
Snapshot
- First new MG3 hatch since 2011 revealed
- Kia Picanto to become Australia's cheapest new car with $5K price rise for next MG3
- Due in Australia mid-year
The latest-generation 2024 MG3 – the first all-new model since 2011 – has debuted ahead of its mid-year Australian launch.
MG Australia has confirmed that “due to advancements in technology, safety and specification”, the new MG3 will not be priced from under $20,000 when it arrives in local showrooms.
It will be the first time a new car hasn’t been available for under $20,000 drive-away, with the cost of the one-size-smaller Kia Picanto hatch also increasing following a recent mid-life update.

The current MG3 hatch debuted in China in 2011, arrived in Australia in 2016 at $13,990 before on-road costs, and is now priced from $19,990 drive-away.
“There will be a price increase of around $5000 associated with the new model, thanks to the introduction of new world-class technology, safety updates and all-new specification,” said an MG Australia spokesperson.
That would see the new MG3 priced from around $24,990 drive-away – up 25 per cent, and equivalent to the larger MG5 Vibe sedan due for safety upgrades later this year following a poor zero-star ANCAP safety rating.

MG has committed to a $4 million investment to improve the MG5’s safety, which would likely move it beyond its current drive-away prices to amortise these added development costs.
With an automatic transmission, the similarly-sized Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris hatches start from around $28,500 drive-away, while the soon-to-be-replaced Suzuki Swift auto is priced from $25,990 drive-away.
The new model has a revised exterior look inspired by the MG4 EV, MG5 sedan and MG One SUV, including a wider grille, pull-out door handles, and horizontal tail lights.

Inside, it features a wider 10.25-inch touchscreen running MG's latest infotainment – which includes Android Auto missing from the current model – a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, hard-button shortcut controls, USB-A and USB-C charge ports, and a wireless phone charger.
There's also an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function, an engine start/stop button, and a flat-bottom steering wheel derived from the MG4 EV with piano black controls.
It also adds active safety features absent from the current MG3, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist.

The MG3 will be available with a hybrid powertrain in its model line-up, becoming the second vehicle in the budget-focused, city-car segment to include the option of a fuel-saving powertrain after the Toyota Yaris.
The hybrid system combines a 75kW/128Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol with a 100kW/250Nm electric motor for a 143kW total system output.
It has a 1.83kWh battery and offers four drive modes: Electric-only, series-hybrid, 'series and charge', 'drive and charge', and parallel-hybrid.
MG claims an eight-second 0-100km/h sprint time, with a selectable 'sport' calibration to "get the best out of the combined power output", along with 'eco' and 'standard' modes.

Oddly, the hybrid powertrain is matched to a three-speed automatic transmission, down one gear from the current MG3.
It has a WLTP-rated combined fuel consumption of 4.4L/100km, compared to 6.7L/100km for the outgoing model under the less stringent ADR testing cycle.
A non-hybrid version of the petrol powertrain will also be offered in Australia.
Under the skin, the MG3 is based on a new 'scalable' platform, which is said to improve comfort and dynamics. The chassis and suspension was developed in Europe and China, with unique tunes for different markets.

Measuring 4113mm long, 1502mm tall and 1797mm wide with a 2570mm wheelbase, the new model is 58mm longer, 2mm lower and 68mm wider with 50mm more between the front and rear axles. It has a 293-litre boot, down 14L.
More local details on the 2025 MG3 are due to be confirmed closer to its mid-year Australian launch.
“The current MG3 is at the end of its lifecycle which means that now is the best time to buy a brand new car for the price of a used one, before the new model hits our shores,” added the MG Australia spokesperson.
Below: The current MG3 hatch, which was last updated in 2018


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