It seems MG is looking to consolidate its position as best-seller in the light car segment (according to VFACTS), as stock of the outgoing generation MG3 dries up.
We say this because we understand MG Australia is about to launch a new variant to sit under the $23,990 drive-away MG3 Excite, in the form of a new 2025 MG3 Vibe. Prices are set to start from $21,990 drive-away.
This new price leader from MG will have some of the features of the Excite and Essence (interior pictured below) ripped out, such as power-folding side mirrors, alloy wheels swapped for steel wheels with hubcaps and, most interestingly of all, rear drum brakes in lieu of disc brakes.
The latter is concerning because during our testing, we recorded a 100-0km/h stopping distance of 44.90m with a Vbox, which is poor for a vehicle of this class – we usually see big, heavy dual-cab 4×4 utes stop in around this distance or less, and sometimes with all-terrain tyres. We would expect the new Vibe base model to need even more room.
It’s also interesting that MG is set to release this variant soon, after ANCAP crash testing of the latest generation model – coincidentally? Currently, the MG3 is rated 3 stars, and that applies to “all variants” available at the time of testing.
The MG3 Vibe will come in as part of a wider update for the MG3 for MY25.5, which will include a range of safety updates across the board. Whether these change the 3-star ANCAP rating or not is yet to be confirmed.
In other areas, the Vibe comes with a tyre repair kit instead of a spare, the rear bench becomes a solid fold rather than 60:40, the rear climate vent is deleted, and there’s a manual handbrake instead of electronic. It also requires a twist-key to start rather than start button. We’re assuming the package will look similar to the Mexican MG3 which is offered with a manual transmission.
Even so, the new entry model does bring down the price so it comes in as one of the cheapest new cars on sale in Australia.
