MG3 Hybrid+ Essence review: a small hybrid to please the masses

First impressions

In 2024, MG released an all-new MG3 that sits at the bottom of the family in terms of size and price. My first impression when I picked it up was that it was a great departure in style from the old model, which looked like a bad copy of a Suzuki Swift. I wouldn’t call the new MG3 “sexy”, but it now has its own identity, and it is a cute car.

Jumping inside revealed a dash that looks a lot like the MG4 one (which isn’t a bad thing), with a large infotainment screen and a small digital display behind the wheel. It has a proper centre console, which I prefer to the MG4 that has the little jutting shelf. The bad thing (for me) was that it’s a small car, and I’m an exceptionally tall person. With the seat all the way back, and reclined somewhat, I could squeeze in – though my head was touching the ceiling and only a double-amputee could sit behind me.

The whole car seems well put together. I wasn’t expecting much from the engine but was immediately impressed by how peppy this car was.

Commuting

My first trip to work revealed my pet peeve with modern cars – safety warning bings and bongs. Luckily a dive into the infotainment system had them turned off smartly. After that, it was near serenity as the car tries to motor you around in electric mode as much as possible. You certainly know when the petrol motor kicks in – it’s not unrefined or noisy by modern standards, it’s just a jarring contrast when it happens.

The car has the mod cons of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so that took over the infotainment screen for me. I found parking the MG3 super easy. Not only is it small and nimble; it also has a very good 3D camera.

The boot was bigger than I anticipated, it easily managed a week’s worth of shopping, but the boot lip itself is quite high, making it just that little bit harder to lift in those heavier items. The MG3 doesn’t have the brand’s usual trick of raising the boot floor level with the boot lip, so you just have to make do.

Road trip

The MG3 Hybrid+ Essence isn’t the car you’d choose for a long trip. Although it managed things just fine on my 100-km trip over the steep hill to the Wairarapa for the day. That peppy hybrid motor translated into more than enough power to hold its own on the trip over. The car handled itself well when driving through the winding sections – and yep, I enjoyed the experience. Like all hybrids, the electric motor kicks in when coming out of corners, which makes it quick and fun.

On my way home from my roadie, the hybrid system that’s served me well and made for a fun drive until that point gave up. The battery had drained to the point where it couldn’t help the forward momentum anymore and the MG3 turned from a hare into a tortoise when ascending the Remutaka hill. I actually thought something had gone terribly wrong. All the power and responsiveness just disappeared, but a quick glance at the dash revealed that the car was operating solely through its petrol motor, which proved to be underpowered for the task. I should point out that this was 10 minutes of my entire time with the car – as soon as I hit the summit and started descending, the hybrid battery got juiced up again and was happy to contribute for the rest of the journey. Still, this meant I was having fun, and then I wasn’t.

Summary

The main selling point of a hybrid is its ability to sip fuel. Against a claimed 4.3L/100km I got 5.5L/100km in a mix of city and longer-distance highway driving. That’s pretty good going, even if it’s higher than claimed.

I had low expectations going in, that’s a reflection on my personal apathy for small hatches. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the (small) cabin and overall drive. Running the battery down on the drive home was a fly in the ointment, but it was a blip rather than an unmitigated disaster. At this price point, the MG3 Hybrid+ Essence is a compelling option if you’re in the market for a small hatch and is worth a drive.

Side note

If you happen to be an MG fan, they are running multiple discounts until the end of October. In response to slowing demand, there are reductions of up to $5000 across most of their models (plus 50,000km of RUCs). The exception here is the new MG3 range – MG must think they’re priced about right.