For four years running, the MG3 defied an industry-wide trend with the title of best-selling small car. It has seen off the Kia Rio, Honda Jazz and Ford Fiesta, while the remaining cohort of rivals are lucky to shift a fraction of the MG3’s monthly sales numbers.
An all-new generation arrives as the 2024 MG3 to usher in hybrid technology and an altogether more grown-up package, with a fresh and attractive exterior design plus a futuristic, MG4-inspired interior. While it no longer starts in the high teens price-wise, it is bigger, features active safety technology for the first time and comes with some interesting new features, including many firsts for the segment.
The MG4 surprised us with its depth of engineering and accomplishment when it launched last year – can its little brother do the same?
MG lent us the keys to this MG3 Hybrid+ in Excite guise to give us a thorough, pre-launch preview of the car as part of the Australian launch event.
2024 MG MG3 Hybrid: Specifications
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid, 1.83kWh battery
Output (combined): 155kW
Gearbox: Three-speed hybrid auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 16in alloy, 195/55
ANCAP: Not tested
Tare weight: 1280kg
Power-to-weight: 8.25:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 4.3L/100km
Our consumption: 5.3L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 36L/95 RONPower efficiency: 36.04kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 3.92 seconds*
0-100km/h: 7.07 seconds*
60-110km/h: 4.56 seconds*
1/4 mile: 15.65 seconds at 151.2km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.680g*
100-0km/h braking: 42.05m in 3.30 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.072g*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 78*
Starting price: $27,990
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2024 MG MG3 Hybrid: How much does it cost?
The Excite now marks the entry point of the range, dispensing with the old Core trim. In non-hybrid guise, it starts from $23,990 before on-road costs with standard CVT automatic, or $27,990 in Hybrid+ guise as tested here.
The new flagship is the Essence model, which adds $2000 in both guises, adding a leather-wrapped steering wheel, synthetic leather seat inserts, MG’s iSMART app connectivity, keyless entry, digital radio, navigation and a sunroof for the first time.
As before, capped-price servicing is competitively priced ranging between $235 and $638 for the Hybrid+ or $234 and $536 for the non-hybrid. Intervals are every 10,000km or 12 months – whichever comes first and it still has a seven year/ unlimited km warranty as before, with up to seven years roadside assist.
To justify the extra $4000 spend over the base MG3, the hybrid promises 4.3L/100km fuel economy, with a smaller, 36-litre tank, albeit requiring premium 95 RON petrol. We achieved a best of 5.3L/100km, which is still worthwhile but notably only 0.1L/100km better than our average with the six-speed manual Mazda2 G15 Pure we tested recently.
Non-hybrid customers can enjoy a significantly improved official fuel consumption number of 6.0L/100km, with the same 45L tank capacity as before, happy to run on regular unleaded. There is no manual transmission offering in Australia – manual is an option overseas.
2024 MG MG3 Hybrid: Interior & packaging
In contrast to the more conservative styling of the exterior, the new MG3 feels futuristic and minimalist inside, moving away from the cheap-and-basic approach of its predecessor. In its place, a layered, horizontally-themed interior highly reminiscent of the MG4, with a new 10.25-inch infotainment display setting the scene on the dash, featuring Android Auto for the first time, in addition to Apple CarPlay. The digital instrument cluster appears to be lifted straight from the MG4, with clear and crisp graphics and little in the way of clutter.
A highlight is the hexagonal two-spoke steering wheel, with two square directional controls with a set of three vertically-arranged buttons inset. By default they control the cruise and audio, but you can set favourites with the star keys, for your choice of braking re-gen, HVAC or driving modes. This is a clever way to keep the minimalist aesthetic without a steep learning curve.
If you have driven the previous MG3, you’ll recognise the tartan pattern on the dash, but it is less prominent than before, with a soft-touch panel in front of it housing a set of switches, complete with orange stitching. The overall effect is far more premium than before.
Better yet, there is a centre armrest – which is positioned just right. On the flip-side, the steering wheel only tilts with no reach adjustment and the driver side grab handle is gone (one of the few saving graces of the old car).
At 4113mm long, 1797mm wide and 1502mm tall, the new car is 58mm longer, 68mm wider and 2mm shorter than before, for more squat proportions. It features a 50mm longer wheelbase, at 2570mm. Interior accomodation for four adults remains generous for its size, with rear occupants treated to vents and a USB port.
Boot space is slightly down in volume at 293L but expands to 983L when the rear seat is folded down. It is not a split-fold, unfortunately, but it does offer three child seat anchor points. A temporary spare sits under the boot floor in the base model, while the hybrid makes do with a temporary repair kit.
Notably, improving both accomodation and aesthetics, the rear track is now wider than the front (1535mm and 1514mm, respectively), giving a more confident stance and some handling benefits, as outlined below.
2024 MG MG3 Hybrid: Powertrain & handling
It’s all too easy to pour scorn on the outgoing MG3 – a car MG did not feature on its official media test fleet – for its drum rear brakes (now disc), fidgety ride and budget feel. We are pleased to report the new model is a monumental leap forward in every discernible way.
Gone are the GitiComfort tyres, replaced with Kumhos, wrapping 16-inch polished alloy wheels – the same regardless of spec. The two-spoke wheel now commands a more eager and accomplished chassis, tucking into corners with more vigour than before, holding its line more faithfully and not perturbed by mid-corner bumps. It feels like an entirely different car and that’s because it is. While not at hot hatch levels dynamically, there is fun to be had and it is agile, predictable and reasonably competent. Despite the switch from hydraulic power steering to EPS, the feel has improved dramatically.
One thing that surprised us against the claimed 8.0-second 0-100km/h time was our real-world time of 7.07 seconds – that most certainly sits in hot hatch territory, up there with at least the Swift Sport if not the Fiesta ST. In terms of bang for your buck, the MG3 Hybrid+ offers outstanding acceleration for the outlay.
Under the bonnet, the new MG 3 features a sophisticated hybrid powertrain. The 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine, combined with an electric motor and a 1.83kWh battery pack, delivers a combined output of 155kW. While this power figure is contingent on the reserves of the battery and therefore not always repeatable, it’s very handy for seizing gaps in traffic.
Three driving modes are available (Eco, Normal and Sport), while three levels of re-gen help harvest power on downhill sections and reduce reliance on the brakes. We would like to see one pedal driving, as seen on the MG4 – perhaps this could be included in a software update in the future?
Comparatively, the Toyota Yaris hybrid offers just 85kW, for a 0-100km/h time of around 10 seconds, but superior fuel economy. We expect the non-hybrid with its CVT engine to only slightly best the 12.64-second 0-100km/h effort of the MG5 Vibe, with which it shares much.
On the motorway, wind and tyre noise are massively improved compared to before (again, not saying much) and the car feels substantially solid, like a larger car. Best of all, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assistance round out a suite of ADAS features.
How safe is the 2024 MG3 hybrid? With the addition of MG Pilot for the first time, a four-star ANCAP rating is a safe bet, with possible five stars for the top models. As before, there are six airbags – dual front, side and curtain but no front centre airbag – which may hurt it.
Rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking plus driver monitoring are now standard on all models, with the Essence’s 360-degree camera going some way to compensate for the thick A-pillars.
Pleasingly, the calibration of these features is far smoother than other Chinese vehicles we’ve tested, but there is still a need to turn them off each time you restart the vehicle (the audible speed alert can be very annoying as it often holds onto the wrong/old speed limit information). This is because of EU regulations mandating them.
2024 MG MG3 Hybrid: Key attractions/reasons to buy
- Powerful hybrid powertrain: The hybrid system offers a combined output of 155kW, making it one of the most powerful cars in its segment. It’s also one of the quickest, with our Vbox recording 0-100km/h in just 7.07 seconds.
- Modern interior design: Inspired by the MG4 electric car, the interior is both futuristic and high-quality, providing a comfortable and enjoyable driving environment.
- Improved safety features: The MG Pilot ADAS system includes numerous advanced safety technologies, enhancing overall safety and peace of mind.
- Decent cabin space: For its class, this is one of the bigger options available.
2024 MG MG3 Hybrid: Key considerations before you buy
- No spare tyre: The hybrid model only includes an inflation kit, which might be inconvenient for some drivers.
- Tilt-only steering column adjustment: The lack of reach adjustment for the steering wheel may limit driving comfort for some individuals.
- Thick A-pillars: The thick A-pillars can impede visibility, particularly at junctions and during tight manoeuvres.
- More expensive: Prices have, predictably, jumped quite a bit. It’s no longer the bargain it once was, which means it might not escape as much scrutiny. But you do get a lot more for that extra money.
2024 MG MG3 Hybrid: Verdict
In my almost ten years of writing and testing vehicles, this is the single biggest generational leap forward I have seen. Granted, the last model was getting on for eight years (13 if you include the pre-facelift model) but it is now a genuine contender in its segment.
Pricing increases reflect the substantial improvements in all areas but still staying comfortably below most rivals. The greatest threat here could be the upcoming Suzuki Swift mild-hybrid but it will have its work cut out for it.
Better yet, if MG can distil this formula into an SUV package for the next ZS/ZST (due January 2025), then continued success of that car is almost guaranteed.
2024 MG MG3 Hybrid: Video
