By Kelly Fisher
If you haven’t kept up with MG lately, you might still picture the brand as a maker of small British roadsters. Today’s MG is something else entirely. Backed by SAIC Motor, one of the world’s biggest automotive groups, the brand has reinvented itself. In South Africa, MG has recently re-entered the market with several offerings, including the MG3 hatchback. This hatchback sits in the ultra-competitive small-hatch segment and has launched with surprising confidence.
From the outside, the MG3 is immediately likeable. It’s one of those cars that looks more expensive than it is with its sharp lines, neat proportions and a bold nose that is not NOT reminiscent of some Korean hatchbacks. You can tell MG didn’t try to make it quirky or cute. It’s just clean, modern and well put together. And once you climb inside, that impression continues. For a compact hatch, it feels adequately spacious. The cabin design is simple but smartly executed, with decent materials in all the places you touch often. Nothing feels bargain-basement, which is more than many entry-level hatches can say.
The MG3’s cabin space and comfort are standout strengths. You can seat four adults without complaints, and the boot is bigger than expected. On the road, the ride quality is comfy and composed, especially in day-to-day city driving.
The 1.5-litre petrol engine (81 kW / 142 Nm) is perfectly fine for commuting, but the CVT does it no favours. Like most CVTs, it drones when pushed and isn’t particularly inspiring on the open road. The manual, from what’s been reported, seems the more satisfying option if you value engagement and a slightly better real-world economy. There is also the option of a hybrid with a combined 155 kW. That’s a LOT.
There are a number of nice-to-have features in the MG3. Even the base manual Comfort model comes loaded with things you wouldn’t expect at this price (R269,000) with a big touchscreen, digital cluster, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless start, cruise control, and a decent spread of safety tech. Step up a grade and you add faux-leather seats, a 360-degree camera, LED lights, rear vents and more. And of course, there’s the warranty of a 7-year / 200,000 km promise that outshines most rivals, making the MG3 feel like less of a risk for anyone wary of the brand’s “new” identity.
The MG3 isn’t perfect. The infotainment could use more physical buttons, the CVT (R309,900 Comfort, R344,900 Luxury) won’t win any popularity contests, and the Hybrid+ price (R469,900) nudges into bigger-car territory. But taken as a whole, the MG3 is an undeniably strong package: good-looking, practical, comfortable and packed with features that matter in real life.
For students, young professionals, or anyone who wants a car that feels a class above without costing a fortune, the MG3 makes a compelling case. It’s a small hatch with big-brand confidence. Backed by a Chinese brand that looks determined to make a proper go of SA.