MG3 - ABC Leasing

Car & Driving
The independent definitive MG3 video review
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    THREE TO THE FORE(some text hidden)

    By Jonathan Crouch


    Ten Second Review word count: 65

    The MG3 is a supermini you probably won't have considered. Yet it's fun to drive, practical to own and vastly more affordable than the conventional choices in this segment. If you don't need class-leading efficiency and you're prepared to forgive a few rough edges in return for the big savings on offer, then in this improved form, it could rank as a very clever choice.


    Background word count: 152

    There's something about the two letters 'MG' that strikes a chord in the British consciousness. The brand named after 'Morris Garages' way back in 1924 has been a part of our automotive heritage for nearly a century. And still they come: take this car, the MG3 supermini. As with this model's MG GS Crossover stablemate, it's true to say that this car is properly British-developed, with its styling and drive dynamics created by many of the same talented folk who at the turn of the century brought us the surprisingly satisfying MG ZR, ZS and ZT family performance models. Chinese manufacturing clout also means the brand can bring this Fiesta-sized supermini to market for up to 30% less than obvious rivals. Which leaves MG able to claim what they see as an unbeatable combination of fun and value for this car. Does it deliver that in this revised guise? Let's find out.


    Driving Experience word count: 246

    As usual with the MG3, the only engine option is a 1.5-litre petrol unit that MG owners SAIC bought in from GM, though a little compensation comes with the news that it has in more recent times been brought up to cleaner Euro6 standards and develops a healthy 105bhp, substantially more than most direct rivals can offer. That means a reasonable turn of speed, rest to sixty two achievable in 10.4s en route to a 108mph top speed. Though it's true that most of this car is Chinese, many of the bits that really matter are British through and through - an observation especially true when it comes to the elements concerned with ride and handling. There are suppler-riding cars in this class and more sportily-suspended ones, but few models of this kind that I can think of achieve a better combination of both over good roads and bad. Which for a first attempt in this segment, is quite an astonishing achievement for the Longbridge-based development team given that the class in question contains models of the talent of Ford's Fiesta. Body roll is brilliantly controlled, grip is prodigious and there's better feedback through the steering than in most Gtis we've driven, primarily perhaps because modern era electric steering hasn't made it to MG yet. The downside of that is that the helm is heavy during parking manoeuvres in the kind of urban environment where the option of an automatic gearbox would be nice to have.


    Pictures (High res disabled)

    Scoring

    Category: Compact Car

    Performance
    70%
    Handling
    80%
    Comfort
    70%
    Space
    70%
    Styling
    70%
    Build
    60%
    Value
    90%
    Equipment
    70%
    Economy
    40%
    Depreciation
    50%
    Insurance
    70%
    Total
    67%
    Mobile
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    Wide