MG 3 first drive | Competent hatch delivers low running costs

The MG 3 is an excellent value proposition in the small car segment, offering lower running cost than all its key competitors. It’s not perfect but with a high specification, impressive power output and generous specification, there’s a lot to like.

Overview

All eyes might be on MG’s electric models right now but in the wake of the Ford Fiesta’s demise, competition is hotting up in the compact car segment.

Electric powertrains in this segment are a challenge. You either sacrifice range or value for money – and sometimes both. As a result, most manufacturers are looking at hybrid technology instead.

That’s exactly what MG has done with the new 3. And when I say ‘new’, it really is all-new. The last MG 3 was definitely a little long in the tooth, but this new version has been brought right up to date.

The styling is clearly inspired by the MG 4 and the interior follows a similar minimalist design.

All these changes have made the MG 3 a much better car and also a much more expensive one.

Prices now start at £18,495, for the two-model line-up. That’s around £4,000 more than the old MG 3 and a far cry from the cheapest in the segment.

The MG 3 is still the cheapest hybrid-powered small car, however, undercutting its key rivals: the Renault Clio E-Tech, Toyota Yaris and Vauxhall Corsa Hybrid.

Comfort and practicality

On the inside, the MG 3 sits well among its rivals when it comes to interior layout and quality. The dashboard has a neat design with well-positioned controls and ample storage.

The seats are comfortable, have robust upholstery and offer plenty of adjustment. They’re not particularly supportive, however.

Most of the controls are easy to find and operate. There’s a central rotary gear selector, borrowed from the MG 4, along with a slightly odd-shaped steering wheel.

The engine start button is hidden to the left of the steering wheel and feels like it wants to be in a more prominent position.

Interior space is reasonable. The driver and front passenger will be the most comfortable as the rear seats are a little cramped.

Boot space is on par with the segment, at a little under 300 litres. You can fold the rear seat, but only as one piece and it doesn’t quite lie flat.

Safety and technology

Sticking with the interior, the MG 3’s cockpit is fully digital. The central touchscreen measures 10.25-inches and uses a simplistic interface. The key functions like audio, telephone and navigation are arranged into tiles and users can customise the layout to suit their preference.

Some of the functions are a bit fiddly to manage as the menu structure is very similar to a smartphone. All the climate controls are also integrated into the system, although there are a couple of physical switches to control the heated rear window, front defogger and to switch the climate system on and off.

Behind the steering wheel sits a second display, operating as an instrument cluster. There are a few customisable functions that can be controlled using a small joystick on the steering wheel, including a trip computer.

All MG 3 models come with MG Pilot – a suite of driver assistance and safety features. These include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Front Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Emergency Lane Keep Assist (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control. There is also a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.

Opting for the higher-spec Trophy model, over the base SE, gains a 360-degree camera system, keyless entry, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers.

Driveability and efficiency

There’s only one engine available in the new MG 3 and the headline statistic is that it develops 194PS. That’s quite an incredible output for a compact model, especially one that isn’t attempting to be a ‘hot hatch’.

The beefy output is the result of the MG’s hybrid powertrain configuration. Both the petrol engine and the electric motor can power the car independently. Depending on driving conditions, the electric motor can drive the car using either power from the battery or from the engine acting as a generator. The engine can also power the car directly, while charging the battery, or in parallel with the electric motor to deliver maximum performance.

Confused? In reality you never really know what the powertrain is doing, nor do you need to. It manages itself with reasonable consistency. We did find that the power delivery wasn’t always as expected and the car really doesn’t like full throttle. If you ease on the power it gets into its stride more comfortably. Jabbing at the throttle just upsets it. We did manage to get the sensation of some impressive power on a couple of occasions, but on others the car didn’t pick up as expected. It makes judging an overtake a little tricky.

If you manage to extract the maximum power then the MG 3 does get a shift on. Nought to 62mph can be achieved in eight seconds, which is rapid compared to rivals.

Handling is quite impressive too, although our test car was wearing a set of mid-range tyres which were reaching their limit far sooner than the 3’s chassis was running out of talent.

Ride and refinement are impressive for the price point. The MG 3 will handle motorway speeds quite happily, despite being a car more suited to city driving.

When it comes to efficiency that clever hybrid system can deliver up to 65mpg. We saw low 50s during our test, which included a stint on the motorway.

Company car tax and running costs

CO2 emissions for the MG 3 Hybrid are 100g/km, giving a benefit-in-kind (BiK) tax rate of 25%. Company car drivers can expect to pay £76 per month for the SE and £84 for the Trophy.

It’s a lot cheaper to buy than the Corsa Hybrid, which is almost £4,000 more expensive. Running costs for the MG 3 are also class-best at 27p per mile.

There are cheaper options in the small car segment, but these come with less efficient and less powerful petrol engines.

MG has evolved the 3 significantly. It might not be the best-looking or most finessed model on sale, but the efficiency and value for money make it a top contender.