MGMG3

The MG3 petrol is the cheapest way into MG's supermini and, at £17,995 for the single SE trim, one of the lowest-priced new hatchbacks in Britain. It shares its sharply styled five-door body and most of its equipment with the MG3 Hybrid+, but swaps the hybrid system for a simple petrol engine and a manual gearbox.

## Engine and economy

Power comes from a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder producing 115 PS and 148 Nm, driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual. Official economy is 46.3 mpg on the WLTP combined cycle with CO2 of 137 g/km. There is no battery and nothing to plug in, so running it is as straightforward as it gets – fill up and go.

## Performance and driving

0–62 mph takes 10.8 seconds and top speed is 115 mph, so it is noticeably slower than the 8.0-second Hybrid+. At around 1,160 kg it is light, which helps it feel nimble in town, and the manual shift suits drivers who prefer to change gear themselves. Expect more engine noise when you work it hard on a motorway slip road.

## Interior and space

The body is 4,113 mm long and the boot holds 293 litres, rising to 983 litres with the rear seats folded – competitive for a supermini. The 2026 update brings a new black cloth seat design, a soft-touch steering wheel and a six-way adjustable driver's seat. Rear head and legroom are decent for two adults on shorter trips.

## Technology and safety

Even this entry model gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen with sat nav and speed-limit recognition, a 7-inch digital driver display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB and a Bluetooth phone key. LED projector headlights, heated folding mirrors, 16-inch alloys and a rear camera are standard. MG Pilot includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, intelligent speed limit assist and driver monitoring.

## Who is it for?

Budget-focused buyers, new drivers and anyone who covers modest mileage and doesn't want hybrid complexity. Rivals include the Dacia Sandero, Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10; if you do a lot of town driving, the MG3 Hybrid+ will repay its extra £2,000 at the pump.