With the demise of the Ford Fiesta, you might think these do-it-all-on-the-cheap superminis are on the way out, but some firms are fighting back to prove there is a world outside of SUVs.
One of these is the MG, which is looking to fill the Fiesta void with its new MG3. It’s a hybrid hatchback but crucially still very cheap. We’ve already pitched it head-to-head against the best new superminis, and now it’s time for our first full UK review.
But is it that ‘Fiesta killer’ or are you better digging that bit deeper to get something a bit more expensive? Read on to find out.
At a glance
Pros: Astonishing value, generous kit, comfortable
Cons: Doesn’t feel as powerful as the figures suggest, interior feels cheap
What’s new?
A quick glance at a typical supermarket car park is all you need to see that MG is doing rather well in the UK. Cheap but decent cars at a price a typical punter can afford the monthlies on is a result for success. Sales continue to climb, and it’s on track to become the UK’s 10th most popular car firm in the UK if it successfully drives Vauxhall out. It’s quite impressive when you consider the dire products it was churning out a decade ago.
One of those dire products was the old MG3. Cheap, yes. Rubbish? Also yes. But if you wanted the cheapest new car, it was the second best option after a Dacia Sandero, and even in its final year, it has its best sales performance. A true sign of the times.
But this new MG3 is a big change. Bigger, smarter and more modern, it also gets a new hybrid powertrain that is a first for MG, though a more affordable standard petrol version is expected to follow on in 2025.
What are the specs?
On paper at least, the MG3 Hybrid’s specs are really quite impressive. A combination of 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a powerful 134bhp electric motor produces 191bhp and 313Nm of torque. That’s not all that dissimilar from a Ford Fiesta ST… but in a sensible hybrid hatchback.
Drive is delivered to the front wheels via an unusual three-speed automatic gearbox, with 0-62mph dispatched in just eight seconds, and it would max out at 106mph.
As for fuel economy, MG claims 64.2mpg and 100g/km CO2 emissions, with real-world figures a bit behind those of a Toyota Yaris Hybrid, for example, though that is quite significantly down on power.
What’s the interior like?
For the price, it’s quite hard to grumble about the MG3’s interior. The general look isn’t much different to the more expensive electric MG4, with a squared-off steering wheel, clear touchscreen and digital dial display. There are few physical buttons but there are useful shortcuts to the climate settings, for example, in the main screen.
There are some slight ergonomic oddities; the mirror adjustment is hidden down to the right of the steering wheel, while the rotary gear selector can sometimes take a few more aggressive turns and presses to get it to do what you want.
The quality is at the cheaper end of the spectrum for a supermini, but the MG3 is at the lower end of the price point too, so is forgiven. Some interesting use of stitching on the seats and dashboard helps to smarten things up a notch.
It ticks a lot of boxes in the spacious stakes, too, particularly for rear-seat room. Most adults will be able to sit in the rear quite comfortably, and it’s only headroom that could prove quite tight. Boot space is average for the class as you get slightly more than a Toyota Yaris but a touch less than a Renault Clio E-Tech hybrid.
What’s it like to drive?
If you go into the MG3 thinking you’re getting a 200bhp hot hatch, prepare to be disappointed. But otherwise, it’s a fine steer, especially for the price.
It’s different to the Clio and Yaris to drive, too, as while those rely more heavily on the petrol engine, in the MG3 the electric motor is the main source of power, and it uses a 1.83kWh battery, again larger than in those two cars.
You get significantly more power than both the Yaris and Clio hybrids, but it never feels quite as quick as the figures would have you believe. There are various modes within the hybrid system, automatically selected depending on battery charge and throttle input, but the power delivery never feels particularly consistent – sometimes it’s really quite brisk and other times it comes across a bit flat.
But, like the MG4, it’s quite a keen chassis that feels capable of accommodating more power still. Refinement is good, especially at motorway speeds and the ride quality – in part courtesy of its smaller alloys with plenty of sidewall – is comfortable for the most part. Some of the MG3’s tuning took place out of its UK engineering base in Longbridge, and it shows with how it drives.
Before you buy
Like every MG, low pricing is central to the MG3’s appeal. While its £18,495 starting price doesn’t make it the cheapest supermini, it is by some margin the cheapest hybrid supermini and the cheapest overall hybrid car you can buy. A Renault Clio E-Tech is £3,000 more, and a Toyota Yaris an additional £4,000. The fact the 190bhp MG3 is available for less than a non-turbocharged petrol Skoda Fabia says a lot about its value.
You get pretty much everything you need on a car of this size as standard, too. The entry-level SE model comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as climate control and rear parking sensors.
It’s an extra £2,000 for the top-spec Trophy trim, and though you get a lot of additional features – such as a 360-dehree camera, heated front seats and keyless entry – you can probably live without them.
A cheaper MG3 petrol model is rumoured to be in the pipeline, but if and when this will materialise, we’re not too sure.
Verdict
MG is a firm that shows no signs of slowing down or improving, and the new MG3 is another exceptional step forward compared to its predecessor. A hybrid supermini available for less than the price of a basic petrol version of most rivals is a real selling point, as is the fact it’s got almost 200bhp.
It’s not the most resolved hybrid powertrain, nor does it offer the exceptional fuel economy you get from a Toyota Yaris. But it is a good supermini available for a great price, and that should always be applauded.