MG

MG3

The MG3 is a competitively priced, richly equipped supermini with a million personalisation options. It’s big on space, big on charm and big on character too. It is also excellent value.

Test Drive

MG3 – first drive (2018)

The MG3 supermini has been given a major revamp with a striking new look, lots of extra kit, a choice of vibrant colours along with a wealth of personalisation options.

The five-door MG3 was originally launched in 2013 and then underwent a facelift in 2015. But the latest changes see the car completely transformed with a fresh new face featuring MG’s ‘star-rider’ grille design, new bumpers, a rear spoiler, smarter front wings, improved headlights with LED daytime running lights and a bigger, more prominent MG emblem.

The interior has also been given a thorough make-over – it’s more modern and appealing in its layout and there are plenty of on-board techno treats to explore.

Customers can choose from three trim levels called Explore, Excite and Exclusive with prices ranging from £9,495 to £12,795. There is only one engine available which is a 1.5-litre petrol engine delivering 106PS and 137Nm of torque and this is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

We tested the top-of-the-range MG3 in a rather dazzling and vibrant Hello Yellow shade (other stand-out colours include Spiced Orange and Laser Blue). Our test car could reach 60mph from a standing start in 10.4 seconds and topped out at 108mph. According to official figures, the latest MG3 can deliver combined fuel economy of 47.1mpg with carbon emissions of 140g/km.

Although these may not be the most dynamic performance figures in the supermini sector it’s worth remembering that the MG3 is a very reasonably priced car. In fact, MG is very quick to point out that it doesn’t want to be the cheapest brand on the market as that honour has already been secured by Dacia, but it does want to be viewed as one of, if not, the ‘best-value-for-money manufacturer’.

When it comes to styling, the MG3 certainly looks funky in its design and the interior is deceptively spacious with plenty of room in the back for two or even three adults to sit comfortably.

All trim levels are well equipped and, as standard, include the likes of Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming and AUX/USB. The Excite and Exclusive models gain an eight-inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, DAB radio, steering wheel audio controls and air conditioning. And finally, a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines is introduced on the range-topping Exclusive versions.

Our car was bright and breezy with a smart combination of cloth and leather upholstery. MG has introduced a new dashboard layout and ours boasted a Tartan-effect pattern with a nice rippled design on the door panels.

The seats have ample adjustment but there is no telescopic movement for the steering wheel which is a shame. However, all the controls, dials and readouts are perfectly positioned for driver-usability and the all-round visibility is very good which is a major plus-factor on a car that is likely to feature regularly on the school run.

As far as performance is concerned, the MG3 is a nice car to drive. The acceleration is smooth enough and the car is happy ambling along country lanes or travelling at national speed limits on the faster motorways. It’s an easy car to get used to and my only slight gripe after a lengthy road route was the lack of a sixth gear.

There isn’t that much instant dynamic power for short bursts of acceleration, but the car can easily cope when asked to overtake slower moving farm traffic.

It also feels nicely planted with good road grip and the steering is precise with ample driver feedback. The MG3 is generally well insulated against road or engine noise, although these annoyances do become a lot more noticeable at higher speeds or on rougher road surfaces.

On the practicality front, the MG3 does well with a boot capacity of 285 litres that can quickly be increased to 1,262 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats lowered. There are some additional compartments beneath the boot floor, along with a glovebox, door bins, cup holders and pockets in the backs of the front seats to stash away bits and bobs.

The original MG3 secured a three-star safety rating when it was Euro NCAP tested and there are no plans to get the latest car re-tested. All trim levels get anti-lock brakes, stability control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, speed sensitive locking doors, hill-hold control and numerous airbags.

Another plus factor worth a mention is the impressive seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty which is fully transferable.

All in all, the latest MG3 is a fabulous supermini and is a marked improvement on the previous version. It demands attention thanks to its sporty styling and vibrant colours and there are plenty of personalisation options available to really make your car really stand out in a crowd.

MG is a brand that is steeped in heritage and despite now being under the ownership of Chinese company SAIC, there are exciting times ahead with plans for electric models including a roadster in the next few years.

Test Drive

MG3 3Style CVTi-TECH 106PS 5-door hatchback

When you launch a car in the fiercely competitive supermini sector it has to be pretty special – the MG3 is just that.

For not only does the car come with a very reasonable price-tag and an exceptionally low insurance group rating of just 4 that is vital for young drivers these days, but it delivers a superb all-round package along the way.

There are four models in the line-up and I tested out the range-topping MG3 3Style that boasted a whole array of eye-catching features and techno treats.

These included premium 16-inch alloys and a sports body styling pack that incorporates a rear boot spoiler and side sill extensions. Standard high-tech fittings on this car include cruise control, automatic lights and windscreen wipers. And it is priced at just £9,999.

But there has definitely been no expense spared when it comes to practicality, specification or safety as the MG3 boasts LED daytime running lights, electronic hill hold assist, anti-lock brakes, stability control, emergency brake assist, numerous airbags and plenty more as standard.

In addition, creature comforts such as a top quality DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, iPod integration so you can access your maps, music and emails, air conditioning and reverse parking sensors come as standard.

But the real deal-clincher could be the MG3’s incredible range of personalisation options which is very fashionable amongst buyers at the moment.

The choice seems almost unlimited with a huge range of colours, exterior graphics, interior colour packs and upholstery options to select from. And with thousands of combinations available, the chances of seeing two identical MG3s together in the same city are very slim indeed.

So the five-door hatchback certainly looks the business and is richly equipped for a car of its size, but how well does it hold up on the open road?

The answer is remarkably well. The cabin is deceptively spacious and there is ample room for two adults in the back.

Admittedly, some of the fixtures and fittings are slightly low on quality but remember this is a competitively-priced car that isn’t trying to compete in the premium market.

That said, all the instrumentation is very clear and precise and also ideally positioned for driver usability. And one of the first factors of note is how fresh and uncluttered the cabin feels.

The punchy 1.5-llitre 106PS petrol driven engine certainly produces enough zip, and the acceleration through the five-speed manual transmission is smooth and responsive.

In fact, the test car could sprint to 60mph from a standing start in 10.4 seconds and has a top speed of 108mpg.

And the economy along the way impresses too with carbon emissions of 100g/km and a combined fuel economy of 48.7mpg.

The car was certainly fun to drive and although there was a little road surface noise if pushed hard, it’s just a case of cranking up the volume on the sound system.

All in all, the MG3 is a great city car that feels safe and secure on the faster motorways too.

But for me, it’s the amazing ways to personalise the car that really appeals – sometimes it’s nice to stand out from the crowd.