MG3 Hybrid+ long-term test: budget supermini impresses in many areas

Verdict 

It looks like this could be the start of a great relationship. The MG3 has proven to be more than practical enough for what I throw at it day-to-day, while the full-hybrid powertrain packs a surprising amount of punch. Yes, some small gripes have cropped up, but they can be easily overlooked because of this car’s incredibly attractive price tag. 

• Efficiency: 51.4mpg
• Mileage: 5302

While Captain Quint and the other blokes in Jaws may have needed a bigger boat, after living with a BMW iX1 for several months, I’ve realised I don’t. That’s why I welcomed the opportunity to try the new MG3 for size – and so far, it’s proving a perfect fit. 

The 293-litre boot might not be the largest of all the superminis on the market, but I’ve found it’s big enough to swallow the carry-on bag and backpack I take with me on work trips. There’s room left over for a large duffle bag too. Sure, the MG might not work for a family of five, but I’m predominantly a party of one, so it’s more than enough.

I’m sure I could cram in more stuff if I had to, because of how deep the boot is. There’s a large load lip as a result, but I’ve not found this to be an issue. Nor have I cursed the designers for not fitting a height-adjustable boot floor. 

Unsurprisingly, the MG’s interior isn’t as luxurious as that of the BMW, but I haven’t felt like I’m sitting in the cheap seats since swapping keys. For one thing, the design is smart and modern, and it feels spacious up front, thanks to the almost vertical dashboard and low centre console. 

There are some nice touches, such as the quilted upholstery and check pattern on the dash, which offsets a lot of the surfaces being made from hard, scratchy black plastics. Aside from the flimsy cover for the central storage cubby, the interior feels well built, too. 

Even the onboard technology is better than you might expect, because the seven-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch touchscreen are clear, bright and easy to read. I wish the MG3 had a set of physical climate controls, though, because then it would have something on the iX1. Although I can use the joystick on the steering wheel to adjust the temperature and fan speeds easily enough. 

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Sadly, MG hasn’t installed any handy solutions for turning off the various bongs and chimes from its driver-assistance systems. The worst is the speed-camera warning, which sounds like there’s a smoke alarm going off in the dashboard. You need to go through the sat-nav system’s settings in order to turn off the bleeping, rather than the regular menu. But unlike the usual bongs, this one doesn’t reactivate after you turn the car off. Overall, that annoying alert is the only real issue I’ve had with our MG3 so far, while the list of standard equipment on this high-spec Trophy model has been a particular highlight.

It features LED headlights, a 360-degree parking camera, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, leather-effect upholstery, keyless entry, blind-spot detection, rear privacy glass and plenty more besides. Of course, even the base model, which is available from £18,495, features a full-hybrid powertrain. The star is the main electric motor, which alone produces 134bhp, plus 250Nm of torque, making the MG3 feel incredibly quick and as responsive as an EV around town, yet also impressively lively on faster A and B-roads. Admittedly, the set-up can be quite laggy when trying to overtake on the motorway, and while MG claims it can average up to 64.2mpg, the best I’ve managed so far is 51.4mpg. Hopefully we’ll see that improve over the coming months. 

*Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.