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2 Years Ago
About the MG3
Last updated Sep 28, 2025The MG3 is a light hatchback that serves as the entry point into MG Motor’s range in Australia.
Priced from $18,490 drive-away, it’s one of Australia’s cheapest new cars on sale and is similar in size to the Kia Rio and Suzuki Swift.
Like the rest of MG’s range, the MG3 is sourced from China.
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
Comparative Rating
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Power to Weight
68.56 kW/t
60.66 kW/t
156.25 kW/t
Boot Space
307 litres
141 litres
440 litres
Fuel Efficiency
6.7 L/100km
3.3 L/100km
7.6 L/100km
Vehicle Range
672 km
607 km
1,091 km
Price
$17,990 - $19,990
$17,990
$56,390
Warranty (Years)
7 - 10 years
5 years
10 years
Warranty (Distance)
250,000 km - Unlimited
250,000 km
Unlimited
Years on Sale
New this year - 1 year
1 year
7 years
Service Interval
12 months
6 months
12 months
Towing & Off-Road Capability
Gross Vehicle Weight
1,685 kg
1,365 kg
1,780 kg
Braked Towing Capacity
200 kg
200 kg
1,200 kg
Ground Clearance Unladen
158 mm
120 mm
158 mm
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MG3 News
2023 MG3 Price
Core
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 1.5L, 4-speed auto, 5-door Hatchback, Petrol, FWD | $18,490 |
| 1.5L, 4-speed auto, 5-door Hatchback, Petrol, FWD | $18,990 |
| 1.5L, 4-speed auto, 5-door Hatchback, Petrol, FWD | $17,990 |
Excite
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 1.5L, 4-speed auto, 5-door Hatchback, Petrol, FWD | $19,990 |
| 1.5L, 4-speed auto, 5-door Hatchback, Petrol, FWD | $19,490 |
*excl. on-roads
All MG3 Pricing
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2023 MG3 Boot Space
The MG3’s total luggage space is 307L, increasing to 1081L with the rear seats folded.
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2023 MG3 Gallery
CarExpert High Resolution Photos of the MG3
View 50 images
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2023 MG3 Exterior
All models get LED daytime running lights and alloy wheels as standard, with the Core scoring 15-inch rims and the Excite getting more upmarket 16-inch wheels in machined finish.
Not much else distinguishes the two trim levels externally.
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2023 MG3 Interior
It feels very much like an $18,490 car on the inside. Although the MG3 surprises with some modern features like its high-resolution 8.0-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay, and an actual leather-wrapped steering wheel (take note Toyota), it by no means exudes any form of luxury or premium feel.
Considering the base model Toyota Corolla has a plastic steering wheel and looks not all that much better inside (in fact, the MG3 has more soft touch plastics), it’s hard to really criticise the MG3’s interior given the price.
We would go so far as to say, the front seats are actually comfortable, and you would have no issue sitting there for extended periods of time. The four-speaker stereo is decent, as is the reversing camera.
The rear seats are also pretty decent and given the MG3 is a much larger car inside than the Mirage and Picanto, it can be a more comfortable place for those looking to utilise the rear seats more frequently.
The MG3’s quoted luggage capacity is 307L, increasing to a maximum of 1081L with the rear seats folded.
You really don’t need to pay the extra $500 for satellite navigation if you have an iPhone, given it will mirror its significantly better navigation system to the MG3’s large screen via Apple CarPlay.
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5L, 4-speed auto, 5-door Hatchback, Petrol, FWD | Premium Unleaded | 6.7 L/100km |
Cost of ownership
What are the running and servicing costs of a MG3?
The MG3 is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
During 2021 the company introduced capped-price servicing for the MG3, with intervals quoted at 12 months/10,000km – whichever comes first.
Pricing is as follows:
- 12 mths / 10,000km: $243
- 24 mths / 20,000km: $285
- 36 mths / 30,000km: $279
- 48 mths / 40,000km: $330
- 60 mths / 50,000km: $243
- 72 mths / 60,000km: $321
- 84 mths / 70,000km: $243
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 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
2023 MG3 vs other Lights to consider
BMW
1 Series
Very Good
Skoda
Superb
Very Good
Volkswagen
Golf
Very Good
Skoda
Fabia
Very Good
Mazda
Mazda 3
Good
Mazda
Mazda 2
Good
Volkswagen
Polo
Good
Hyundai
i30
Very Good
Kia
Picanto
Very Good
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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.
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MG3 FAQs
The cheapest MG3 is the Core that starts from $17,990.
The most expensive MG3 is the Excite that starts from $19,990.
The best towing capacity of a MG3 is 200 kg offered by the following variants: Core and Excite.
The largest MG3 is the Core which measures 1729mm wide, 4055mm in length and sits 1504mm tall.
The most powerful MG3 is the Core which has 82kW of power from its 1.5L In-Line engine.
The MG3 is built in China and shipped to Australia.
The heaviest MG3 is the Core which weighs 1685 kg (kerb weight).
The MG3 uses Premium Unleaded.