Jade Credentino
About the MG3
Last updated Oct 23, 2024The 2023 MG3 is classified as a 5 Door Hatchback currently on sale in Australia as part of the SZP1 MY22 generation, starting from $15,700 MLRP for the CORE and topping out at $18,800 for the EXCITE (WITH NAVIGATION).
There are 6 variants available for our market and the current year model went on sale in Jan of 2023. The MG3 is built in China and is available with Direct Fuel Injection , equipped with a 4 Speed Automatic transmission with the drive sent to FWD. The MG3 is offered with a 7 year, unlimited kilometre warranty.
Pros
- Hard to fault for the asking price
- Decent infotainment technology
- Drivetrain is reasonable for urban environments
Cons
- Non-existent safety rating
- Lacking modern active safety features
- Ride can be firm on average roads
MG3 News
2023 MG3 Reviews
2023 MG3 Price
Variant | Price From* | Price To* |
---|---|---|
CORE | $17,400 | $17,400 |
CORE (WITH NAVIGATION) | $17,900 | $17,900 |
EXCITE (WITH NAVIGATION) | $18,800 | $18,800 |
All MG3 Pricing
2023 MG3 Dimensions
The dimensions shown above are for the base model.
See all 2023 MG3 Dimensions2023 MG3 Boot Space
The MG3’s total luggage space is 307L, increasing to 1081L with the rear seats folded.
2023 MG3 Gallery
CarExpert High Resolution Photos of the MG3
View 49 images
2023 MG3 Safety Rating
There is no ANCAP safety rating for the MG3. Not only that, it misses out on autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, and driver attention monitoring.
Despite lack of local crash testing (which is somewhat bizarre given ANCAP’s own website simply says untested, despite the car’s popularity), there is an Euro NCAP safety rating of the pre-facelift model from 2014, which rates the car at three stars – though this rating has now ‘expired’ in 2021.
It’s important to point out that a 2014 safety rating score is very different to a 2022 score and the criteria for getting even that three-star rating is now substantially more difficult than before.
The lack of a modern safety rating is the main question mark hanging over the MG3’s head, especially compared to cars like the Kia Picanto that managed a four-star ANCAP safety rating in 2017, or the Mitsubishi Mirage and its five-star ANCAP rating from 2013.
All 2022 MG3 models come standard with anti-lock brakes and front, front-side and curtain airbags.
2023 MG3 Fuel Economy
The MG3 returns a claimed combined fuel economy figure of 6.7L/100km. MG’s naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine can use 91RON fuel, but given Australia’s notoriously poor fuel quality, 95RON would be a better bet.
Fuel tank capacity is rated at 45 litres.
MG3 | Fuel Type | Combined |
---|---|---|
CORE | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | 6.7 |
CORE (WITH NAVIGATION) | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | 6.7 |
EXCITE (WITH NAVIGATION) | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | 6.7 |
Cost of ownership
What is the running and servicing costs of a MG3?
Variant | Engine Type | Month | Kilometre |
---|---|---|---|
CORE | Direct Fuel Injection | 12 Months | 15,000km |
CORE (WITH NAVIGATION) | Direct Fuel Injection | 12 Months | 15,000km |
EXCITE (WITH NAVIGATION) | Direct Fuel Injection | 12 Months | 15,000km |
CORE | Direct Fuel Injection | 12 Months | 10,000km |
CORE (WITH NAVIGATION) | Direct Fuel Injection | 12 Months | 10,000km |
EXCITE (WITH NAVIGATION) | Direct Fuel Injection | 12 Months | 10,000km |
You should service your MG3 at your authorised MG dealer or service centre, however servicing it at third party mechanics that follow OEM servicing instructions should not impact the MG3’s warranty.
How does the 2023 MG3 drive?
Our expert take on MG3 drivability.
Look, it’s pretty slow. You wouldn’t expect it to be a rocket ship anyway, but it really needs you to flatten the accelerator to get any kind of overtaking done on the highway. Even then, that’s not something you want to do all that often.
It will absolutely get the job done as an inner-city commuter, but if you intend to do lots of driving on highways in the country where overtaking trucks is a regular requirement, we would probably recommend something with a little more power.
The MG3 isn’t not slow enough to be painful though, and the decision to go for a four-speed automatic transmission in lieu of a CVT makes the driving experience less droney, and more engaging.
We found the transmission at times hesitant to drop down a gear to get going, but if you drive it often and get used to its character you will better understand how to extract its (limited) power.
We found the ride of the MG3 to be on the firmer side. It tends to absorb a fair bit of poorly-surfaced roads and pass that vibration and harshness through the cabin.
You do feel a lot through the seat and steering wheel. Although this is probably unnoticeable to most drivers who are jumping into perhaps their first car or coming out of an old car, it’s sub-par compared to competitors like the Picanto.
Overall, we rate the MG3’s on-road manner as decent for inner-city and urban driving where the roads are smooth and the highways are infrequent, but outside of that we suggest an alternative choice.
2023 MG3 Options
Options list for the MG3
You can find more details on all the options and inclusions across the MG3 variants on the official website, and within the official MG3 specifications page.
2023 MG3 Colours
What colours are available for the MG3
The following colours are available:
- Tudor Yellow
- Dover White
- Pebble Black
- Skye Silver metallic
Metallic paint is a $500 option.
2023 MG3 Warranty
What is the warranty on a MG3?
The MG3 offers a 7 year unlimited kilometre warranty. This is separate to the warranty on offer under Australian Consumer Law which can be greater for certain parts based on what is deemed as a reasonable period of time.
2023 MG3 vs other Small's to consider
The MG3 is classed as a Light Passenger vehicle according to VFACTS, meaning it competes with the likes of the Kia Rio, Mazda 2, Skoda Fabia, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Polo in terms of size.
However, its sub-$20,000 positioning means it undercuts said rivals by some margin, instead competing in a price bracket with smaller Micro Passenger vehicles such as the Kia Picanto and Mitsubishi Mirage.
Should you buy the 2023 MG3
Is this the right car for you? Out experts buy or not guide.
In the current market of high used car prices, never before has an MG3 made more sense for so many first-car buyers on a tight budget.
With a seven-year warranty, decent infotainment technology, and reasonable servicing costs, the MG3 is popular for a reason.
If the car had a five-star safety rating we would have no hesitation to recommend the city car as a great cost-conscious offering.
But as it stands, it really comes down to what a safety rating means to you, and whether you’re amenable to the idea of buying a five, six, or seven year-old used car without warranty with an older ANCAP rating, or if you’d prefer a modern car with warranty that lacks that surety.
MG3 FAQs
The best towing capacity of a MG3 is 200Kg offered by the following variants
- CORE
- CORE (WITH NAVIGATION)
- EXCITE (WITH NAVIGATION)
The MG3 uses premium unleaded petrol.