• New Cars
    • First Impressions
    • Road Tests
  • Classics
    • Classic Profiles
    • Classic Driving Impressions
    • Classics Information
    • Events and Days Out
  • Motoring For Fun
  • News & Views
  • Bookshelf
  • Technical
    • Grumpy Old Mechanic
    • Kim’s Tips
  • Features
    • Visits
    • Track Days
  • Contributors
    • About our contributors
    • Kim Henson
    • Chris Adamson
    • Kieron Fennelly
    • Ant Henson
    • Rachel Henson
    • David Miles
    • Gerald Morgan
    • Dave Moss
    • Dave Randle
    • Robin Roberts
    • Tom Scanlan
    • Glen Smale
    • Keith Ward
    • John Price Williams
  • More…
    • About Wheels Alive
    • Tips for using this website
    • Useful Links
  • A-Z

Wheels Alive

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

MG Sales Record – and Revisiting the MG3 in a short Road Test

Author/Source: Chris Adamson

5th January 2016

MG3c copy 2Chris Adamson looks at the continuing growth of MG, and drives the 2016 MG3

New MG registrations in the UK topped the 3,000 mark last year (2015) setting a record figure for the famous British brand since its acquisition a decade ago by Chinese car giant SAIC Motor.

This was almost 1,000 more than in 2014 and surpassed the 2013 and 2014 sales figures combined.

Driving the sales success was the five-door MG3 hatchback which accounted for 2,450 units out of the total, demonstrating that it is making gradual, if not spectacular, in-roads into the UK’s car-buying heartland.

I was among the first UK motoring journalists to drive the MG when it was launched to the press (at Bognor Regis Butlins) in July 2013 so I thought it was about time I got back behind the wheel to see if the MG3 can still make an impression in the competitive hatchback sector nearly three years on.

MG3d copy
MG3b copy

Visually the MG3 remains fresh and contemporary, the only change being the recent addition of a chromed grille, plus more colour and roof choices.

The deep front bib and slim-line honeycomb grille with expressive running lights, fronting a strong wedge profile with body coloured side sills and extended wheel arches, all contrive to make it look as solid and determined as ever.

MG’s much promoted personalisation programme means that potentially all 2,500 of those sold last year could be different thanks to the combination of body colours and graphics.

The range-topping 3Style version I tried in Rose Red also featured a ‘Hope and Glory’ union flag roof, Newton black door mirrors and 16 inch black diamond alloy wheels.

The MG3 is one of the most capacious in its class; open the tall doors, and you enter a well-appointed and homely environment with just a nod to MG’s sporting heritage, in touches such as the leather-trimmed steering wheel with red stitching, and red highlights around the air vents for that go-faster feeling.

MG3e copy
MG3f copy
MG3k copy

For a starting price of £10,500, the 3-Style comes well-stacked with useful kit such as reverse parking sensors, cruise control, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, electronic air-conditioning, LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth audio streaming and telephone integration, DAB digital radio, CD player with MP3 and USB auxiliary input as well as Smartphone and iPod integration.

ON THE ROAD

At launch my main bugbear about the MG3 was the lack of performance and, although some miles on the clock of the early 2015 version I was entrusted with, had loosened things up you still need to work the DOHC VTI-TECH 1498cc litre petrol unit quite hard to get the most out of it.

Maintaining the engine speed at around 3,500 rpm seems to be the best way to ensure rapid progress through the slightly ponderous five-speed manual transmission to get anywhere close to MG’s claimed sprint figure of 60 mph in 10.4 seconds.

Only offering 106 PS at a limit brushing 6,000rpm is never going to get the MG3 into hot-hatch territory where it really ought to be, but the 137 Nm (101 lb.ft) of torque at a useful 4,750 rpm does ensure some sustained acceleration in most gears.

Overlooking its outright performance, the MG3 quickly becomes an easy-to-use companion, happy to dawdle in traffic or stretch its legs at the sight of a dual-carriageway and its enthusiastic responses soon make for a relaxed and unfussy driving experience.

As remarked on by many of my colleagues, one of the MG3’s best attributes is its ride quality; just enough suppleness on the McPherson strut front and torsion beam rear assemblies to cope with the vagaries of the British road surface without over-reacting.

The tall body and high riding position, which gives it that class-leading cabin space, means there is a slight tendency for the body to sway on tight cornering and the front wheel drive does induce some predictable and easily managed understeer.

Throughout there is always a sense of being in full control of the MG3 no matter what the driving conditions; unspectacular it may be but competent it certainly is.

Practicality abounds in the MG3 from the wide opening doors and high hatch opening to the commodious 285 litre (10.0 cu.ft) boot that can be expanded to 1,262 litres (44.5 cu.ft) with the rear seats folded down.

On reflection, I suspect this, along with its affordable running costs thanks to a low insurance group, modest emissions ranking (the 2016 model year EU6 engine specification has seen CO2 drop to 124 g/km with the installation of stop-start technology), competitive servicing and close on 50 mpg, is what is really selling it to the public.

The continued expansion of the MG network around the country is also helping to raise the brand’s profile and make it easier for owners to purchase and maintain their MG3s without having to travel inordinate distances.

VERDICT

Nearly three years on and the MG3 can still compete with the best in the class in most areas although I get the feeling that a re-fresh is going to be needed quite soon and I hope a little more power added to make it a more rounded and eye-catching proposition.

MG3a copy

WHEELS-ALIVE TECH. SPEC. IN BRIEF

MG3 3Style

Engine: 1498cc, four cylinder, twin overhead camshaft, 16 valve, normally-aspirated VTI-TECH

Transmission: Five speed manual gearbox, front wheel drive

Power: 106 PS @ 6,000 rpm

Torque: 137 Nm (101 lb.ft) @ 4,750 rpm

Performance:

0-62 mph: 10.4 sec.

Top speed: 108 mph

Fuel consumption (‘Official’ figures):

Urban: 41.7 mpg

Extra-Urban: 59.6 mpg

Combined: 51.5 mpg

CO2 emissions: 124 g/km

Price (‘On the Road’), from: £10,500

Save Post as PDF

Categories: Chris Adamson, Road Tests Tags: MG, MG3, road test

Tip: For improved search accuracy, enclose search terms for multiple words in quotation marks. For example:
"Land Rover".

Advertise with us
A-ZPlease visit the A-Z page for listings by make, model, year etc. and an advanced search form.

Recent Posts

Increase in percentage of ethanol in standard grade UK petrol further threatens older vehicle fuel systems

Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.0 Lusso Ti – Road Test

Updated Peugeot 3008 SUV – Road Test

SMMT Budget response, plus top ten new car sellers in Britain in February

Latest Citroën C3 – Road Test

Aston Martin’s St Athan plant will be vital in the company’s future

Bargain Basement Bimmer – Part One of a three part series about enjoying a modern classic Z3

Classic Clubs Series – No. 4 – The MG Owners Club

Contributors

contributors

Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


Read about our contributors  ››

Popular Tags

4WD SUV 4x4 4x4 SUV Audi Austin Beaulieu BMW Book review British Motor Museum City car Compact SUV Convertible Coupé crossover Electric Electric Cars electric vehicle estate Estate car five door estate five door hatchback Ford four door saloon hatchback Honda hot hatchback Hybrid Hybrid SUV Kia large SUV luxury SUV Mazda MG mid-size SUV Mini Mitsubishi MPV news News round-up Nissan People carrier PHEV Pick-up plug-in hybrid saloon seven seater MPV Seven seater SUV Skoda sports sports car Sports saloon sporty hatchback supercar Supermini SUV Suzuki The Motor Ombudsman three door hatchback Tyres Volkswagen
All Tags ››

Wheels Alive Social

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

My Tweets

Contact us

We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please click here to contact us.

Advertising Opportunities

Please contact us if you would like to discuss advertising opportunities on Wheels Alive.

Please share our website

Copyright © 2021 Kim Henson, Wheels Alive