The Crittenden Automotive Library

MG3 - Fun On A Budget

Topics: MG MG3

MG3 - Fun On A Budget

Geoff Maxted
DriveWrite
August 7, 2013

The new MG3 certainly looks the part and now we know how much it will cost. Although prices are not down in the Dacia bargain basement department, they are hugely competitive. Most buyers would be pleased to note that the range started at just under ten thousand pounds. They are therefore likely to be astonished that the top spec version retails at £1 LESS than that amount.

This is a very attractive supermini as far as the images are concerned. MG are keen to point out that this low price is not at the expense of specification and safety. Every model gets LED lights at the front, electronic hill-hold and all but the entry level version have a DAB audio system. That‘s a plus.

Six airbags complement the electronic stability control, the corner brake control and the traction control - that’s a lot of control at this money which will give confidence to enthusiastic drivers when exploiting the chassis dynamics. This car is never going to encroach on hot hatch territory but the 1.5L petrol motor offers a healthy 106PS which means the car should deliver a lively drive whilst still fitting into a cost-effective insurance bracket.

As is normal these days the car is very customisable to suit individual taste with a huge range of colours, graphics, interiors - leather or otherwise - across the four different variants. At the top of the range is the MG3 3STYLE with premium 16" "Diamond" alloy wheel and a sports body styling pack that includes the rear boot spoiler and side sill extensions. Standard high-tech convenience features include cruise control, automatic lights and windscreen wipers and reverse parking sensors, all for only £9,999, which, frankly, is amazing.

The mid-range MG3 3FORM available for £9,299 includes air conditioning, DAB radio, Bluetooth and audio streaming, leather MG Design steering wheel with red stitching and steering wheel audio controls all as standard, above the entry model specification.

For those customers who want top of the range looks but find the high level of equipment in a 3FORM is enough, then there is the MG3 3FORM SPORT. This includes all the features of the mid-range 3FORM with the sports body styling pack and 16" "Carousel" alloy wheels at £9,549.

The entry model MG3 3TIME costs a mere £8,399 and features a CD player with MP3 compatibility and Aux-in facility in addition to all the standard features on all MG3s. The MG3 is going to arouse considerable interest before its release in September. Obviously it remains to be seen if the experience lives up the promise but on the face of it MG are highly likely to have a winner on their hands.