This is one car that should be firmly on your shopping list if you’re in the market for an affordable hatchback.
The current generation of the MG 3 has been a major upgrade, leaving the previous model behind with improved technology, a completely new interior and exterior design, new powertrain options and improved safety features.
How much does the MG 3 Essence cost?
MG 3 offers four versions of the new MG 3 in Australia, including two very affordable petrol-powered entry-level versions that are specified almost identically to their hybrid (MG 3 Hybrid+) counterparts.
Here’s a quick rundown of the lineup, with drive-away pricing and the model tested in this review highlighted in bold.
| Model | Price before on-road costs / drive-away pricing |
|---|---|
| MG 3 Excite | $23,990 MSRP / $21,888 drive-away |
| MG 3 Essence | $25,990 MSRP / $24,990 drive-away |
| MG 3 Hybrid+ Excite | $27,990 MSRP / $28,990 drive-away |
| MG 3 Hybrid+ Essence | $29,990 MSRP / $32,465 drive-away |
We’ve provided more detailed information about the standard equipment list for each model.
There are a few more options in the light car segment of the market, but for some customers the real question may be whether the Hybrid+ model is worth buying over the non-hybrid petrol version. We’ll have a comparison on that soon!
What is the MG 3 Essence like on the inside?
Its interior design looks extremely smart, with two digital screens (a 10.25-inch unit for multimedia and a 7.0-inch screen for the driver’s instrument cluster), which leaves some rivals and its predecessor behind in terms of cabin design.
There’s a row of buttons below the infotainment screen, which includes volume up/down controls, a home key, air-con on/off, front and rear demister buttons and a fan-speed button. You won’t get separate temperature and fan toggles, though; you still have to make those adjustments via the screen.
Those who don’t like the bings-and-bongs of modern safety tech will have to make some adjustments every time they start the car via the menus of the MG Pilot’s advanced safety suite. While there’s a drop-down menu to disable the lane-keeping assist, I wish there had been a quick control for the speed-sign recognition/warning system, as it got on my nerves.
You get sat-nav as standard, but you still have to connect via cable for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sadly, there’s no wireless connection for smartphone mirroring, and there’s no wireless phone charging pad either.
The minimalist buttons and toggles on the steering wheel are intuitive once you learn to use them, but they’re finished in glossy black plastic that attracts fingerprints.
The steering wheel icon is the cruise control button, the toggle allowing you to increase speed and/or distance to the car in front if you’re using adaptive cruise control. The small ‘Pages’ icon on the right-hand side lets you access the driver information screen using the arrow triggers, otherwise you’ll be skipping songs or increasing/decreasing the volume.
In terms of practicality, this little car is big on smarts.
There’s a cupholder and storage tray in front of the gear selector, as well as a sliding tray section that hides another place for loose items between the front seats. There’s also a comfortable centre armrest and bottle holders in the doors. It’s just a shame that the finishes are hard plastic, not rubberised, meaning loose items will move around.
The seats are good comfort, offering decent adjustability for people of different shapes and sizes, and there’s also tilt adjustment for the steering wheel. However, there’s no reach adjustment, which means some drivers may not be entirely comfortable.
The material finish is a mix of faux leather and cloth, and although there’s a dark headliner, Essence variants have an opening glass sunroof with a cover, which adds to the spacious feel of the cabin.
If you think this small car can’t cope with adults in the back, think again.
At 182cm/6’0” tall, I could fit in the back of my own driving position with knee and toe room, and headroom is good too. Three small adults can fit in the back, but it would be more comfortable if there were just two people in the back.
The size of the door opening could be the biggest issue for adults getting into the back seat or when putting a child in a child seat.
If you have small passengers, there are ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the outer seats and top-tethers for all three rear seats. And unlike most other small cars on the market, there are directional rear air vents, as well as a single USB-A port for charging devices.
Map pockets are standard, and there are bottle holders in the doors, but no central armrest or cupholders.
Boot space is better than some larger cars in the class, with a claimed cargo capacity of 293 litres with the seats up, increasing to 983 litres with the rear seats folded. There’s also space for a light and shopping bag There are hooks to keep things neatly tucked away.
A perk for those shopping for the petrol model is the inclusion of a space-saver spare wheel, but sadly the Hybrid+ models don’t have a spare wheel due to the location of the hybrid battery pack, so there’s only a tyre repair kit under the floor.
Also worth noting is that for those who like to carry goods and people, the rear seat backrest is a one-piece folding design, which could be a problem if you need to go for the buntings with a child seat.
| Dimensions | MG 3 Essence petrol |
|---|---|
| Width | 1797mm |
| Wheelbase | 2570mm |
| Length | 4113mm |
| Height | 1502mm |
| Cargo capacity | 293L |
What’s under the bonnet?
The powertrain on offer in the more affordable ‘ICE’ versions of the MG 3 is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder non-turbo engine teamed to a continuously variable transmission (aka CVT auto), and with front-wheel drive.
The CVT auto has a simulated stepped ratio system similar to some other vehicles, with eight ‘gears’ to play with.
| Specifications | MG 3 Essence petrol |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L 4cyl petrol |
| Power | 81kW |
| Torque | 142Nm |
| Transmission | CVT automatic |
| Drive type | FWD |
| Weight | 1199kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.0L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 7.2L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 45L |
| Fuel requirement | 91 octane unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 139g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 5 |
| Braked tow capacity | 500kg |
It is a featherweight little car, tipping the scales at just 1198kg, which is 110kg lighter than the Hybrid+ equivalent, and can tow up to a maximum of 500kg.
The official combined cycle fuel consumption number is impressive, at 6.0L/100km (emitting 139g/km of CO2).
During my testing, I saw a real-world figure of 7.2L/100km across a mix of urban, highway, open road and daily driving.
How does the MG 3 Essence drive?
The new MG 3 petrol variants are impressive in many ways when it comes to the driving experience.
They are much more refined to drive than the Yaris Hybrid hatch, which sounds and feels more rugged due to its three-cylinder engine.
The powertrain is not particularly impressive. In fact, the hybrid version may be better for those who like a bit of speed in their car, as the non-assisted petrol engine can feel sluggish in some situations.
It is a reasonably torquey engine despite its low output on paper, but the CVT automatic takes away the immediate punch and it can be a bit laggy and lurchy at low speeds and light throttle situations.
On the other hand, when you are a little heavy with your right foot, you get positive feedback from the powertrain… although it does come with a noisy soundtrack.
I think for those who spend most of their time cruising – maybe you live in Sydney’s west and travel outside peak hours – then this would be a great choice. I enjoyed every long-distance journey I took, and when I didn’t encounter heavy stop-start traffic, I found the powertrain to be more than adequate for the job.
There are a few things to consider at lower speeds. It’s not as smooth as some other engine and transmission combos, and in fact the eager electric responsiveness of the hybrid makes this ICE vehicle feel slower in many situations.
Braking response on the ICE model feels more natural and well-controlled, so when you do encounter those traffic jams, it should be easier to handle.
However, the most appealing thing about this car is the maturity and confidence of the driving experience.
It’s a small car so it can still be jarring from the occasional sharp bump, but the general ride compliance is excellent, and so comfort levels are good, both at low and high speeds. It handles corners and changes of direction well, with good body control.
The steering is predictable and nicely weighted, which makes it feel more engaging through corners. However, I stand by my previous criticism that the radius of the steering wheel is too large for this car.
The biggest drawback for some people may be the safety technology. There is constant beeping and banging from assistance technologies like ‘Intelligent Speed Assist’ which reads speed signs and warns you if you are driving over the limit. This can be helpful if you have a last demerit point, but I hate these systems that are always buzzing. It is a small car, so it can be a bit unstable on sharp potholes at times, but overall the ride quality is very good, and the comfort level is satisfactory at both low and high speed situations. It handles corners and changes of direction well, and its body control is also excellent.
The steering is predictable and nicely balanced, which gives a more engaging feel through corners. However, I would say that the size of the steering wheel on this car is a bit large.
The biggest issue for some people may be the safety technology. There is a constant beeping and banging from assistive technology like ‘Intelligent Speed Assist’, which reads speed signs and warns you if you are going over the limit. This can be helpful if you have a last demerit point, but I hate systems like this that are always making noise. It is a small car, so it can be a bit unstable on sharp potholes at times, but overall the ride quality is very good, and the comfort level is satisfactory at both low and high speed. It handles corners and changes of direction well, and its body control is also excellent.
The steering is predictable and nicely balanced, which gives a more engaging feel through corners. However, I would say that the size of the steering wheel on this car is a bit large.
The biggest problem for some people can be the safety technology. There’s the constant beeping and honking from assistive technology like ‘Intelligent Speed Assist’, which reads speed signs and warns you if you’re going over the limit. This can be helpful if you have a last demerit point, but I hate systems like this that make noise all the time.
What do you get?
The MG 3 range is still split into Excite and Essence grades, with a few minor differences between the petrol and Hybrid+ versions. Here’s a rundown of the standard equipment across the grades and powertrains:
2025 MG 3 Excite equipment highlights:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Space-saver spare wheel
- Halogen headlights
- LED daytime running lights
- Auto headlights
- Rear fog light
- Push-button start
- Six-way manual driver’s seat adjustment
- Four-way manual passenger’s seat adjustment
- Reversing camera
- Rear parking sensors
- MG Pilot ADAS suite – details in safety section below
MG3 Hybrid+ differences to petrol:
- No spare wheel (tyre repair kit instead)
- Auto climate control
- Dial-type gear selector
- Drive modes
- Pedestrian warning sound (external speaker)
MG 3 Essence adds (over Excite):
- Projector LED headlights
- Keyless entry system
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Sunroof
- Fake leather and cloth trim
- Leather steering wheel
- Sunglass compartment
- Rear map pockets
- Front centre armrest
- Satellite navigation
- DAB digital radio
- Connected mobile services (iSmart compatibility)
- 360 degree surround-view camera system
MG3 Hybrid+ Essence differences to petrol:
- No spare wheel (tyre repair kit instead)
- Dial-type gear selector
- Drive modes
- Pedestrian warning sound (external speaker)
Is the MG 3 Essence safe?
The MG 3 has been awarded a three-star ANCAP rating based on the 2024 testing protocols.
It achieved 72 per cent for adult occupant protection, 74 per cent for child occupant protection, 76 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 58 per cent for safety assist.
Despite those scores, it is comprehensively equipped with an array of active safety features.
Here’s a list of the standard safety tech and features across all grades:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Lane keeping assistance and lane departure warning
- Emergency lane keep assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Intelligent cruise assistance (traffic jam assist with steering, acceleration and braking)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Intelligent speed assist
- Reversing camera
- Rear parking sensors
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
Essence variants add:
- Surround view camera system
Hybrid variants add:
- Pedestrian warning system outside the car
There are six airbags fitted: dual front, front side and full-length curtains. There is no front centre airbag, which is part of the reason it didn’t score higher in crash performance.
How much does the MG 3 Essence cost to run?
This could be the big decision maker for you.
Since the launch of the MG 3, the brand has bumped up the warranty cover for its model range, with a generous 10-year, 250,000km warranty now offered.
But remember, if you are a commercial user or business buyer, the warranty cover is seven years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first.
It is not dependent on servicing with the brand. And that can be a positive aspect, as servicing is another major consideration.
The servicing interval is still every 12 months and 10,000 km, which is necessary for a city car.
The average annual servicing cost is $501 under the capped-price plan, which is 10 years/100,000 km.
It is worth noting that you also get a 10-year roadside assistance program if you service with MG’s workshop network.
