MG3 Hybrid+ Luxury (2024) review: Power dwarf with power plant

As an attentive visitor to our site, you should not have missed the fact that we have recently tested more and more cheap new cars in the range of 20,000 euros. Because what can you and I still afford? Officially, according to Statista, it says: "On average, German car buyers invested around 44,630 euros when buying a new car in 2023. That was a good 1,800 euros more than in the previous year."

That's all well and good, but many company cars flow into it, where the cent doesn't matter so much. Only a few people shake more than 40,000 euros out of their sleeves if they are a private customer. So you ask yourself: How much car do I need, how much car can I afford? The answer could be provided by two traditional letters that are now Chinese: MG.

As early as 2008, a Rover Streetwise mutated into the MG 3SW, followed in 2011 by the independent MG 3, later produced in Birmingham. The inexpensive small car scored particularly well in Great Britain. Finally, in February 2024, the MG3 Hybrid+, as it is officially written, debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. And he is the first of his kind to come to us.

Initially as a full hybrid at prices between 20,000 and 25,000 euros, later a version only with combustion engine is expected to follow at a lower rate. We drove the MG3 Hybrid+ extensively. Does he create sympathy like the very old MG? Will it hit like the long-serving Bundeswehr rifle of the same name?

Fast Data	MG3 Hybrid+ Luxury (2024)
Engine	1.5-litre hybrid; petrol engine 75 kW (102 hp), electric motor 100 kW (136 hp); System output 143 kW (194 hp)
Transmission	3-speed hybrid transmission
Torque	128 Nm (petrol), 250 Nm (electric)
Trunk volume	293 - 983 litres
Price	23,990 euros

Exterior | Interior | Driving Impressions | Fuel consumption and price | Result

Exterior

If you look at the new smallest MG, it doesn't look so much like a novelty, but rather familiar. A dash of old Toyota Yaris can be found in the design, as well as other Asian small cars, perhaps also some Ford. In addition, a few beading and sheet metal folds. From our point of view, not too playful a look, but also nothing that knocks your socks off.

Roland Hildebrandt

It shouldn't do that at all, but simply offer a lot of car for the money. Similar to the old MG ZS, whose successor is the SUV cousin of the 3 and also uses its hybrid technology.

Dimensions	MG3 Hybrid+ Luxury (2024)
Length	4,113 mm
Width	1,797 mm
Height	1,502 mm
Wheelbase	2,570 mm
Trunk	293 - 983 litres
Tare	1,285 kg
Payload	448 kg
Drawbar load	N.b..
Towing capacity	500 kg

Interior

Here we wrote the following after our first contact with the MG3 Hybrid+: "Very good legroom and headroom in the rear, where there are also ventilation vents depending on the equipment. The trunk is also sufficiently dimensioned, as are the U-top door handles practical. You sit a little too high in the front, and at the same time the steering wheel is positioned a little too low. The cockpit relies on easy-to-read screens, and in general, the operation proves to be largely simple. The central touchscreen has large control panels, underneath it are large 'real' direct selection buttons."

Nothing has changed in this respect, but olfactorily the plastics still stare the nose for a long time, even if the ambience as a mix of hard plastic and artificial leather as such is quite pleasing. Also negative: The standard automatic climate control blows at the highest level for far too long, even for friends of the car setting. To make matters worse, the air vents cannot be calibrated very finely.

Despite the aforementioned control panels, the touchscreen is too small-scale in some aspects, the Chinese origin reveals the consistent lowercase in some details. So there is still room for improvement here, even with steering wheel buttons, the meaning of which is not immediately apparent.

The many storage spaces are good, as well as the bird's-eye view when parking and a 3D view when stationary in the Luxury equipment. The same applies to the wide display of the maps in Apple CarPlay. When exchanging with colleagues, it also became clear that the front seats are not for too wide buttocks and hips.

Driving impressions

On the road, the almost 200 hp system output of the hybrid and its large electric motor quickly become apparent. When accelerating, a noticeable power boost is noticeable, and the small car laces up to 100 km/h in a brisk eight seconds. In addition, the lush electric motor ensures largely harmonious driving, a real "rubber band effect" with noise only occurs at full throttle. Occasionally, noise and acceleration do not correspond to each other, even in normal operation, and when cold, the drive seems uncouth to the effect.

But you can slowly drive electrically for quite a long time, for example through a play street. If you now say: All well and good, but all this is too much for me! Don't worry, MG wants to add another 3 with a normal combustion engine. Maybe then only the 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with 102 hp alone, we'll see.

Our verdict on the assistance armada is ambivalent. China and the EU mean well with us, but it often beeps without knowing why again. For example, traffic detection only works sporadically, the lane keeping assistant blares immediately if you have flashed just one second too late. The interventions of the assistance systems in steering and braking are sometimes too inharmonious, and adaptation work is still necessary here.

On the other hand, ACC and Integrated Cruise Control (ICA) work very well on long distances, allowing for a touch of autonomous driving. Unfortunately, ICA only works up to 130 km/h. All in all, it remains to be said: driving pleasure, but also paternalism.

Consumption and price

Let's move on to the important cost chapter. In a hybrid like the MG3, fuel consumption depends heavily on the driving style and the route chosen. If you choose the inharmonious Eco mode, you even score a three before the decimal point on rural routes and in the city. MG specifies 4.4 liters of factory consumption, which is quite achievable in normal mode without contortions. At a constant 130 km/h on the highway we came to 5.4 liters, if it was really fast, 6.6 liters were on the clock. All in all, values that are absolutely fair compared to the high performance.

The pricing for the MG3 in Germany is also fair. The already decently equipped base is quoted at 19,990 euros. But since the practically fully equipped "Luxury" is only 4,000 euros more expensive, we recommend this one in relation to the content. By comparison, the cheapest VW Polo with 80 naturally aspirated hp is 19,835 euros.

In addition, MG gives a 7-year or 150,000 km warranty. It remains to be seen how sustainable the supply of spare parts is, but MG has a certain obligation here due to by far the most sales of all Chinese brands in Germany.

Conclusion: 7/10

When it comes to costs and consumption, the MG3 Hybrid+ has the potential for an 8/10. But a lack of fine-tuning in detail and annoying assistance systems rob it of this rating. A good vehicle in concept, but there is still room for improvement.