If you are in the market for a small car, then a brand like MG may get overshadowed by popular mainstream manufactures like Ford and Peugeot. But for British drivers who want to be patriotic, MG offers an opportunity, of sorts. While the MG brand is nowadays owned by a Chinese company (SAIC Motor), there are MG cars currently being built on familiar shores – Longbridge, Birmingham in fact.
Pitching itself as a highly affordable brand, MG currently consists of two models, the MG6 and the MG3. Offering compact supermini-sized dimensions, the MG3 is the carmakers competitor to the likes of the Peugeot 208 and Ford Fiesta. However, with a starting price of just £8,399, the Dacia Sandero is probably a more apt comparison.
For such an affordable car the MG3 offers decent levels of panache and certainly offers more personality than the likes of the Dacia Sandero. Its front-end appears very sporty due to a meaty bumper design and you can opt for flamboyant roof decals – our test car hand a massive Union Flag slapped on it.
However, we are not a fan of how it looks at the rear and in fact, at a glance, we think the rear looks a bit like that of a Nissan LEAF.
Interior space is one of the MG3’s biggest assets as its five-door body style means there is plenty of wiggle room to play around with. Space for all occupants is brilliant, both from a head and leg point of view. There is even enough space for a middle passenger in the rear and passengers will find themselves more comfortable in this configuration in the MG3 than they would in the likes of a Peugeot 208. The boot is more on par with the competition, with up to 285 litres, which is around the same as the 208 and Fiesta – although the Sandero reigns supreme with over 300 litres.
The quality of materials used in the cabin reflect its price tag. Similar to that of the Sandero, all the plastics are scratchy and sound hollow when you knock on them. It is hard-wearing though and if you are after a car you are going to essentially run into the ground, it should be rather fitting.
Even our test car with the flagship 3Style trim (from £9,999) seemed lacking in articulation with regards to design. Highlights of the 3Style model include reversing sensors, automatic headlights, cruise control and 16-inch alloys. You do however get DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and air-con from the 3Form model upwards (from £9,299).
The way the MG3 drives is a bit out of touch with its budget price tag – in a good way. With hydraulically-assisted steering, the MG3’s steering is impressively accurate and engaging. Take it on a twisty country road and you can have a surprising amount of fun. The suspension is good as well, although it can become a little unsettled if you hit several bumps in quick succession.
Its engine and gearbox however, let it down. There is just one unit on offer, a 1.5-litre petrol producing 105bhp. This engine feels mismatched to the car and needs to be worked very hard to get anything from it – you’ll have to hit around 5,000rpm in fact. It claims a 0-60mph sprint time of 10.4 seconds. For an engine that requires constant up and down shifting, the five-speed manual gearbox isn’t very sharp either.
If MG threw a decent three-cylinder turbo under the bonnet, the MG3 would be much more competitive against the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Peugeot.
For such an affordable model the MG3 ticks a surprising amount of boxes. Its engine is its biggest downfall though, especially when it is compared to the brilliant offerings by its competition. Still, for under £8,500, it is definitely worth a look if you are on a shoestring budget.
