Presented in Geneva, the MG3 Hybrid+ officially makes its debut on some Europan markets, including the Swedish one.
The English brand’s response to the Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio E-Tech, it focuses on a youthful design and a good value for money. This is our first test drive.
MG3 Hybrid+: our tops and flops
Finding a small car today is very difficult, and those that remain see increasingly high prices. The MG3 Hybrid+ has many ambitions and positions itself as a cute and youthful car, very colorful, for those who need something mainly for city use.
195 horsepower are not at all typical for a car of this type, and here they manage to offer good acceleration, different driving modes, and, thanks to the complex construction scheme with two electric motors, a 1.5 4-cylinder gasoline engine, and a 3-speed automatic transmission, they also promise low fuel consumption.
I recommend it if you’re looking for a compact car with good interior finishes, and at the same time, it ensures a brilliant and economical driving experience, and can be an all-around car, for those who primarily use it in the city but don’t mind taking a few long trips.
What we like
- Materials finishing for the category;
- On-board space:
- Soundproofing
What we don’t like
- The gearbox isn’t very intelligent;
- Infotainment still needs improvement;
- Sometimes the engine kicks in a bit too much
MG3 Hybrid+: prices in Scandinavia
Scandinavian prices ar not available yet. At the moment, the car is available and only for infromations on the Swedish MG website.
Design
The MG3 Hybrid+ has a modern aesthetic typical of MG vehicles, and is designed in the United Kingdom. The stylistic course has clear references to the larger MG7, currently not sold in Europe, especially in the elongated and sharp front end, dominated by slim headlights positioned on the sides and illuminated with LEDs.
It has a design characterized by fairly sinuous lines, with numerous ridges giving it a sporty aura as also emphasized by the pointed hood and the large glossy black grille.
The rear, while maintaining a modern design, ensures practicality thanks to smoked taillights and an LED pattern, along with regular shapes that ensure sufficient space for luggage: the minimum capacity is 296 liters, among the best in the segment, even for non-hybrid cars.
The proposed color range aims to capture the attention of a young clientele, offering vibrant colors such as St. Moritz Blue, York White, Flaming Red, Morning Yellow, Pearl Black, Blade Silver, and Hampstead Grey. I chose the blue for the test because it’s very pleasing, it emphasizes the shapes and improves its identity. But the Blade Silver isn’t bad either, although it gives it a somewhat more austere appearance.
Sleek and complete interiors, with some flaws
The interiors of the MG3 Hybrid+ are heavily influenced by the design and features of the electric MG4 we tried during our cold winter, maximizing the available space. The two-spoke steering wheel design, along with generous storage compartments in the central tunnel and door panels, in addition to high-quality finishes, promise a high-value driving experience.
The dual-screen system, inherited from the MG4, has been further refined with a 7-inch digital display positioned behind the steering wheel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This system offers an improved infotainment experience compared to the previous version, although still very basic (let’s forget about the navigator!) while the flat style controls contribute to improving safety and comfort during driving.
Among the standard equipment, we find climate control, Bluetooth audio system, four USB ports, divided into type A and type C at the front, rear parking sensors, and a camera to facilitate parking maneuvers that also includes a 3D polygon, almost the only one in the category.
The front seats offer adequate space, in line with category standards, while the elongated wheelbase of the car allows for an improved space for rear passengers compared to other B-segment cars.
However, people taller than 1.80/1.85 meters may feel slightly cramped. The front seat is adjustable in height, depth, and backrest inclination, but unfortunately, the steering wheel only offers height adjustment.
A convenient detail is represented by the rotary dial for the gear selector, also inherited from the MG4, which I appreciate again.
How it drives
From a technical point of view, the MG3 Hybrid+ offers a dynamic driving experience, with a sporty suspension designed to ensure comfort and agility. The sturdy chassis, reinforced with new rigid components, contributes to increased safety, while the suspension system is designed to reduce weight and improve grip.
The MG3 Hybrid+ is very pleasant to drive, it’s quiet and with a marked predominance of electric power in everyday situations. This is thanks to the two electric motors, especially the main one with 136 hp, the car starts and moves mainly in fully electric mode up to 50 km/h, making it particularly suitable for city driving.
In detail, the car can rely on a 1.83 kWh battery that allows it to move exclusively with electric power up to 50 km/h. Between 50 and 80 km/h, the Series mode comes into operation, where the 1.5-liter Atkinson four-cylinder engine with 102 hp provides support along with the 3-speed automatic transmission, optimizing fuel consumption.
Above 80 km/h and up to a self-limited maximum speed of 170 km/h, the internal combustion engine takes over. The hybrid engine delivers a total power of 195 hp, with a maximum torque of 425 Nm, higher than that of many similar cars on the market, such as the Yaris with 130 hp and the Clio E-Tech with 145 hp. There are three driving modes, Eco, Normal, Sport, which do not affect the suspension (the steering wheel always remains stiff for the category), but Sport is the one that makes the driving more responsive.
The 0-100 acceleration takes 8 seconds, which is not bad. The only drawback, however, is the gearbox, not always intelligent and not always able to adapt optimally to the driver’s requests, especially uphill. Apart from this, however, the excellent soundproofing is appreciated, only interrupted when the engine revs high because it enters the cabin.
In general, the MG3 Hybrid+ offers a precise and well-balanced driving experience, with a pleasant travel experience. The weight of 1.3 tons, lower than expected, contributes to maintaining a fairly low center of gravity, while the quality finishes add a touch of comfort.
Turning to the safety theme, the MG3 Hybrid+ is equipped with up to 11 ADAS systems, including lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, and a camera with a 3D polygon. While all systems work correctly, ADAS alerts can be annoying, especially the one regarding speeding. However, it should be noted that it is not possible to deactivate only the sound of the alerts, but it is necessary to deactivate the entire system.