MG3 ON THE ROAD

 Review & Photos by Rob McSorley

What Is It?

The MG3 is a five door supermini aimed squarely at rivals such as the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo and Renault Clio. Importantly it’s the first all-new MG model (the larger MG6 combines new and old engineering) to be launched by the newly regrouped MG MOTOR UK, with the majority of the development work taking place on British soil.

First impressions of the styling are positive with an upright stance but some nice detailing. At the front neat upturned LED running lights and a racy lower valance and blackened headlights add a healthy dose of character as does the black rear diffuser with square tailpipe. We also really like the Fabia-esque floating roof with blacked out a-pillar and bulging arches with stylish black alloys. 

Currently the MG3 is only available with five doors and a petrol engine mated to a five speed manual gearbox but this could change further down the line if the new car is a success. Value-for-money is its trump card as the range kick off at just £8,399. Standard equipment is far from sparse. 

Does it drive like an MG should?

There’s nothing extraordinary about the MG3s oily bits. It sits on a new platform with class norm McPherson struts up front and a simple torsion bar at the back. 

When it comes to handling this is where the years of knowledge and expertise of the engineers at Longbridge clearly shines through. At first glance you probably would never notice that the MG3 has an unusually low ground clearance noticeable between the tyres and the wheelarches with wheels seem to sit flush with the arches. 

The moment you set off the little MGs firm ride is evident making imperfections in the road felt through your bottom but forgiving seats and good damping mean it’s rarely an annoyance. The trade-off is a chassis that has crisp responses. You can take corners with great precision as there's minimal roll, heaps of grip and often a big grin on your face. It also feels beautifully balanced and nimble making it a real joy to chuck around. The more you drive it the more you want to push it harder to exploit the superb chassis.

Those expecting the MG3 to be quick are likely to be disappointed. Performance certainly lacks MG-ness with the 60 mph sprint taking just over ten seconds. That’s because the petrol engine under the bonnet only produces 105 bhp with maximum torque of 101 lb ft torque arriving at a dizzy 6,000 rpm. It means you need to rev the socks off it to make swift progress but the 5-speed manuals crisp shift action makes the experience very pleasant indeed. The engine note can sound a little strained when worked but the exhaust has a nice deep sound to it under acceleration

The steering is a touch over assisted but offers crystal-clear feedback and weights up progressively when cornering so you always know what the front wheels are up to. The pedals on the other hand light which makes town driving a cinch but the accelerator pedal sits too high and when combined with an over sensitive throttle response moving off can be a jerky affair. Despite having old-style drums at the rear the brakes are well up to the job and scrub off speed effectively.

Refinement is some way behind many of its rivals with a fair amount of wind and tyre noise filtrating into the cabin and there's noticeable wind whistle around the pillars and mirrors. The engine too is noisy when cruising a motorway speeds but a quality stereo certainly takes the sting out of lengthy journeys.

What’s It Like Inside?

With supermini interiors heading more and more upmarket the MG3s seems to have headed in the opposite direction. There are no soft touch plastics inside, instead the fixtures and fitting are constructed of hard, scratchy plastics. That said built quality is hard to fault giving the impression it would last a lifetime. 

The design is clean, simple and functional with some really nice detailing which will be particularly appealing to younger drivers. A strong oval theme seems to have been applied to everything from the vents to the door handles and even the steering wheel insert. 

Simple heater controls work incredibly well and light up blue or red when you turn the dials and the stereo has very few buttons. The seats are also comfortable and offer good support and finding a good driving position is easy despite the lack of steering column reach adjustment.

Die-hard MG fans are sure to love the red stitching, natty graphics on the seats and red lines around the vents which evoke memories of MGs from many moons ago. Silver and gloss black trim on the center console also go some way to lifting the interior ambiance making the cabin a pleasant place to be.

Practicality is on par with the supermini class with a boot capable of swallowing 256 litres of luggage space which can be further extended by dropping the rear seats. There’s plenty of storage areas dotted around the cabin for odds and ends including a neat bin on the dash top with a shutter which houses an iPod dock.

Space for passengers is surprising with an abundance of leg and headroom for four. It wouldn't be impossible to carry five either which is a real plus.

What do you get for your money?

Whichever MG3 you choose equipment levels are more than generous. All models benefit from remote central locking, electric windows, MP3 connectivity, LED running lights, six airbags, stability control and traction control. 

The 3FORM Sport model you see here comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, square tailpipe, DAB radio with Bluetooth, height adjustable driver’s seat, air conditioning and a leather steering wheel with audio controls. A few options were added to our test car including Diamond cut wheels (£449), Piano Black Red interior pack (£99) and black mirror caps (£39) bringing the total up to a still very reasonable £10,136

If you’re expecting competitive running costs it may come as a shock that the MG3 really misses the mark by some margin. Around town you're likely to return 37 mpg and 57 mpg on longer journeys but emissions are likely to hurt the most as the 3 falls into VED Band E setting buyers back £120 per year. A similarly powered Fiesta for example is VED exempt and can return up to 76.4 mpg but it does cost considerably more in the first place.

Tech Data

Price as tested: £10,136 (£9,549 excl options)
Engine: 1.5 16v 105 bhp - 0-60 mph: 10.5 secs - Maximum Speed: 113 mph -
Economy: 37.7 mpg (urban) 57.6 mpg (extra-urban), 48.7 mpg (combined) - Emissions: 136 g/km (Band E) - VED (12 months): £120
Dimensions: Length: 4,018 mm - Width: 1,728 mm - Height: 1,507 mm - Wheelbase: 2,520 mm – Kerb Weight: 1,150 kg
*data from MG MOTOR UK

DriverVIBE Verdict

If you approach the MG3 with a completely open mind you're more than likely to be impressed overall. It’s clearly been sprinkled with some of the magic from previous MGs in serving up a driving experience that’s far more engaging than the majority of its contenders. It has the ability to turn any journey into an absolute giggle. It’s also a car that looks good, is very practical and comes with plenty of standard equipment for the money.

There are some downsides though. Although it wasn't an issue for us the interior does lack the sophistication that most rivals offer in its design, choice of materials and refinement. Furthermore economy and running cost are considerably higher than they should be and some with find the ride a little on the firm side.

Still with prices temptingly low and thrills aplenty there are still plenty of reasons to recommend this new kid on the block. The MG3 also bodes well for future models from the brand as we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our week with the car.

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