Summary
The MG 3 (styled as MG3) is a small, supermini-class, five-door hatchback. It was launched in the UK back in 2014, with a major facelift arriving in 2019.
The MG 3 rates very much at the bottom end of the small car segment, based on 19 reviews we have analysed from across the UK motoring media. As of August 2023, it has a very poor Expert Rating of 40% – making it the lowest ranked supermini in our Expert Rating Index now that the Mitsubishi Mirage has been discontinued.
There is very little to recommend the MG 3 over any other similarly-priced small cars. It had a sub-par three-star safety rating when it was tested by Euro NCAP seven years ago, and that rating has now expired because the car doesn’t even meet the required standard for a three-star rating anymore.
As a used car, it might be worth looking at if the price was low enough, but the MG 3 doesn’t stack up as a new car. The new Dacia Sandero is both significantly cheaper and significantly better (although it has its own safety concerns), while more expensive rivals are both better and safer.
MG 3 highlights
- Seven-year new car warranty
- Attractive low-cost pricing
- Decent cabin space
- Appealing exterior update
- Agile handling
MG 3 lowlights
- Poor engine quality
- Cheap interior trim
- Bumpy ride
- Very basic safety features
- Poor fuel economy
Key specifications
Body style: Five-door hatchback
Engine: petrol
Price: From £13,820 on-road
Launched: Spring 2014
Last updated: Spring 2019
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“The MG3 supermini is a smart-looking and simple supermini with an attractively low starting price.”
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The MG 3 handles better than you might expect from a car of this price, and it’s had some decent updates to the interior. But the old 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine lacks the necessary puff.”
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Score: 6 / 10
“The MG 3 is a very affordable supermini; it costs several thousand pounds less than some of its rivals. But it lacks the necessary puff, especially when compared with the perky engines of its rivals.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The MG 3 is a good-looking car: subtly sporting, modern and anything but cheap.”
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Business Car
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual Exclusive
Score: 6 / 10
“While there are certain things to like about the new MG3, such as its competitive pricing, extensive warranty and the sheer amount of metal you get for your money, it remains a disappointing package.”
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Car
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The MG 3 is not an unpleasant car to drive but it needs some proper old-school MG tuning and a lot more power to get some attention.”
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Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It may be budget on price, but the MG 3 certainly has enough in its armour to be a worth supermini contender. As far as affordable runabouts go it’s a hard car to beat.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5.6 / 10
“The MG3 is a characterful and cheap supermini that is severely hampered by a lacklustre engine”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“The MG3 is a small city car that’s cheap to buy and relatively roomy but it isn’t as nice to drive as alternatives and lacks some common safety kit.”
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Eurekar
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual Excite
“The MG3 is a perfectly enjoyable, if not very spirited, car to drive – smooth, at ease on faster roads, with positive steering and is well insulated against road and engine noise. The dash, facia and seats aren’t the most upmarket around but then you wouldn’t expect luxury fittings anyway.”
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Evo
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The MG3 offers decent chassis, performance and price.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The MG 3 stands out because of its value for money. You get a lot of bang for your buck as they say. It’s also quite a pretty car in its latest guise, and keen drivers will be surprised by how well it handles. It’s a pity the engine is so weak and thirsty, though, and it has increasingly started to feel its age in key areas.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The MG3 sits at the affordable end of the small hatch market, but it doesn’t feel like a cheap product. Instead, it’s one of the most underrated small cars on the market, even if it’s beginning to show its age.”
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Motors.co.uk
Model reviewed:
Score: 2 / 10
“The MG 3 offers a decent drive and roomy interior at a low price, but but the interior feels cheap, the engine is thirsty and ride quality is poor.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed:
Score: 6.4 / 10
“The MG is an interesting, colourful alternative to mainstream low-cost cars.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual
“MG is finally carving out a legitimate slot in the market. Going up against brands such as Dacia and SsangYong, it’s differentiating itself by placing emphasis on attractive design, which pushes it more towards young drivers than elderly potterers destined for the care home.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The MG 3 is certainly a better-looking car than its predecessor and there’s more equipment, a better-looking interior, a seven-year warranty and a low 4E insurance group.”
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Top Gear
Score: 5 / 10
“Not quite the awful snotter we were expecting. But it is ruined by an awful engine.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed:
Score: 4 / 10
“The MG 3 is keenly priced, but a bumpy ride, wheezy engine and disappointing safety rating all count against it.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The MG 3 was crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2014 and achieved a three-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2021 and is no longer valid.
Euro NCAP’s crash testing standards are raised almost every year, and ratings will expire when a vehicle no longer meets the latest standards for that rating. Sometimes a vehicle will be re-tested against the newer standards and awarded a new (usually lower) rating, but this has not happened in the case of the MG 3.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of August 2023, the MG 3 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. The MG 3 is now an old car, so it is likely that it will never be tested by Green NCAP. If it does ever happen, we’ll update this page with the results.
Reliability rating
As of August 2023, we don’t have enough reliability data on the MG 3 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively for us using warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the MG 3, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 43 mpg | C | 39 – 43 mpg | C – D |
CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 147 g/km | B | 147 – 152 g/km | B – B |
Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
All models | 7 | A | 7 – 8 | A – A |
Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
Year 1 | £144 | A |
Year 2 | £420 | A |
Year 3 | £672 | A |
Year 4 | £843 | A |
Year 5 | £1,136 | A |
Overall | £3,215 | A |
Running cost data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner Clear Vehicle Data displays that, while the MG 3 is an ageing car that struggles when compared to other budget options like the Dacia Sandero, it is certainly cheap to run and maintain.
Only available with a petrol powertrain, the MG 3 has an average fuel consumption of 43 mpg, which is surpassed by several newer hatchbacks like the Dacia Sandero and Volkswagen Polo by 10 mpg or more. If you decide to opt for this MG however, the service and maintenance costs are quite affordable when compared to the market as a whole, as is the car’s insurance.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the MG 3, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Citroën C3 | Dacia Sandero | Ford Fiesta | Honda Jazz | Hyundai i20 | Kia Rio | Mazda 2 | Mini hatch | Mitsubishi Mirage | Nissan Micra | Peugeot 208 | Renault Clio | SEAT Ibiza | Skoda Fabia | Suzuki Swift | Toyota Yaris | Vauxhall Corsa | Volkswagen Polo
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