MG3 – a budget car that’s fun!

An endearing car.

An endearing car.

MG was an iconic British car, but in terms of new models is now an iconic British badge. Taken from the ashes of the Rover Group the Chinese car maker SAIC owns MG and produces a small range of cars and SUVs in petrol, hybrid and all-electric.

The main models are SUVs, understandable given their popularity, and just two cars, one of which is the MG3 supermini.

This five-door hatchback is a smart and equipment laden model at, by today’s standards, a bargain price. The two models start from €14,166 (£12,300) with standard equipment including air conditioning, power windows, DAB sound system with Apple Car Play, Bluetooth, remote steering wheel controls, eight-inch colour touchscreen, hill hold and auto door locking. The higher trim version at €15,663 (£13,600) adds navigation, cruise control, parking sensors and sports seats.

The Achilles heel of the MG3 is its engine, a four-cylinder, 1.5-litre petrol unit that is best described as old school technology. Mated to a manual five-speed gearbox the combination is adequate, but lacks sufficient power and at cruising speed you always find yourself going for a sixth gear that isn’t there.

At 70mph the MG sits at around 3,200 rpm, which makes things a tad busy where a more relaxed gearing pattern would help. The need to work the engine also doesn’t help the economy, my mainly local driving week saw a 7.2 l/100km (39mpg) average.

On cross country roads the MG comes alive with decent steering and a slightly firm suspension set-up that keeps the car sitting quite flat through energetic cornering. The power is at the higher end of the engine’s rev range and with a nice gear change makes it a fun drive.

The nearest equivalent Ford Fiesta will set you back an additional €5,407 (£4,695), that’s a substantial difference. Of course, the Fiesta will depreciate less, most likely prove more durable on the quality front and drive better.

Keep the MG for a longer time though and allied to that cheaper price tag it makes for an appealing proposition.

Despite some misgivings the MG is an endearing car, it handles well, is good fun and very well priced. It’s comfortable with a good driving position and for those on a budget the cheapest way to get a new car that is a bit different, to the normal mass of budget cars, and actually doesn’t look like a budget model.

Facts at a Glance

Model: MG3 Exclusive NAV

Engine: 1.5-Litre, 4-cylinder, petrol

Gears: 5-speed manual

Performance: 0-100 kmh (62 mph) Petrol 10.4 secs

Maximum Speed Petrol 173 kph (108 mph)

Economy: Petrol 6.6 l/100km (43.3 mpg) WLTP

Emissions: Petrol 147 g/km

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

Written by

Mark Slack

If you're a petrol head you're in good hands with Mark Slack, whose expert take on the latest car releases will help you make your next purchase.

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