MG3 Hybrid+ (2024-) Review

Introduction

MG is one of the big success stories of recent times, having grown from an also-ran 10 years ago to a key player in the new car market today. It has done so by providing value and space, rather than style and quality, but there’s obviously a market for that, and MG is keen to capitalise.

All of which is why there’s a new MG3, replacing the somewhat staid previous model with something much more modern inside and out. Adding new technology and a hybrid powertrain, as well as a more stylish cabin and a fresh new exterior design, it’s a completely different kettle of fish. But can it really emulate the success of the MG4 by taking customers away from the small hatchbacks built by more established marques?

At a Glance

MG has certainly made an effort to improve its smallest hatchback’s styling, with lots of nods to other products in the MG range and a much more modern aesthetic than that of the old car. The grille on the front bumper of the MG3 Hybrid makes it look as though it’s smiling and the squinting lights won’t be to everyone’s taste.

MG has tried to liven up the interior with a digital instrument display and a touchscreen infotainment system. Neither is perfect, but both do their jobs adequately, leaving drivers to fathom how the steering wheel controls work and why the plastics in the centre console feel so cheap and lightweight. The clean dashboard design is pleasant enough to look at, but it feels decidedly cheap and not all that cheerful.

That said, the MG is cheap, especially considering it comes with so much standard equipment and a proper, very effective hybrid powertrain. It uses electric power much more often than some ‘mild-hybrid’ alternatives, such as the Suzuki Swift, and it has plenty of performance, with a maximum output of 194hp from the hybrid system.

It’s good to drive, too, albeit with caveats. There’s a bit of roll in corners, which is slightly off-putting and the steering is quite light, but it’s manoeuvrable, agile and more fun than you might expect. It’s even reasonably comfortable, although few cars in this class ride brilliantly compared with big, luxurious saloons.

Key Features

The hybrid system is bound to be one of the key attractions of the MG3 Hybrid+, but though customers may be drawn in by the promise of urban economy, the power is a big draw, too. Given the MG’s electric motor is more powerful than some of its rivals’ engines, the system is remarkably potent in such a small car. The 194hp output is more than enough for strong performance, while the hybrid system means the response is quick. Admittedly, the MG3 isn’t quite a hot hatchback, but it’s a lot closer than you might expect.

MG has also made a name for itself by working on the value offering, so the MG3 Hybrid+ comes with a huge amount of kit as standard even on the basic SE model. Rear parking sensors, a 10.25-inch touchscreen and the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration systems are included, too. You even get alloy wheels, climate control and a digital instrument cluster thrown in, while more upmarket Trophy versions get heated seats, a heated steering wheel and tinted windows.

Performance & Drive

No matter which version of the MG3 you choose, you get the same 1.5-litre petrol hybrid system, which is surprisingly powerful. Although neither motor is especially potent on its own – the petrol engine produces 102hp and the electric motor produces 136hp – the two together combine to produce 194hp. Yes, we know that’s less than 102 plus 136, but that’s because the two systems can never produce maximum power at exactly the same time, which means the absolute maximum is slightly lower.

Anyway, 194hp is quite a lot in a small hatchback, and it allows the MG3 Hybrid+ to get from 0-62mph in eight seconds flat. It isn’t crazily fast – the MG doesn’t quite make it into the realms of being a hot hatchback – but it’s plenty quick enough. Especially given the MG is about 300kg heavier than a Suzuki Swift.

That’s possibly partly because the MG3 Hybrid+ comes with an automatic gearbox as standard, even if it is a slightly old-school-sounding three-speed affair. Nevertheless, it feels like a modern gearbox, and though its delivery isn’t always perfect, it’s better than some of the continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) you get in other hybrids.

The other reason is because the MG3 is more ‘hybrid’ than the Suzuki, making greater use of its electric motor. If we’re honest, you’d never guess the Swift was a hybrid were it not for the badge on the back, because the system is little more than a glorified stop-start system that helps the engine out at times and saves a bit of fuel while coasting. But the MG’s system is a ‘proper’ hybrid more like that of the Peugeot 208, where the electric motor drives the wheels at low speeds, saving the engine for those times when it’s more efficient.

That not only means the system is pretty refined – particularly around town – but it also means the powertrain response is often quite rapid, and the MG3 Hybrid+ feels punchier than most of its rivals. And though it’s far from the lightest car in its class, it feels like a bit of a featherweight in the way it drives.

Not only is the steering light and fast, but the car feels pretty agile in corners and it changes direction pretty well. Admittedly, the suspension is not really set up for handling, so there’s a bit of body roll when you do so, but it feels nimble, even if it isn’t especially engaging. Yet it still rides reasonably well. There’s no magic carpet sensation – there never is with small cars – but it’s fairly absorbent and few bumps will disturb those in the cabin, and it goes straight into the middle of the pack when compared with its rivals.

Running Costs & Emissions

Because of the hybrid system included as standard in the MG3, how economical the car is will depend largely on the kind of miles you do. Those largely driving on suburban streets, and even in urban traffic, will be able to make use of the car’s hybrid system to great effect, and could see an improvement on the claimed 64.2mpg economy. But those mostly travelling on motorways will likely see economy fall lower than that, thanks to the extended use of the petrol engine.

In that, the MG3 is a bit different from its nearest rival, the Suzuki Swift, which will do quite well on long runs because it’s less dependent on the hybrid system. However, it’s much less powerful, it comes with a manual gearbox and it’s no more economical on paper, so that isn’t a particularly great advantage.

More advantageous is the slight reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (the Swift manages 99g/km in manual form), whereas the MG claims 100g/km, but such a fractional improvement is not really all that noticeable, even in the eyes of the tax officers. Whichever way you cut it, the MG3 will not be expensive to run.

Interior & Technology

If the MG3 Hybrid+ has a weak spot, it’s in the cabin. MG has tried to modernise its little hatchback, taking inspiration from the MG4 EV with the oddly shaped steering wheel, digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system, and it has worked to an extent. The cabin looks fairly contemporary, with few switches and clean lines, but it doesn’t feel anything like as good as it looks.

Take, for example, the cabin plastics, which are very light and cheap-feeling. While it’s true that plenty of much more upmarket small hatchbacks have cheap plastic inside — it’s a cost-cutting measure so manufacturers can still make a profit on smaller, cheaper models — few have as much as the MG, and even fewer bolt those plastics together in such a flimsy way.

Fortunately, the MG claws some brownie points back with a steering wheel that feels surprisingly upmarket compared with some of the buttons and panels in the dashboard, and with some modern-feeling digital displays. Both are essentially taken from the MG4, and though they may not look especially cool or exciting, both work reasonably well.

There are ergonomic challenges, though, including the clutter on the digital instrument display and the incomprehensibility of the switchgear on the steering wheel. By trying to make the little thumbsticks perform multiple operations, MG has inadvertently made using them quite confusing until you’re properly au fait with how it all works. As with any new car, it’s worth investing a bit of time to work all these features out before you start using the car regularly.

Practicality & Boot Space

It’s safe to say MG has pitched the 3 Hybrid+ slap bang in the middle of this competitive market. Space in the cabin is ample without being exceptional, so though those in the front will be fine for legroom and headroom, those in the rear will find themselves a little more cramped, especially if those in the front are tall. But that’s par for the course in cars of this size, and the MG’s space doesn’t stand out as more cramped or more generous than anything else in the class. The only real catch, then, is a lack of reach adjustment in the steering wheel, even on the most upmarket Trophy version.

By the same token, the MG3 Hybrid+’s boot space is pretty average for cars in this class, measuring 293 litres with the back seats upright and 983 litres with the rear seats folded. That’s far from exemplary when a VW Polo has a 351-litre boot and a Renault Clio has almost 400 litres of carrying capacity, but it’s more than you’ll get from a Suzuki Swift or a Toyota Yaris. In short, then, it isn’t the best, but it isn’t the worst, either.

Safety

Euro NCAP, the European independent crash-testing organisation, is still yet to crash-test the new MG3 Hybrid+, but the company will be hoping it’s an improvement on its predecessor, which slumped to a disappointing three-star rating when it was tested in 2014. Fortunately, some of MG’s more recent efforts have performed better in crash tests, so we are expecting the car to perform better when it is eventually tested.

Certainly, it comes with plenty of safety systems. There’s active emergency braking to stop the car if the driver fails to react to a hazard, and there’s lane-keeping assistance technology, as well as adaptive cruise control that maintains a safe distance to the car in front. Opt for the Trophy version, however, and you’ll add blind-spot monitoring tech that’s missing from the basic SE.

Options

Just two versions of the MG3 Hybrid+ are offered in the UK, with the basic SE model joined by the more upmarket Trophy version. Both are surprisingly well appointed, with alloy wheels, a reversing camera and climate control all fitted as standard, along with a touchscreen navigation system, a digital instrument cluster and parking sensors.

However, the basic SE comes with fabric upholstery and halogen lights – neither of which is problematic – while the Trophy ups the ante with leather upholstery and LED headlights, plus heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and automatic windscreen wipers. A 360-degree surround-view camera is included with the top-of-the-range car, too, along with privacy glass and keyless entry.

Once you’ve chosen between those two cars, the only option left is to choose one of the six paint colours available. Arctic White is included as standard on both cars, while Black Pearl, Monument Silver and Hampstead Grey all carry a premium, as do the bright Battersea Blue and the rich Dynamic Red.

Rival Cars

In its bid to offer a value alternative to the mainstream small hatchbacks, the MG3 is putting itself into the mix with the very best on the market. Take, for example, the Skoda Fabia, which majors on space and value by having an enormous boot and costing much the same as the Seat Ibiza with which it shares so much. The MG is also up against the likes of the Vauxhall Corsa and the Peugeot 208, as well as the Mazda2 Hybrid, Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio.

Naturally, all those cars offer more polish than the MG, but the MG fights back with its huge list of standard features and hybrid power as standard, as well as its performance figures and its economy, the combination of which is tough to match on paper.

Yet that interior means the MG3 is still very much a value product, so its biggest rivals come from Dacia and Suzuki. The Sandero has become a bit obscure in recent years, but though it may be aging, it still offers an awful lot of car for the money, even though it doesn’t get hybrid power as standard. The Suzuki Swift, meanwhile, does get hybrid power, but it’s much less effective than that of the MG, and the system is way less powerful. The Swift will offer all-wheel-drive traction and a marginally more appealing interior, though.

Verdict & Next Steps

With a more upmarket exterior and an efficient hybrid system, as well as a surprisingly pleasant driving experience, the new MG3 Hybrid+ has lots to offer. It’s a shame that the cabin is quite so cheap, because it detracts from what is otherwise a very competent car with plenty of capability. But if you can live with some cheap plastics inside, and you want a small, efficient hatchback that provides value in spades, the MG3 will certainly tick plenty of boxes.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the MG3 Hybrid.

**Correct as of 11/09/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £2,034.09 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.