The MG3 Car Review - How Does It Rate?

The new and sporty MG3 is the next stage of the MG attempt to regain a market foothold after a slow start. They have been doing well, but with the MG3 they are clearly hoping to attract a whole new market and re-establish themselves, especially after the slow sales performance of the MG6. With a price tag that is incredibly tempting and a substantial amount of space and quality that doesn’t reflect the low cost, the MG is becoming increasingly tempting. It may be the same size as its closest competitors in the Ford Fiesta and the Skoda Fabia, but it’s considerably cheaper. MG has clearly refocused their target market, and the results look like they may be worth it.

On the inside

If there’s one thing that the MG3 has in spades, it’s interior space. Not only is it impressively spacious in both the front and back seats, but the elevated seats also give a very high level of road visibility. However, where it falls down is the interior plastics, which lack the feel of more expensive models. This is a minor gripe, however, and the design of the dashboard itself is practical and well thought out. An excellent 285-litre boot might be the decider if you're looking for a new car that’s multi-purpose. However, the boot also has quite a high lip, which may make it challenging to load up with heavier items.

How does it drive?

Handling on the MG3 is much better than you’d expect for the price. In terms of both grip and steering, there’s little to find fault with, although it can be a little heavy at times. Where the MG3 falls down though is on the accelerator response, because there is a delay between putting your foot down and the reaction. This also becomes clear when you change gear, with the car holding those revs and making it a trick to get used to. This can make for a somewhat jerky drive until you get the feel of it. Despite this, once you get used to the change in driving style, the MG3 is actually a lot of fun to drive, and that in itself is one of the reasons why it's proving so popular. Responsive steering and a solid feel make the handling issues much easier to cope with.

Under the bonnet

You only get the one engine option with the MG3, and that may put some people off when they look at the new MG3 available to buy. Loaded with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, the fuel economy is rather lack-lustre compared to other options. The high torque peak results in the engine having to work extremely hard, especially when it comes to hills, and the engine is universally considered to be particularly loud.

Value for money

Whether you go for the most basic package or the more extensive range of option, there’s little doubt that the MG3 is remarkable value for money. Not only is the initial cost low all by itself, but it’s also low-cost to both run and insure. There are certainly cheaper models on the market, but there aren’t too many of equal size as this offering from MG.

Overall Rating

4 out of 5

The MG3 offers a lot for a very low price. If you’re looking for a new car and you don’t have the budget to go wild, then the MG3 is a solid buy. It has flaws, but the positives most certainly make it worth a closer look.