2024 MG 3 petrol review

The MG 3 petrol model range consists of the base Excite and flagship Essence, with prices for the new non-hybrid models taking a big step up for the new-generation range.

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JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing and features
• Safety
• Interior
• On the road
• Key rivals
• Should I put it on my shortlist?
• Specifications

Pricing and features

The new-gen MG 3 petrol models start from $23,990 (MSRP) or $24,990 drive-away for the Excite, while the high-grade Essence adds $2000 to the asking price.

The base model gets auto halogen lights (really?!) and LED daytime running lights, 16-inch alloy wheels with a space-saver spare, a rear fog light, push-button start, manual front seat adjustment, a 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (both wired), a 7.0-inch driver info screen, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, plus heaps of new safety tech - see below.

The Essence adds LED headlights, a sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry, sat nav, DAB digital radio, fake leather and cloth trim, leather steering wheel, sunglass compartment, rear map pockets, a front centre armrest and a 360-degree surround-view camera – $2000 well spent, I reckon.

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Safety

There’s no ANCAP or Euro NCAP rating yet, but it comes way better equipped with safety gear than the first MG 3.

Standard is autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning with lane keep assist (and emergency lane keep), adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and a system called ‘intelligent speed assist’, which will beep to tell you when it thinks the speed zone has changed. It’s pretty annoying, that one.

There’s also a reversing camera and rear parking sensors in the Excite, and the Essence adds a surround view camera.

The MG 3 has six airbags - dual front, front side and full-length curtains.

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Interior

It looks the part, with a pair of digital screens: a 10.25-inch multimedia unit and a 7.0-inch driver info display.

While the infotainment screen includes buttons for volume, A/Cand demisters, you still have to make fan and temperature adjustments through the screen. The system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - however, it’s wired rather than wireless, which is a miss for younger buyers, and there's no wireless phone charger, either.

The oversized steering wheel has gloss black plastic controls that attract fingerprints and the controls are somewhat tricky, with the steering wheel icon being your cruise control trigger, and a ‘pages’ icon for the driver info screen, which can also adjust A/C fan speed and temperature.

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However, these controls can malfunction when smartphone mirroring is active.

The petrol model includes a traditional gear selector, cupholders, a sliding storage tray, a comfy centre armrest, and bottle holders, but the hard, shiny plastics may cause items to rattle. The seats are comfortable but have a hard plastic edge that might be uncomfortable on your backside when you’re getting in or out.

The steering wheel features tilt adjust, but doesn't do reach. And while the black-on-black design offered for some colour choices might suit you, it is a dark environment. At least the crosshatch design on the dash - referencing the last model - is a nice touch.

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Notably, there is no auto-dimming rearview mirror, but a USB-A port in the mirror housing allows for a dash cam to be fitted in a tidy manner. Additional USB ports are below the infotainment screen.

Rear seat space is impressive, accommodating a 182cm/6’0” adult with ease behind someone of a similar size. Three small adults can fit in the back, though three child seats might be tight – or impossible. There are, however, ISOFIX points in the window seats and top-tethers for all rear seats.

The boot, with 293 litres of cargo capacity, includes a lamp and shopping bag hook. Petrol models have a space-saver spare, too.

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On the road

The new MG 3 shows significant improvements to the drive experience, with the petrol model being a decent option, although not as impressive as the hybrid.

The 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine isn't particularly powerful, and some may dislike the shift to a CVT automatic from a traditional torque-converter. However, this CVT is relatively quiet, addressing the common issue of CVTs being droney.

While not as zippy as the hybrid, it accelerates decently at speed, though it shows some lag in slow situations. The CVT has eight 'shift' points, maintaining a smooth drive, though parking can reveal a minor hesitation in shifting gears.

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Braking is more responsive and confident compared to the hybrid, which has regen brakes that interfere with the feel to the driver’s foot.

The new MG 3's longer wheelbase and wider track improve its stability and comfort over the previous model. The suspension handles urban driving and bumps better, though it’s not the most supple for a small car.

The steering wheel feels oversized for the car, diminishing its nimbleness but remains predictable and easy to park.

Safety systems are mixed; the emergency lane keep system is too intrusive, and the speed-sign recognition system can be inaccurate. Road noise at highway speeds could be an issue for commuters.

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Key rivals

The best alternative if you want a cheap, fun little car is the Kia Picanto (from $17,890 MSRP), and it has a manual or auto, and a cool GT-Line model, too.

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Should I put it on my shortlist?

It’s better than the last one by a margin, but whether it’s worth this much money? You tell us what you think in the comments.

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