISOFIX factors for the outboard seats.
Unusually, the rear seat folds in a single piece as an alternative of being break up 60:40. Petrol MG 3s, nevertheless, supply correct split-fold flexibility.
Boot area is aggressive for the category, with a capability of 293L. However you received’t discover even a space-saver spare within the MG 3 Hybrid+, as that’s reserved for petrol fashions. As a substitute, there’s solely a tyre restore package.
| Dimensions | MG 3 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4113mm |
| Width | 1797mm |
| Peak | 1502mm |
| Wheelbase | 2570mm |
| Cargo capability | 293L (seats up) |
To see how the MG 3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What’s underneath the bonnet?
There’s a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine provided within the MG 3, however we’ve put the 1.5-litre hybrid to the take a look at.
| Specs | MG 3 Hybrid+ |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L 4cyl hybrid |
| Engine outputs | 75kW/128Nm |
| System outputs | 155kW/425Nm |
| Battery | 1.83kWh |
| Transmission | 3-speed automated |
| Drive sort | Entrance-wheel drive |
| Kerb weight | 1298kg |
| 0-100km/h (as examined) | 8.8 seconds |
| Gasoline economic system (claimed) | 4.3L/100km |
| Gasoline economic system (as examined) | 5.6L/100km |
| Gasoline tank capability | 36L |
| Gasoline requirement | 95 octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 100g/km |
| Braked tow capability | 500kg |
Whereas the MG 3 is economical, it’s not as thrifty as a Toyota Yaris. The official declare for the MG 3 is an entire 1.0L/100km increased than the Japanese hatch, and we weren’t in a position to match it.
Not solely that, however the Yaris is completely satisfied to run on cheaper common unleaded gas whereas the MG 3 requires 95-octane premium unleaded.
We noticed gas consumption of 5.1L/100km on a spirited mountain run, so the MG 3 is nothing if not constant. After every week behind the wheel and over 350km of driving, we recorded a determine of 5.6L/100km, though we noticed 5.2L/100km over a standardised inner-city, suburban, and freeway driving loop.
To see how the MG 3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How does the MG 3 drive?
I can truthfully say the MG 3 proved to be some of the nice surprises of all of the autos I’ve pushed this 12 months, till it delivered an disagreeable shock.
Let’s begin with the highlights. The hybrid powertrain is splendidly punchy, and off the road this seems like an EV earlier than the petrol engine (quietly) fires up.
Which means there’s ample torque accessible off the road, and a formidable stage of refinement. You may additionally be shocked to see the automobile staying in EV mode at speeds of as much as 80km/h, although likewise the petrol engine will sometimes hearth up unexpectedly.
Certain, like many hybrids the MG 3 makes some grumbly noises upon startup, sounding such as you’ve left your fridge door open for too lengthy. However it’s spectacular how clean the transitions between petrol and electrical energy are, and the way properly the cabin is insulated from the sound of the combustion engine.
You’ll hear slightly little bit of tyre roar and wind rustle, however even when the automotive is revving out to 5000rpm the engine doesn’t make a racket.
The MG 3 was revving that onerous due to a weird concern we encountered on a drive via the mountains, one we’ve skilled within the associated ZS Hybrid+ earlier than.
It occurred a number of instances when the battery readout within the instrument cluster displayed only one bar. This could in principle make the petrol engine do the heavy lifting, and but the primary time this occurred – admittedly on a fairly steep grade – I used to be urgent the accelerator pedal firmly but it surely wouldn’t go above 35km/h.
It gained extra battery cost in the course of the drive, however once more when it dropped down to at least one bar the automobile skilled a major lack of energy. This time, with my foot rattling close to welded to the ground, the automobile wouldn’t go above 54km/h.
A spirited mountain drive is hardly going to be a typical driving state of affairs for an MG 3, however we’re involved there are much more widespread driving situations the place this lack of energy may happen and show harmful. Think about attempting to overhaul one other automobile and never having the ability to rise up to the velocity restrict.
Discover out extra
Discover out extra concerning the automotive
A repair has been launched for the ZS, however to this point MG has but to announce timing for a repair for the MG 3 regardless of it used the identical hybrid system.
That concern apart, nevertheless – and it’s a difficulty that may’t be merely brushed apart – the MG 3 is surprisingly fulfilling to drive. Sure, you possibly can have enjoyable in an MG 3.
It’s extra than simply the peppy powertrain that makes it fulfilling. The steering has a good quantity of highway really feel and good weighting, whereas turn-in is sharp and grip is surprisingly good from the Kumho Solus tyres – we barely heard them squeal in additional vigorous driving, and we had no actual points with entrance wheel spin.
There’s a contact extra physique roll than, say, a Volkswagen Polo, but it surely’s all fairly properly managed and the MG 3 can actually cling in there within the corners. It makes the automotive surprisingly fulfilling given it’s not supposed to be a sporty hatch.
The MG 3 additionally has a typically snug trip. It lapped up some significantly poorly surfaced roads, although it might nonetheless be jostled by sure issues like manhole covers.
There’s a contact extra float to the trip than European rivals, however total MG has struck a very good stability when it comes to trip consolation.
There are three selectable ranges of regenerative braking, and the instrument cluster will inform you how a lot vitality is being recuperated. It additionally tells you whether or not the automobile is working in hybrid or EV mode, whereas you may as well pull up a small vitality circulation readout.
The lively security and driver help know-how wants work. The lane-keep help defaults to off, fortunately, however even with the emergency lane-keep help left on and placed on the bottom sensitivity, you possibly can nonetheless really feel the steering wheel being tugged. The lane-keep methods are just too intrusive, and will likely be a major adjustment for somebody popping out of an previous MG 3.
Talking of changes, the lane centring – activated by urgent the steering wheel button on the steering wheel – appears to make 1000’s of them. Like within the bigger MG 4, the system feels nervous and makes the steering wheel squirm round in your fingers such as you’re holding a pair of possums.
Typically the assists will simply beep at you for causes we are able to’t fairly fathom, for instance telling you you’ve crossed a lane marking if you haven’t.
The automated high-beam can also be overly cautious, dipping the lights even when there’s no discernible mild supply.
There’s an overspeed alert, which might often be annoying however the alert sound is so mushy you may’t even discover it. You may nonetheless flip it off, must you need.
What do you get?
The MG 3 is obtainable in three completely different trim ranges: Vibe, Excite and Essence. The hybrid is barely accessible within the two highest gear grades.
There are some uncommon variations between petrol and hybrid fashions. For instance, solely petrol fashions get tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment.
2025 MG 3 Vibe gear highlights:
- 15-inch metal wheels
- Tyre restore package
- Digital parking brake
- Auto maintain
- Automated halogen headlights
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- Cloth upholstery
- 6-way guide driver’s seat
- 4-way guide passenger seat
- Single foldable second-row seat
- Single-zone air-conditioning
- Rear air vents
- 6-speaker sound system
- 1 x entrance USB-A outlet
- 1 x USB-C outlet
- 1 x USB outlet at rear-view mirror
- 1x rear USB-A outlet
The Excite provides:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Area-saver spare (petrol solely)
- Push-button begin
- Energy-folding exterior mirrors
- 60:40 break up/fold rear seats (petrol solely)
The Essence provides:
- Projector LED headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Sunroof
- Proximity entry
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- 1-year iSmart connectivity
- DAB+ digital radio
- PU/cloth upholstery
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Sun shades holder
- Rear map pocket
- PU door and armrest trim
- Rear studying lights
To see how the MG 3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
Is the MG 3 secure?
The brand new MG 3 wears a three-star ANCAP security ranking, based mostly on exams performed in 2024.
| Class | MG 3 |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 72 per cent |
| Youngster occupant safety | 74 per cent |
| Susceptible highway consumer safety | 76 per cent |
| Security help | 58 per cent |
Normal security gear on all MG 3s consists of:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise management
- Clever Cruise Help
- Lane-keep help
- Emergency lane-keep help
- Reversing digicam
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
Excite and up embrace:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
Essence fashions additionally obtain a surround-view digicam however unusually solely petrol fashions have a far-side airbag.
To see how the MG 3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How a lot does the MG 3 price to run?
MG Motor Australia provides a beneficiant 10-year/250,000km guarantee throughout its whole mannequin vary (together with EVs and hybrids just like the MG 3) for personal patrons, and a seven-year/160,000km guarantee for enterprise clients.
| Servicing and Guarantee | MG 3 |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 10 years or 250,000km |
| Roadside help | 7 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years or 70,000km |
| Complete capped-price service price | $2045 |
To see how the MG 3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
CarExpert’s Tackle the MG 3
The MG 3 largely follows the present widespread Chinese language automotive system: squishy seats, so-so ADAS tech, and a terrific worth.
In contrast to some Chinese language automobiles, nevertheless, it’s truly fairly fulfilling to drive. The premium over the petrol engine will provide you with some gas financial savings, but it surely’ll take a while so that you can recoup the distinction.
However don’t consider the premium over the usual petrol engine as being merely to get higher gas economic system. With the hybrid, you get a extra sprightly powertrain too, which makes the premium really feel price it.
That the most cost effective MG 3 Hybrid+’s checklist worth can also be $1000 lower than the most cost effective Toyota Yaris Hybrid – not considering MG’s common drive-away offers – additionally places ahead a compelling case for the Chinese language hatch.
There’s an actual caveat right here, although – we merely wouldn’t purchase one till the repair for the hybrid system is deployed. Whereas we solely encountered it in a single specific driving state of affairs, it’s sufficient of an issue to make us reluctant to suggest the Hybrid+… at the least for now.
It’s an actual disgrace as earlier than this downside reared its head, the MG 3 had proved to be some of the nice surprises of any automobile I’d pushed this 12 months.
Considering shopping for a MG 3? Let CarExpert discover you the most effective deal right here
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