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The MG3 has been on sale in the UK since 2013, and it’s been one of the most affordable superminis on the market ever since. It’s better than you might expect too, particularly since a 2018 update which brought with it a restyle and more equipment.
One thing the update didn’t give the MG3 was a better engine, and its 1.5-litre petrol is probably the car’s weakest link - along with a safety rating that’s now off the pace compared to the very latest cars in this class. Still, as an uncomplicated and surprisingly fun to drive option, the MG3 may well suit your needs.
Closest to the MG3 in value terms, both new and used, is the Dacia Sandero, which is less fun to drive but a more complete product in most other ways. The Suzuki Swift is an even better option, while the used market is chock full of Ford Fiestas, Volkswagen Polos, and Peugeot 208s that offer more style and quality, if you don’t mind them being a year or two older for the same money.
Value is the MG3’s strongest suit, and it’s a commodity that seems to be in short supply in today’s small cars. By and large, most superminis have pushed upmarket over the last decade or so, but MG has stuck to what it does best and kept the MG3 affordable - and given buyers an alternative to other budget superminis like the Dacia Sandero and Suzuki Swift.
Naturally, it’s even more affordable as a used car, though it perhaps doesn’t look quite as appealing against some more modern-feeling alternatives that have been launched since the MG3 made its debut in 2013. You’ll want to aim for a post-2018 model, when the MG3 was restyled and gained more equipment.
What you might not expect is that the MG3 is actually among the more amusing small cars to drive, with nimble and engaging handling that does some justice to MG’s sports car history. The ride is a little firm, but you may be willing to make this trade-off for the fun factor. It’s just a shame the 1.5-litre engine feels so old-tech, with performance that doesn’t feel as strong as it looks in the brochure, and a noisy, thrashy sound.
The interior - which also improved with that 2018 update - feels a little cheap, but it’s easy on the eye and the 8-inch touchscreen both looks good and is quick and simple to use. The cabin’s quite spacious too and the boot isn’t a bad size for a car in this class. Bear in mind though that the MG 3 may not be as safe as some rivals - it got a 3-star rating and hasn’t been tested since, so this rating has officially expired. MG has added some safety tech in the meantime, but it’s unlikely to match more modern vehicles.
That may tempt you into buying a more familiar model like a Ford Fiesta or Volkswagen Polo. You might have to look for one that’s a year or two older than the equivalent MG in your budget, but on comfort, safety, and quality, you get what you pay for. Budget alternatives include the Dacia Sandero - the latest model introduced in 2020 is a big step over its predecessor - and the Suzuki Swift, which has the kind of peppy and frugal modern engine we wish the MG3 offered, and is similarly fun to drive.
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A single engine and gearbox means you don’t have any choice there, and with only two trim levels you probably won’t have to ponder which model suits you best either. An Explore trim level was available for a while at the bottom of the range but both Excite and Exclusive Nav are pretty well equipped. Given how many Exclusive Nav variants are for sale, new buyers were apparently happy to pay the extra. All have Apple CarPlay but no Android Auto, so if you have an Android smartphone, the navigation on the higher-spec model might prove useful.
With the facelifted MG3 we’re covering here there are just two trim levels, and both models give you all the essentials without necessarily approaching the up-to-the-minute kit that some more modern (but also more expensive) rivals can offer.
The MG3’s dimensions are:
The MG3’s boot size is:
MG3s registered prior to April 2017 are taxed based on their CO2 emissions, but the old-tech engine and unremarkable 147g/km mean you’ll still pay £200 per year at current rates. After this date, that drops down to a flat rate of £180 per year.
If the MG3’s tax and fuel economy aren’t exactly class leading, then insurance shouldn’t be a major cost - both the Excite and Exclusive Nav versions sit in group 7, while some earlier MG 3s go as low as group 4. A Dacia Sandero goes from group 8 to 15, while a Suzuki Swift somehow starts in group 20 - and that’s for a regular 1.2 Hybrid, not the Swift Sport hot hatchback.
Read our full MG3 review