MG3: Bring on the hybrid

What is it?

The MG3 is a light hatch and the smallest model offered by the company.

It’s a car built very much to a price, targeted at first time drivers and those who haven’t got much to spend.

Although the latest model scores the same disappointing three stars for safety as its predecessor, ANCAP which tests the cars reveals it narrowly missed out on a four-star result and its comments are encouraging.

With a little work perhaps, the company may be able to turn the result around (although the whole safety thing seems to be lost on buyers looking for a bargain).

What’s it cost?

As always it is difficult to nail down the grades and prices of cars offered.

MG3 now comes with a standard petrol- engine and now also as a more desirable hybrid.

There’s two grades, Excite and Essence, priced from $23,990 and $25,990 respectively.

Excite + (Hybrid) is $27,990 and Essence + (Hybrid) is $29,990.

Driveaway pricing varies from state to state.

Our test vehicle is the MG3 Essence with a standard petrol- engine, paired with a CVT-style continuously variable auto.

Standard equipment includes cloth trim and single-zone air conditioning, with rear air vents, manual-adjust seats, 16-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, adaptive cruise control, auto halogen headlights, LED daytime running lights, rear parking sensors, electric auto fold side mirrors and follow me home lights.

Essence adds a sunroof, LED headlights, keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers, leather steering wheel, combination cloth and artificial leather trim and a front centre armrest.

Infotainment consists of a 10.25-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth with limited voice control, AM/FM radio, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and six-speaker audio.

Stepping up to the Essence adds DAB+ digital radio and satellite navigation.

There’s a USB-A and USB-C port in the front, along with a 12-volt outlet, plus another USB-A port in the back and another USB-A port located near the rear vision mirror, presumably for powering dash cams and the like.

And now for the big one, safety.

The previous model now in runout remains unrated for safety.

Reading between the lines MG put in some hard yards to lift the safety reputation of the MG3, but it still gets a miserable three stars from ANCAP.

Six airbags and a reverse camera are standard.

Also standard is Autonomous emergency braking (Car-to-Car, Vulnerable Road User and Junction Assist) as well as a lane support system with lane keep assist (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW) and emergency lane keeping (ELK), are standard, together with Traffic jam assist, Steering, acceleration, braking assistance, Blind-spot monitoring and Rear cross-traffic alert.

Aan advanced speed assistance system (SAS) with speed sign recognition is also standard.

Essence ups the ante with a 360 degree surround-view camera system.

On a more positive note MGS is covered by an industry leading 10-year, 250,000km warranty.

What’s it go like?

When the MG3 was released a couple of years ago, it was difficult to get a drive in one.

Word had it the company was trying to keep it away from the media and the few reviews that did emerge were far from flattering.

Safety was an issue.

Fast forward and the company says the new model has been completely redesigned, with a new platform, new interior and exterior design, superior performance and improved fuel economy.

Our time had come.

MG3 remains a small hatch and as such rear legroom and boot space are obviously limited, but at least rear seat passengers get air outlets.

The seats are reasonably comfortable, but the steering wheel lacks reach adjustment so finding the ideal driving position could be a chore.

The touchscreen and instrument panels have been replaced with more responsive, free-standing units.

However, their operation could be more intuitive, and it took us some time to work out to activate cruise control (it’s the little steering wheel icon on the steering wheel).

Driving the car for the first time, it is impressively quiet inside, making conversation easy.

Our phone took a couple of goes to hook up, but after that it was reconnected without any dramas.

Although it comes with CarPlay and Android Auto, both require a cable and wireless charging is conspicuously  absent.

Voice activation is also limited to apps, or so the message said, and the built in navigation in Essence would not respond to commands.

A revised 1.5-litre four cylinder petrol- engine produces 81kW at 6000 rpm of power and 142Nm at 4500 rpm, slightly down on the previous model which offered 82kW and 150Nm.

In comparison the Hybrid delivers a combined 155kW and 425Nm which is quite frankly amazing.

The engine in our test vehicle is hooked up to a CVT-style auto, with drive to the front wheels.

It replaces a four-speed auto — allegedly.

With a 45-litre tank, fuel consumption is rated at 6.0L/100km and it takes standard unleaded.

CO2 emissions are a claimed 139 g/km.

Performance is in a word underwhelming.

It’s okay once it is up and running, and no longer under any kind of stress.

But acceleration is a challenge, with little assistance from the CVT which feels and acts like a four-speed auto — and overtaking is a no, no.

Two drive modes are offered, Normal and Eco, accessed by flicking the transmission lever left or right.

In Eco mode, however, one can change gears manually, by pushing backwards or forwards, with eight steps or gears from which to choose.

This is the only mode that brings any joy to the act of driving this car.

The MG3 in standard petrol guise at least will appeal only to someone who has no previous experience of driving.

It’s okay for getting from A to B, but we’d hate to see what it goes like with four people aboard — pretty slowly at a guess.

On the upside, ride and handling are okay.

There’s plenty of body roll in corners, but unlike some cars we’ve driven, the MG3 doesn’t get out of shape.

It doesn’t use much fuel.

We were getting a long term average of 7.6L/100km and short term average of 6.7L/100km.

A space saver spare is provided in the event of a flat tyre.

What we like?

• Cheapish
• Well equipped
• Low fuel consumption
• 10-year / 250,000km warranty

What we don’t like?

• Disappointing performance
• Limited rear legroom
• Small boot
• Poor safety rating
• Space saver spare

The bottom line?

Looking forward to driving the hybrid version. 

Sure, it’s $4000 more, but it sounds like the extra power could transform this car.

We’d suggest dropping the petrol-model altogether and lowering the price of the hybrid. 

Those interested should also check out the Suzuki Swift which is available for around the same price with a hybrid.

 

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