The new MG 3 Hybrid costs less than £20,000: new supermini on sale now
March 18, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
This is the all-new MG3, a hybrid hatchback to replace the brand’s ageing small car. Read on for all you need to know.
- New MG3 Hybrid on sale now
- Starts from £18,495
- Modern exterior design
- Completely revamped interior
- All-new hybrid system
The new MG3 Hybrid is now on sale, and this alternative to the Renault Clio can be yours for as little as £18,495. It comes loaded with tech as standard, and it has an all-new self-charging hybrid system.
New MG 3 price and specs
The new MG3 Hybrid is available to order now with prices starting from £18,495, making it one of the most affordable hybrid cars on the market. There are two trim levels to choose from: SE and Trophy.
New MG3 Hybrid SE
Even this entry-level version of the MG3 Hybrid comes with an impressive amount of kit as standard. Your £18,495 gets you adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and 16-inch alloy wheels.
New MG3 Hybrid Trophy
Stepping up to the Trophy model will set you back £20,495, and your extra cash gets you some tasty upgrades. This model has heated seats, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree camera, keyless entry, rear privacy glass and rain-sensing wipers.
New MG 3 design
This new MG 3 is a clean-sheet bit of design, because it has a completely different look to the outgoing model. The current 3 has quite a tall side profile, whereas this new one has a more traditional shape.
Starting up front you can see a bit of a nod to the MG Cyberster in that sloped bonnet line, while the headlights look similar to the ones you’ll find on the MG 5 electric estate car. The grille is also an interesting shape, although it does look a bit like a hamster which has stuffed its cheeks full of nuts.
It’s pretty generic-looking down the side, with the rear 3 / 4 looking a bit like a Kia Rio. The tail lights are now horizontal across the tailgate, as opposed to the vertical units you got on the old MG 3.
New MG 3 interior and infotainment
The current MG 3 has been around for a few years now, and it feels it when you step inside. This new one has been thoroughly modernised, with a few details taken from the MG 4 electric car.
You may recognise the 7.0-inch digital driver’s display from that car, as well as the funky square two-spoke steering wheel. The new MG 3 also has a very similar 10.25-inch infotainment system to other cars in the range.
You get a whole raft of interior tech as standard including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera and a six-speaker stereo. Top-spec models also get heated seats and steering wheel, leatherette upholstery and a 360-degree camera system.
New MG 3 engine and hybrid system
Unlike the outgoing MG 3, this new model will be available exclusively as a hybrid. It has a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor, and combined they make 191hp. That’s almost 50hp more than a Renault Clio E-Tech.
As a result, the MG is over a second faster than the Clio from 0-60mph, managing the sprint in an almost hot-hatch 8.0 seconds. What’s more important when buying a hybrid is fuel economy, and the MG 3 will return a claimed 64mpg, five less than the Clio.
New MG3 alternatives
There’s only a handful of small hybrid hatchbacks on the market these days, but the MG3 looks as though it’ll offer the best value for money – although you’ll have to wait until we get behind the wheel to get a full verdict. If you’re shopping for this sort of car, you could also look at a Renault Clio E-Tech or a Toyota Yaris.
Renault Clio E-Tech
The Renault Clio E-Tech starts from just a few hundred pounds more than the MG, although it’s not quite as generously equipped. You’ll have to splash out for the top-spec car to get adaptive cruise control for example, and this pushes the price up by a few thousand pounds.
If you’re after a hybrid with a bit of style, the Renault Clio will stand out over the MG3 thanks to its chic Parisian design. It also offers a slightly bigger boot, although it is down on power from its 1.6-litre engine.
Toyota Yaris
The new MG3 Hybrid will face some pretty stiff competition from the Toyota Yaris, because it’s a great all-round hybrid hatchback. It is a few thousand pounds more expensive than the MG, but it’s just as generous with the standard kit.
The Toyota is also great to drive, especially on a twisty road where it’s surprisingly fun to throw around. We’ll have to get behind the wheel of the MG3 Hybrid to find out how it stacks up.
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