Honestly I applaud new MG for just making a simple, functional car that does it's job without all the useless tech shit shoved into it for not a lot of money. We need more of that on the market
@Richard Kelbe That's all it is though, a badge. What does MG stand for in reality. MG are the brand that trades on a competition history never was? They never actually won anything meaningful. They are more successful now as a 'classic car' than when they are new. In respect of the MGB, they were a hugely popular car when they really didn't have any competition, not forgetting they would never have been able to compete at all the the Mazda MX5?
Love watching people slag off MG in the comments, and yet I’m sat here in my 3 after doing over 25000 miles in a year and it being a much more fun car than what people think.
My friend had the original “new” 3 and now has the 2017 model. I’ve got to say the newer model that they’re selling now is a much, much nicer car than the 2013+ model. The interior has been improved drastically and I think the exterior has an almost Merc A Class look to it. However, the engine is boring and gutless, it sounds pained when revved out and doesn’t really go that far while making a whole lot of racket at higher revs. The fuel eco also leaves a lot to be desired for the lacklustre performance. If I could get one of these cars with a 1.4/1.5 turbo, I’d certainly consider one.
Had. MG 6 And now on a MG GS , Brilliant cars people just don't no how to drive them, the 3 is brilliant light, sporty stylish, and if you no how to drive it then it's a blast!
@@surferdave364, I think both James' channel and Ian's one are fantastic for different reasons. I just happen to have a HubNut sticker in my wife's car...
@@graemew7001, excellent! We are attending another HubNut social at the weekend and, as in March, intend to film it and put it on my channel. Maybe James will be able to do a meetup soon as well?
Ok but i paid £11,500 for a 17 plate ex demo swift sport with 3500miles on it. Thats the same price as the midspec mg3 excite. It also comes with sat nav , climate control , full electric windows , power folding mirrors etc....everything you could really want. Then you look at the performance figures. Swift Sport : 134hp Mg3 : 105hp Gets worse with the weight. Swift Sport : 1045kg 128hp/ton Mg3 : 1200kg 87hp/ton 0-60 Swift Sport : 8.1 seconds. MG3 : 11.1 seconds. Not to mention the swift sport is loved by just about every reviewer that drives it. I cant understand why you would buy one of these when theres cars like the one mentioned above for sale?
@@PiOfficial I got a 3% finance deal with the bank and its all paid off now , As for the warranty claim its now 6 years old and I've never had a single issue with it outside of the usual Brakes and Tyres being replaced , Its now on 53,000 miles. I lie it needed one of its number plate lights replaced , Took me 5 mins and cost me about £10. It's my girlfriends car now , I got a BMW M135i.
@@Jasontvnd9 fair enough mate. But that’s the reason a 3 year old car with low mileage is cheaper. Because for a lot of us driving under warranty is a big deal. For example I’d never buy a Ford transit custom 3 years out with low mileage not worth it when they have the wet belts snap and ruin the engine so often. Would rather pay more and have peace of mind for the first few years
I own this car and its a nice looking car, decent size inside, good on petrol, can be fast if you know how to drive it properly, and is very good value for money. No complaints from me.
it's not good on petrol and it most certainly is not fast, acceleration wise! It handles well so you can throw it in corners but the acceleration is just a step up from a moped
@@jonlyons1033 I think what she meant is building up the revs and make the best possible use of the available power with the gearbox. I've driven one of these and they're sluggish but it's fun to try and get the most out of them and, as Jay mentioned, the gearbox's quite alright actually.
ive just bought my mg3 in australia, my budget was modest, as is alot of people nowdays, this car was $20,500 for the excite, it has a 7 year warranty, 7 years roadside assist, registered for a year, all the tech i need inside, drives very comfortably on our freeway which is 100kms speed limit, looks stylish , plenty of room inside, not a petrol guzzler, and a good boot size, i think i got exceptional value for my money and peace of mind for 7 years, cheap yes, but as far as i can see, cheap is an advantage to me :)
Hi, I'm from Melbourne and considering trading my VW Jetta for an MG3 Excite. Looking for some cheap, trouble free motoring for the next few years. I've read both good and bad reviews. Are you still happy with your's and would you still recommend buying one?
There is a MG Garage near where i work and consequently i often see little MG3's in that area. Generally driven by OAP's it has to be said. The average OAP is probably looking for value for money, and a brand new motor with warranty for 9k. Sorted.
I notice a lot of people are slagging off the MG3. You all need to remember that not all car owners are car enthusiasts. Very many people just want basic, functional transportation. They want "a car" that is inexpensive to buy and run, reliable and practical.
Those people should buy a used VW Golf then. I’d be happy to bet that a used Golf, picked up for £10-£15k now. Would cause you a lot less trouble than one of these MGs a few years down the line. Sure, long warranty sounds reassuring but there a restrictions that come along with it, plus that 7 year warranty isn’t going to comfort you when you’re sat in a live lane of the smart motorway with a seized engine and a HGV barrelling up behind you.
@@owen4326 I'm on my second VW Jetta and I can assure you, I'm often sat in the live lane of a freeway (I'm in Melbourne) waiting for roadside assisitance.
My girlfriend upgraded form her 2013 Toyota Aygo to a 2015 MG3 - big improvement. The MG is a bigger and better car in pretty much every way. It's good for round town driving (apart from the firm suspension, actually) and it's also great crusing at 80. Though I quite liked the Aygo, I would much rather a long journey in the MG3. They also are not that slow. You just have to use the revs more
Agreed, I'm not sure where he was going with that. In a world of 9- and 10-speed automatics, being "behind the times" is probably good. At ~100hp it's not like it needs gearing for 0-60 times or to be part of an elaborate alchemy of reasonable highway fuel consumption. It's nice to see a basic vehicle that does the basics well.
A small car does not need a six speed manual at all. My 2006 320d has a six, only on the motorway do I use 6th , and even then 5th would suffice. And four speed automatics are still perfectly acceptable, and usually more reliable.
I’m 20, have an MG3, absolutely love it and the badge is one of the biggest reasons I went for it. Also it’s very spacious, comfortable, well equipped, great fun and it just works.
But the Maestro had more power than this MG3 and that was 35 years ago. They should have given the MG3 at least 150 bhp to make it a proper "warm" hatch.
That’s quite the looker for the price. I have a feeling that MG and the likes will be dragging decent hatch back prices down. I wouldn’t consider one really for a fun car right now but if I wanted a new daily work bus with room for 4 if needed then what more do you need? Huge warranty, space, enough comfort, Bluetooth, parking sensors, everything you need in a basic hatch back.
Driven a few of these not owned one. The handling interior and performance remind me of the previous generation of Skoda Fabia especially in terms of stiff chassis and sharp handling, in a good way.
I like the no-frills robust interior. Reminds me a bit of early 2000s Skodas maybe? Not to put too fine a point on it, but what is safer ESP/crash, this MG3 or an older, same price Skoda?
Well, the review was fair. What went wrong with the title? "Honestly why even bother?". Plus - of course £9,000 is "nothing" when you're a journalist and don't buy your own cars! ;)
My brother just had one as a hire car, it was actually not too bad for a basic run about! Decent size and yes 7 year warranty sticker on the rear window 👍. It was abit poorly built, but I suppose it depends on what you need it for... It felt like good value to me!
I was taught to drive in 1968 by and in my Dad's Triumph 2000, which had 95 bhp, weighed 1200Kg, and would almost do 100 mph. That and the Rover 2000 were good cars then. MG then was a re-badged Morris Oxford with a second carburettor. The MG3 is slighty wider, slightly shorter and slightly taller, weighs much the same and has similar power. That is now considered underpowered. How things have changed!
The only place I have seen these was.... Cuba! Along with two other Chinese brands these MGs can be regularly seen in/on Cuba, and you can understand that for them this car goes above ALL standards 👍
@Gareth Fairclough correct. It was called the N-series conversion and completely replaced the gasket and rocker covers. It was available from 1 MG specialist who imported a load of the kits from MG in China. The kit cost about 150 quid and about the same again for fitting. Not an extreme expense for the mgzr and zs as they had pretty nice chassis for ragging round. It was an aspiration of mine to own one as a 17 yo.
I bought one of these for my wife two years ago and she is totally delighted with it. I do agree with you that a turbo option would be a welcome addition to keep the MG sporting tradition to the fore. Other than the price the attraction to this car was its uniqueness as where we are almost every other car is of German origin. On the few occasions I have driven it, it has performed very well. I tend to treat it in the same manner as a mini cooper(the original one) or the other BMC cars of that era (give it plenty revs and row it along through the gears.
we own one sice 2017 ,happy enough and economy is not bad,car for the money its great job,well equipped. 22 K miles done so far happy owner,I seen cars for double money and no all round electric windows, no cruise control etc.
You could buy a Bugatti but you still can’t go faster than this in a town or up the M6 with all its speed cameras it now has. Perfectly capable car for a British road.
I live in the West Midlands and I think I've only ever seen 2 or 3, and one of those was a test mule in camo before launch, so if they are not successful here from past loyalties then they havent got a hope. Seen more in MG3s Thailand plus MG6s and a couple of good looking SUVs, seem to go down quite well there, where they trade on Britishness at good prices, not mentioning its Chinese of course.
Ford Fiesta 1.0 turbo 0-60 12.2 secs, The MG3 10.4 secs. Just bought an MG3 Exclusive with a Sat nav, pre reg for £9750. That really is excellent value, especially with a 7 year warranty. As a matter of interest, the new version has a re-mapped engine, and is meant to perform better
Oh these cars are horrendous and the Dealer back up is non existent and the warranty is worthless. They always say not covered. 2 year old mg3 20k. Recently had to do front discs and pads. New radiator, old one was like a sieve and now recently engine warning light is on and car running rough first thing.... time to get shot of this pile of shit And there parts prices are some of the dearest out there and you will be lucky if they even have the stock
I had one from new, 3 years and no end of problems, i keep an interest in the cars purely for how bad they were and how comical some of the fanboys are about them. I PX'd it because at 40k/32 months it had: Split radiator (not covered on warranty) juddery clutch (not covered on warranty - and constantly told not an issue) timing chain rattle and starting/rough running issues (didn't bother taking in - this was final straw), radio intermittent at best, airbag light always on (covered but fixes only ever lasted a month or so), aircon never really worked (denied by dealer), undertray fell off (dealer wouldn't replace), side skirts would fill with stones, front brakes needed replacing at 20k - rears were sticking on from 25k, lots of interior trim broke, exhaust melted rear panel.... I see since I sold it it has recently failed its MOT on a power steering fault too. Maybe my old car was made at 5 to pub on a Friday afternoon?, I've bought bangers with 100k on the clock and had less wrong with them. Dealer support non existent, parts not available easily, general quality of car and experience of SAIC/MG is poor to say the least, these s**tboxes are cheap for a reason!
Do you know what it is Jay I really like the MG3!🤪, I keep looking at the new version in metallic red in top spec it's really nice inside I think and looks good on the outside? But I do 20k a year and I just don't trust the car for reliability and not many dealers selling them. The dealer's that are selling them are smaller independents and I find that a worry!! But I do like the car especially for £13k for the top of the range one brand new 😃! Cracking video bud 👍
With the 7 year warranty, isnt it worth a gamble??? 20k is not mega miles and for the price you're paying its nigh on throw away!!! I think it's a decent looking car, inside and out, just do a bit of research on reliability and customer service. Look at Kia, Skoda and the rest, they all started with no reputation (or in Skodas case, a terrible rep haha!) They are now being taken seriously and, like MG, started out by offering cheaper cars with long, long warranties.
The reliability of these cars are 10/10, the engines are extremely reliable and is the gearbox, most of the car if made out of proven reliable parts. As a cheap work hack you cannot go wrong
@@casualagent7250 I'm really tempted but I'm just not sure how quickly the dealer's will get parts if needed and how long will the MG dealer's be around most of them are very small businesses so courtesy cars etc could be a problem.
Used to own an MG3 for nearly 2 years and never really felt that comfortable driving it and because of the lack of low end torque my previous car, a 2005 55bhp polo, felt faster around town. Its in its element however when you can give the engine some revs on a country road, all the while being surprised by how fun it is to fling into corners faster than a car this cheap should have any right to and still get out the other side with a grin on your face. The MG is gone now and replaced by a Fiesta ST (Very original, I know) and if I'm honest I haven't missed it for a second.
i am on my 3rd MG3 it's what i can afford at the moment , its very economical it drives very well for a 1.5, , when you get used to it it is sporty , if they make a 1.8 version then it will steal a bit part of the market , , its needs a comfort make over with independent suspension and bob's your uncle , job done
I bought one 9 months ago. Done 12k miles in that time. For what I paid, I can't complain too much. It's a 2017 "lux" model with leather seats etc. Heating controls are awful, especially when driving. Hazard switch is in a daft place, and can never find it when there's a pile up on a Motorway... Engine has zero torque or power with an big flat spot between 2k and 3k revs, but an ITG air filter & magnagor HT leads seems to have smoothed that out. I only bought it to commute 120 miles a day on motorways, it's cheap has cruise control, auto wipers/lights. And that's the reason I bought it. Get around 43mpg which isn't fantastic but not too bad. Not a bad car overall really
Had one from new, 3 years, worst car I've ever owned. Problems:radiator split, timing chain rattled, clutch juddered, air bag light kept coming on, rear brakes stuck, undertray fell off... I could go on, just don't buy one
@@sambo7499 BMW hasn't owned the rover brand name since 2000. Ford bought it to protect the land rover brand, and sold it to tata along with Jaguar/Land Rover in 2008.
Wow, it must be nice to be snobby about lower end cars that matter to people with little money. If you can't review it for what it is then just leave it alone!!
I think I gave it an honest review and I also don't disregard cheaper cars - I have done an awful lot of features on very affordable cars (much cheaper than this)
The MG3 has a competent chassis and is a lot of car for not a lot. Finish isn't great but then it doesn't cost much. With a modern 1.0 turbo I think it would be an excellent little car. And I quite like the styling. Despite the jokes MG are now making good cars and they are terrific value. The ZS EV is a very good, affordable EV and the HS is really very well appointed and genuinely very good.
You never mentioned the NCAP rating. Every star is representative of increased survive ability of approximately 12%. A possible factor for any new car driver if being purchased by doting parents. I experimented with Chinese hire cars in Dubai. Eventually gave up as did the hire firm who recalled them and i migrated to a Mitsu "bus" ASX. Ugly as sin but entirely reliable. (On a side not i really miss my MGB GT)
Wrong MG, do the Z series cars, a slightly breathed on zr 160 would be cool and a less modded zs than the one you had and a zt 190, the 260 is cool but out of the price range for most... Would love to see a full Z car section on the channel Keep up the great content!
Thanks James, it was a pleasure to have you come down and film my wife's car! The weather was a bit wet, wasn't it? If anyone is interested, then this was one of the first cars I ever reviewed on my channel (we have done many more since) and the video can be found here: ua-cam.com/video/1oHNIboTqXo/v-deo.html
Should really try the HS, just bought one and seems like a good car for the money and quite luxurious compared to rivals, and at least its still designed in the UK
They're amazing value in my opinion. If you want a more quality car you'd either have to downsize to a supermini or spend £000s on a brand like VW. The MG3 is roomy, looks great and handles well. The only real alternative would be a Dacia Sandero, and you can't call yourself a man if you drive a Sandero.
Are these available in continental Europe? I'd go for one immediately, especially if it were still made in the UK (which I doubt). 7 years warranty? Take my money!
In my opinion the only good thing about it is it's cheap price tag! For me the MG brand is supposed to a 'sports' brand, as you said they generally took bland Rover models and spiced them up a bit for a younger matket, I had an MG ZT 1.8 T, basically a Rover 75 with a sportier turbo engine, sports suspension, modern interior and it was a lot of fun to drive! That doesn't look like as much fun at all😲😊😔😁👍😎
But when that heap of cheap non MG bites the dust in the not too distant future if not alreafy, that Micra in front will still be going strong like most Japanese cars.
I’m considering one of these at the moment. Probably a pre facelift. I’ve got an MX5 and a cortina and need something reliable and a bit bigger than the mx5 for when the cortina doesn’t start 😂 cheap would suit me as it’ll be sitting for a week or so as I’d rather drive the cortina but it’s there just in case
Is the MG brand still available in the rest of Europe, more specifically the Balkans region, I have a ford puma as a first car, and it's great and all but really need something newer and cheaper to maintain
I think it's a real shame that all the cars from the 70's Rover, Hillman, MG, Sunbeam, Morris, Austin, Triumph, Wosley etc never continued with proper funding & designs to produce decent modern cars. Imagine a 2022 TR7 or an Avenger. Put aside the facts of bad management, unions, funding, rust etc, we could design some really good cars.
The brand new 3 isn't too bad. They're never going to win awards but like Jay said the interior is a huge step forward on the facelift. The latest ZS (no, not the saloon...) isn't a bad steer eighter. The driving position is pretty decent for a crossover too.
10,000 pounds sounds like a low figure, but that's currently well over 18,000 AUD, which is not exactly cheap for this car. A new automatic MG3 currently costs 18,000 drive away. For comparison, the previous gen Kia Cerato auto cost 20k driveaway.
I met someone a few weeks ago who has one ,he got a free teddy bear when it went for a service , what’s not to like? Mind you I don’t know where the dealers are , I have never seen one.
I do understand that some people wanna buy new car cheapest as possible but I do not think it's clever. MG3 is advertised for 9,5k but its price is dropping like a stone. So maybe it's wiser to buy better, probably more reliable, more fuel efficient car that's holding its value better. So all together you gonna get much better experience and same or better cost of ownership at the end if you buy some mainstream car around 12k. If I would really want cheapest new car I would just buy Dacia Sandero for 7k (and reviews are rating it slightly better than MG3).
Sorry JayEmm, £9000 is actually quite a lot of money. When you can get genuinely fun and reliable transport for £2000 the MG3 has be awfully good to be worth £9k. If you are on a budget, then surely any Honda / Kia / Hyundai product is a better option. If you need a newer car and have £9k to spend then surely a finance deal on a new small car with free insurance makes more sense?
When I went back to the UK last year I hired one of these... it was utter bobbins. It had the unfortunate benefit of making most domestic Australian cars appear quite good!
Very strange that MG Bothered with this econobox segment. SMall cars in the US at least never made any money for the US and many foreign makers. WHy in the world would MG, with a reputation for fun little sports cars, bother to offer something in this segment? I bet MG never made ONE PENNY from this model.
Maybe it's to provide cars for people who can't afford to buy the expensive stuff⁉️ However, much more to the point; why have you got a pair of sunglasses poncely perched on the top of your noggin when it's pissing down with rain⁉️🤔🤔🤔
Yeh we actually got given one a year old one "yeh given" kept it for a year the heater packed up and the fuel guage stop working quickly chopped it in for a vitara.
Think the title is really misleading there, esp given the conclusion you drew. Never seen any of these, didn t even know it existed and honestly, this seems to be an okay rival for a Dacia Sandero so this is what it should be compared to I assume
Nothing really wrong with the heater dial, looks nice.
It has an 80s kind of look which I like.
Probably the nicest bit of the car.
Honestly I applaud new MG for just making a simple, functional car that does it's job without all the useless tech shit shoved into it for not a lot of money.
We need more of that on the market
Dacia
It doesn't have any less tech than pretty much an other car in this price range.
Its shit so is every little car really..it looks ok in the right spec..
And its,a mg so every one will slag it off
@Richard Kelbe That's all it is though, a badge. What does MG stand for in reality. MG are the brand that trades on a competition history never was? They never actually won anything meaningful. They are more successful now as a 'classic car' than when they are new. In respect of the MGB, they were a hugely popular car when they really didn't have any competition, not forgetting they would never have been able to compete at all the the Mazda MX5?
Toby the Glen wow a car built in the 60s couldnt compete with a car built now...fuck thats deep.
Love watching people slag off MG in the comments, and yet I’m sat here in my 3 after doing over 25000 miles in a year and it being a much more fun car than what people think.
My friend had the original “new” 3 and now has the 2017 model. I’ve got to say the newer model that they’re selling now is a much, much nicer car than the 2013+ model. The interior has been improved drastically and I think the exterior has an almost Merc A Class look to it. However, the engine is boring and gutless, it sounds pained when revved out and doesn’t really go that far while making a whole lot of racket at higher revs. The fuel eco also leaves a lot to be desired for the lacklustre performance. If I could get one of these cars with a 1.4/1.5 turbo, I’d certainly consider one.
Had. MG 6 And now on a MG GS , Brilliant cars people just don't no how to drive them, the 3 is brilliant light, sporty stylish, and if you no how to drive it then it's a blast!
@@owen4326 sounds like you want a 1.4 turbo swift sport.
It’s shaped like an old woman car and doesn’t even have decent specs it’s comical
tiny motors with a turbo do not last a long time, Ask Scotty kilmer @@owen4326
Oooo a fellow Hubnut supporters car.
Ian Seabrook is a legendary man!
@@surferdave364, I think both James' channel and Ian's one are fantastic for different reasons. I just happen to have a HubNut sticker in my wife's car...
@@lloydvehicleconsulting I agree with you, I'm subscribed to both channels for very different reasons and enjoy both equally as much.
@@graemew7001, excellent! We are attending another HubNut social at the weekend and, as in March, intend to film it and put it on my channel. Maybe James will be able to do a meetup soon as well?
As Jay said, compared to Dacia and what your £10k gets you these days, these are a bargain.
Ok but i paid £11,500 for a 17 plate ex demo swift sport with 3500miles on it.
Thats the same price as the midspec mg3 excite.
It also comes with sat nav , climate control , full electric windows , power folding mirrors etc....everything you could really want.
Then you look at the performance figures.
Swift Sport : 134hp
Mg3 : 105hp
Gets worse with the weight.
Swift Sport : 1045kg 128hp/ton
Mg3 : 1200kg 87hp/ton
0-60
Swift Sport : 8.1 seconds.
MG3 : 11.1 seconds.
Not to mention the swift sport is loved by just about every reviewer that drives it.
I cant understand why you would buy one of these when theres cars like the one mentioned above for sale?
@@Jasontvnd9 yeah but many people want brand new cars
@@Jasontvnd9 3 years old so almost out of warranty. More expensive to finance, likely to have age related wear on many parts.
@@PiOfficial I got a 3% finance deal with the bank and its all paid off now , As for the warranty claim its now 6 years old and I've never had a single issue with it outside of the usual Brakes and Tyres being replaced , Its now on 53,000 miles.
I lie it needed one of its number plate lights replaced , Took me 5 mins and cost me about £10.
It's my girlfriends car now , I got a BMW M135i.
@@Jasontvnd9 fair enough mate. But that’s the reason a 3 year old car with low mileage is cheaper. Because for a lot of us driving under warranty is a big deal.
For example I’d never buy a Ford transit custom 3 years out with low mileage not worth it when they have the wet belts snap and ruin the engine so often. Would rather pay more and have peace of mind for the first few years
I own this car and its a nice looking car, decent size inside, good on petrol, can be fast if you know how to drive it properly, and is very good value for money.
No complaints from me.
Amber Hutson drive it properly?
it's not good on petrol and it most certainly is not fast, acceleration wise! It handles well so you can throw it in corners but the acceleration is just a step up from a moped
@@HRHooChicken it's not even meant to be like a race car but okay
@@jonlyons1033 Lmao, this car isn't fast Amber
@@jonlyons1033 I think what she meant is building up the revs and make the best possible use of the available power with the gearbox. I've driven one of these and they're sluggish but it's fun to try and get the most out of them and, as Jay mentioned, the gearbox's quite alright actually.
ive just bought my mg3 in australia, my budget was modest, as is alot of people nowdays, this car was $20,500 for the excite, it has a 7 year warranty, 7 years roadside assist, registered for a year, all the tech i need inside, drives very comfortably on our freeway which is 100kms speed limit, looks stylish , plenty of room inside, not a petrol guzzler, and a good boot size, i think i got exceptional value for my money and peace of mind for 7 years, cheap yes, but as far as i can see, cheap is an advantage to me :)
Hi, I'm from Melbourne and considering trading my VW Jetta for an MG3 Excite. Looking for some cheap, trouble free motoring for the next few years. I've read both good and bad reviews. Are you still happy with your's and would you still recommend buying one?
There is a MG Garage near where i work and consequently i often see little MG3's in that area. Generally driven by OAP's it has to be said.
The average OAP is probably looking for value for money, and a brand new motor with warranty for 9k. Sorted.
DJ_PaulTUK
I saw an OAP in a old metro today, bless
OAP?
Fee
Old Age Pensioner 🧓
I notice a lot of people are slagging off the MG3. You all need to remember that not all car owners are car enthusiasts. Very many people just want basic, functional transportation. They want "a car" that is inexpensive to buy and run, reliable and practical.
Those people should buy a used VW Golf then. I’d be happy to bet that a used Golf, picked up for £10-£15k now. Would cause you a lot less trouble than one of these MGs a few years down the line. Sure, long warranty sounds reassuring but there a restrictions that come along with it, plus that 7 year warranty isn’t going to comfort you when you’re sat in a live lane of the smart motorway with a seized engine and a HGV barrelling up behind you.
@@owen4326 I'm on my second VW Jetta and I can assure you, I'm often sat in the live lane of a freeway (I'm in Melbourne) waiting for roadside assisitance.
My girlfriend upgraded form her 2013 Toyota Aygo to a 2015 MG3 - big improvement. The MG is a bigger and better car in pretty much every way. It's good for round town driving (apart from the firm suspension, actually) and it's also great crusing at 80.
Though I quite liked the Aygo, I would much rather a long journey in the MG3. They also are not that slow. You just have to use the revs more
If you just want a *car* these are actually really good value for money. To me they look like a kinda angular Fabia 2
There´s nothing wrong with 5 speed gearbox as long it is manual, imho.
Agreed, I'm not sure where he was going with that. In a world of 9- and 10-speed automatics, being "behind the times" is probably good. At ~100hp it's not like it needs gearing for 0-60 times or to be part of an elaborate alchemy of reasonable highway fuel consumption. It's nice to see a basic vehicle that does the basics well.
My punto evo sits at 3500 rpm for 70mph
@Gareth Fairclough6000rpm at 60 in 5th? Nah that ain't right.
A small car does not need a six speed manual at all. My 2006 320d has a six, only on the motorway do I use 6th , and even then 5th would suffice. And four speed automatics are still perfectly acceptable, and usually more reliable.
Insurance group 4 with over 100hp, why aren't young drivers buying these up?
Oh wait, the badge.
I'm 17 and I'm looking at a 2017 one. I don't care about the badge. I just like the look of the car as a whole
It's not the badge, it's the looks. The MG ZR was a cool MG, where's this comes across as a CityRover. Even the cup's a bit mehh.
...and the fact that it's crap.
I’m 20, have an MG3, absolutely love it and the badge is one of the biggest reasons I went for it. Also it’s very spacious, comfortable, well equipped, great fun and it just works.
Love the Black Dynamite reference. The MG just does what it says in the tin. Hey if the MG badge was good enough for the Maestro...
But the Maestro had more power than this MG3 and that was 35 years ago. They should have given the MG3 at least 150 bhp to make it a proper "warm" hatch.
Holy balls, the Maestro, that brings back bad memories!
@@paulelephant9521 Remember the Maestro Turbo that accelerated faster to 60 mph than some Ferraris
@@cliveyboyb5770 It was still a piece of shit.
That’s quite the looker for the price. I have a feeling that MG and the likes will be dragging decent hatch back prices down. I wouldn’t consider one really for a fun car right now but if I wanted a new daily work bus with room for 4 if needed then what more do you need? Huge warranty, space, enough comfort, Bluetooth, parking sensors, everything you need in a basic hatch back.
Still better than the crap Alfa’s you kept buying
nope
Driven a few of these not owned one. The handling interior and performance remind me of the previous generation of Skoda Fabia especially in terms of stiff chassis and sharp handling, in a good way.
I like the no-frills robust interior. Reminds me a bit of early 2000s Skodas maybe?
Not to put too fine a point on it, but what is safer ESP/crash, this MG3 or an older, same price Skoda?
@@dizzy2020 Joking aside, you are right in that I should have mentioned reliability as well!
Well, the review was fair. What went wrong with the title? "Honestly why even bother?". Plus - of course £9,000 is "nothing" when you're a journalist and don't buy your own cars! ;)
I own all of my own cars
@@JayEmmOnCars , well said, sir!
@@JayEmmOnCars As do I
My brother just had one as a hire car, it was actually not too bad for a basic run about! Decent size and yes 7 year warranty sticker on the rear window 👍. It was abit poorly built, but I suppose it depends on what you need it for... It felt like good value to me!
I was taught to drive in 1968 by and in my Dad's Triumph 2000, which had 95 bhp, weighed 1200Kg, and would almost do 100 mph. That and the Rover 2000 were good cars then. MG then was a re-badged Morris Oxford with a second carburettor. The MG3 is slighty wider, slightly shorter and slightly taller, weighs much the same and has similar power. That is now considered underpowered. How things have changed!
The only place I have seen these was.... Cuba! Along with two other Chinese brands these MGs can be regularly seen in/on Cuba, and you can understand that for them this car goes above ALL standards 👍
Don't speak ill of the rover K series you heathen.
Head gasket.
@@TheMentalblockrock Every 30K at best LOL
@Gareth Fairclough - the engine is also great when using the revs.A great sound to it and pretty quick too.
@Gareth Fairclough correct. It was called the N-series conversion and completely replaced the gasket and rocker covers. It was available from 1 MG specialist who imported a load of the kits from MG in China. The kit cost about 150 quid and about the same again for fitting. Not an extreme expense for the mgzr and zs as they had pretty nice chassis for ragging round. It was an aspiration of mine to own one as a 17 yo.
Both this and the facelift were designed in the UK in Longbridge. Lots of british jobs. (Longbridge studio is now closed, but theres a London one now)
And engineered in Longbridge too
I bought one of these for my wife two years ago and she is totally delighted with it. I do agree with you that a turbo option would be a welcome addition to keep the MG sporting tradition to the fore. Other than the price the attraction to this car was its uniqueness as where we are almost every other car is of German origin. On the few occasions I have driven it, it has performed very well. I tend to treat it in the same manner as a mini cooper(the original one) or the other BMC cars of that era (give it plenty revs and row it along through the gears.
we own one sice 2017 ,happy enough and economy is not bad,car for the money its great job,well equipped. 22 K miles done so far happy owner,I seen cars for double money and no all round electric windows, no cruise control etc.
P.S. Jay, the heater dials, they’re amazing.
Although a little temperamental 😂
You could buy a Bugatti but you still can’t go faster than this in a town or up the M6 with all its speed cameras it now has. Perfectly capable car for a British road.
You should review a Proton Satria Neo, another underpowered supermini (don't bother with the 1.3) but with a little lotus sprinkled in.
This was worth watching JUST for the Hubnut sticker!
🔥🔥 For around town which 98% of my journeys are . I would think the car would be ok 🔥🔥
I live in the West Midlands and I think I've only ever seen 2 or 3, and one of those was a test mule in camo before launch, so if they are not successful here from past loyalties then they havent got a hope.
Seen more in MG3s Thailand plus MG6s and a couple of good looking SUVs, seem to go down quite well there, where they trade on Britishness at good prices, not mentioning its Chinese of course.
Ford Fiesta 1.0 turbo 0-60 12.2 secs, The MG3 10.4 secs. Just bought an MG3 Exclusive with a Sat nav, pre reg for £9750. That really is excellent value, especially with a 7 year warranty. As a matter of interest, the new version has a re-mapped engine, and is meant to perform better
Oh these cars are horrendous and the Dealer back up is non existent and the warranty is worthless. They always say not covered. 2 year old mg3 20k. Recently had to do front discs and pads. New radiator, old one was like a sieve and now recently engine warning light is on and car running rough first thing.... time to get shot of this pile of shit
And there parts prices are some of the dearest out there and you will be lucky if they even have the stock
I had one from new, 3 years and no end of problems, i keep an interest in the cars purely for how bad they were and how comical some of the fanboys are about them. I PX'd it because at 40k/32 months it had: Split radiator (not covered on warranty) juddery clutch (not covered on warranty - and constantly told not an issue) timing chain rattle and starting/rough running issues (didn't bother taking in - this was final straw), radio intermittent at best, airbag light always on (covered but fixes only ever lasted a month or so), aircon never really worked (denied by dealer), undertray fell off (dealer wouldn't replace), side skirts would fill with stones, front brakes needed replacing at 20k - rears were sticking on from 25k, lots of interior trim broke, exhaust melted rear panel.... I see since I sold it it has recently failed its MOT on a power steering fault too.
Maybe my old car was made at 5 to pub on a Friday afternoon?, I've bought bangers with 100k on the clock and had less wrong with them.
Dealer support non existent, parts not available easily, general quality of car and experience of SAIC/MG is poor to say the least, these s**tboxes are cheap for a reason!
You even think about slagging off a Micra and it will put you in your place. xD
@MGazT haha I don't see it. It's just a car
Do you know what it is Jay I really like the MG3!🤪, I keep looking at the new version in metallic red in top spec it's really nice inside I think and looks good on the outside? But I do 20k a year and I just don't trust the car for reliability and not many dealers selling them. The dealer's that are selling them are smaller independents and I find that a worry!! But I do like the car especially for £13k for the top of the range one brand new 😃! Cracking video bud 👍
With the 7 year warranty, isnt it worth a gamble??? 20k is not mega miles and for the price you're paying its nigh on throw away!!! I think it's a decent looking car, inside and out, just do a bit of research on reliability and customer service. Look at Kia, Skoda and the rest, they all started with no reputation (or in Skodas case, a terrible rep haha!) They are now being taken seriously and, like MG, started out by offering cheaper cars with long, long warranties.
The reliability of these cars are 10/10, the engines are extremely reliable and is the gearbox, most of the car if made out of proven reliable parts. As a cheap work hack you cannot go wrong
Ryan Mccormick
Go for it, & a nice warranty to boot
@@casualagent7250 I'm really tempted but I'm just not sure how quickly the dealer's will get parts if needed and how long will the MG dealer's be around most of them are very small businesses so courtesy cars etc could be a problem.
@@jasonjuggler3457 cheers for that Jason! Do you work on the mg's?
Used to own an MG3 for nearly 2 years and never really felt that comfortable driving it and because of the lack of low end torque my previous car, a 2005 55bhp polo, felt faster around town.
Its in its element however when you can give the engine some revs on a country road, all the while being surprised by how fun it is to fling into corners faster than a car this cheap should have any right to and still get out the other side with a grin on your face.
The MG is gone now and replaced by a Fiesta ST (Very original, I know) and if I'm honest I haven't missed it for a second.
i am on my 3rd MG3 it's what i can afford at the moment , its very economical it drives very well for a 1.5, , when you get used to it it is sporty , if they make a 1.8 version then it will steal a bit part of the market , , its needs a comfort make over with independent suspension and bob's your uncle , job done
for such a cheap car the design looks pretty damn acceptable
I bought one 9 months ago. Done 12k miles in that time. For what I paid, I can't complain too much. It's a 2017 "lux" model with leather seats etc. Heating controls are awful, especially when driving. Hazard switch is in a daft place, and can never find it when there's a pile up on a Motorway...
Engine has zero torque or power with an big flat spot between 2k and 3k revs, but an ITG air filter & magnagor HT leads seems to have smoothed that out.
I only bought it to commute 120 miles a day on motorways, it's cheap has cruise control, auto wipers/lights. And that's the reason I bought it. Get around 43mpg which isn't fantastic but not too bad.
Not a bad car overall really
Had one from new, 3 years, worst car I've ever owned. Problems:radiator split, timing chain rattled, clutch juddered, air bag light kept coming on, rear brakes stuck, undertray fell off... I could go on, just don't buy one
Is that the same Chinese company that is behind the Roewe brand?!
Toby Jackson
Then, they may revamp the Longbridge factory!
I assume the Rover brand is still owned by ZE Germanz, so is probably Triumph!
SAIC got MG Rover, so they have the brand I guess
@@sambo7499 BMW hasn't owned the rover brand name since 2000. Ford bought it to protect the land rover brand, and sold it to tata along with Jaguar/Land Rover in 2008.
Wow, it must be nice to be snobby about lower end cars that matter to people with little money. If you can't review it for what it is then just leave it alone!!
I think I gave it an honest review and I also don't disregard cheaper cars - I have done an awful lot of features on very affordable cars (much cheaper than this)
The MG3 has a competent chassis and is a lot of car for not a lot. Finish isn't great but then it doesn't cost much. With a modern 1.0 turbo I think it would be an excellent little car. And I quite like the styling. Despite the jokes MG are now making good cars and they are terrific value. The ZS EV is a very good, affordable EV and the HS is really very well appointed and genuinely very good.
You never mentioned the NCAP rating. Every star is representative of increased survive ability of approximately 12%. A possible factor for any new car driver if being purchased by doting parents. I experimented with Chinese hire cars in Dubai. Eventually gave up as did the hire firm who recalled them and i migrated to a Mitsu "bus" ASX. Ugly as sin but entirely reliable. (On a side not i really miss my MGB GT)
9 grand is a lot of money for some people
indeed, a bit of class snobbery going on here.
I would like to see the comparison to a Kia Picanto!
Wrong MG, do the Z series cars, a slightly breathed on zr 160 would be cool and a less modded zs than the one you had and a zt 190, the 260 is cool but out of the price range for most...
Would love to see a full Z car section on the channel
Keep up the great content!
Thanks James, it was a pleasure to have you come down and film my wife's car! The weather was a bit wet, wasn't it? If anyone is interested, then this was one of the first cars I ever reviewed on my channel (we have done many more since) and the video can be found here: ua-cam.com/video/1oHNIboTqXo/v-deo.html
So, they out-Dacia'd Dacia?
Love my MG3. The only disadvantage with them is sometimes getting replacement parts.
Should really try the HS, just bought one and seems like a good car for the money and quite luxurious compared to rivals, and at least its still designed in the UK
They're amazing value in my opinion. If you want a more quality car you'd either have to downsize to a supermini or spend £000s on a brand like VW. The MG3 is roomy, looks great and handles well. The only real alternative would be a Dacia Sandero, and you can't call yourself a man if you drive a Sandero.
Slightly addicted to these car review channels keep it up .the mg wasn't bad either
Wasn't the MG6 the first new car from the Chinese owned firm
MG Metro had better advertising 40 years ago than today MG
Are these available in continental Europe? I'd go for one immediately, especially if it were still made in the UK (which I doubt). 7 years warranty? Take my money!
In my opinion the only good thing about it is it's cheap price tag! For me the MG brand is supposed to a 'sports' brand, as you said they generally took bland Rover models and spiced them up a bit for a younger matket, I had an MG ZT 1.8 T, basically a Rover 75 with a sportier turbo engine, sports suspension, modern interior and it was a lot of fun to drive! That doesn't look like as much fun at all😲😊😔😁👍😎
I think, they should keep the steering ,get a 1.6 turbo.
Also I'm thinking about getting one for a first car
I wouldn’t say it’s bad at all. For the price you really can’t complain.
But when that heap of cheap non MG bites the dust in the not too distant future if not alreafy, that Micra in front will still be going strong like most Japanese cars.
I’m considering one of these at the moment. Probably a pre facelift. I’ve got an MX5 and a cortina and need something reliable and a bit bigger than the mx5 for when the cortina doesn’t start 😂 cheap would suit me as it’ll be sitting for a week or so as I’d rather drive the cortina but it’s there just in case
I’ve always liked that oil filler cap design, glad they didn’t change it.
Did JayEmm just make a Black Dynamite reference??? My dude!! ✊🏿
I can dig it
@hubnut would be proud to see his sticker in that mg
I know. He once did a Woollard-era Top Gear-style video on a stripey bright yellow one of these. He really liked it.
@@owensteele1274 Did he? :O
Is the MG brand still available in the rest of Europe, more specifically the Balkans region, I have a ford puma as a first car, and it's great and all but really need something newer and cheaper to maintain
I was behind one today on the motorway. Quite a sporty looking thing in white with black wheels and trim.
RIP MG. 1924-2005. I won't dishonour your name by associating it with Chinese tat.
ive never paid more than £1200 for a car and for that ive owned a Porsche 944s a Volvo V70 2.5d and an Astra Gti all nice cars
I think it's a real shame that all the cars from the 70's Rover, Hillman, MG, Sunbeam, Morris, Austin, Triumph, Wosley etc never continued with proper funding & designs to produce decent modern cars. Imagine a 2022 TR7 or an Avenger. Put aside the facts of bad management, unions, funding, rust etc, we could design some really good cars.
omg not that drivvle about no more bad cars anymore, like a lecture to be grateful and not be critical.......tnx for that mate
The new one looks nice Suzuki swift competitor
I agree with you about our roads they should be the best in the world considering all the road tax we all pay
Arran Grant it’s a pollution tax.
Yeah road tax has not existed for a long time
The brand new 3 isn't too bad. They're never going to win awards but like Jay said the interior is a huge step forward on the facelift.
The latest ZS (no, not the saloon...) isn't a bad steer eighter. The driving position is pretty decent for a crossover too.
It's a pretty standard run around would be good as you said they "sportified" it. Still won't be getting rid of my MGZR for one.
LOVE THE VETTE JACKET I WAS WONDERING WHERE I COULD GET ONE!!!
I got mine from the Corvette Museum gift shop in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They must have an online shop
Love the outro. Reminds me of the Brookside theme tune !
I thought this was an mg3 shooting video of a bunch of guys shooting the car in the thumbnail....
10,000 pounds sounds like a low figure, but that's currently well over 18,000 AUD, which is not exactly cheap for this car. A new automatic MG3 currently costs 18,000 drive away. For comparison, the previous gen Kia Cerato auto cost 20k driveaway.
Why don't reviewers ever talk about safety? That is far more important than whether it has a turbo or not. This car is quite poor.
I met someone a few weeks ago who has one ,he got a free teddy bear when it went for a service , what’s not to like? Mind you I don’t know where the dealers are , I have never seen one.
When you order a top gear dvd from wish
I'll take that
Just catching up on your back catalogue. You've hut the nail on the head with regards to MG's USP
So many negative comments here nothing wrong with the MG 3 and some of you could not do an unbiased test on a washing machine
A friend has one. A new one mind and a friend is looking at her first car. May look at it. She’s looking at an aygo or a swift 1.2 at the moment.
MY MODEL: 2015 MG3 1.5 VTI WHITE/ KILOMETRES ON THE DASH - UNDER 140000 KM'S / 5-SPOKE MG3 RIMS 16"
I love you for the Black Dynamite reference njdjwjdkdjfjdkf
Drive very nice compared to other cars in there class. cheap car!
I do understand that some people wanna buy new car cheapest as possible but I do not think it's clever.
MG3 is advertised for 9,5k but its price is dropping like a stone. So maybe it's wiser to buy better, probably more reliable, more fuel efficient car that's holding its value better. So all together you gonna get much better experience and same or better cost of ownership at the end if you buy some mainstream car around 12k.
If I would really want cheapest new car I would just buy Dacia Sandero for 7k (and reviews are rating it slightly better than MG3).
Sorry JayEmm, £9000 is actually quite a lot of money.
When you can get genuinely fun and reliable transport for £2000 the MG3 has be awfully good to be worth £9k.
If you are on a budget, then surely any Honda / Kia / Hyundai product is a better option.
If you need a newer car and have £9k to spend then surely a finance deal on a new small car with free insurance makes more sense?
great cars but don’t come in manual in australia and i think that’s just a deal breaker
When I went back to the UK last year I hired one of these... it was utter bobbins. It had the unfortunate benefit of making most domestic Australian cars appear quite good!
There is no Australian cars.
Very strange that MG Bothered with this econobox segment. SMall cars in the US at least never made any money for the US and many foreign makers. WHy in the world would MG, with a reputation for fun little sports cars, bother to offer something in this segment? I bet MG never made ONE PENNY from this model.
AN MG ? Morgan Garages , makers of BRITISH SPORTS CARS , blimey
Maybe it's to provide cars for people who can't afford to buy the expensive stuff⁉️ However, much more to the point; why have you got a pair of sunglasses poncely perched on the top of your noggin when it's pissing down with rain⁉️🤔🤔🤔
The heater dials are decent if you ask me.
Yeh we actually got given one a year old one "yeh given" kept it for a year the heater packed up and the fuel guage stop working quickly chopped it in for a vitara.
The heater control is really funky and very easy to understand; if you don't get it clearly you are thick.
The MGB was the last MG. The later MGs both British and Chinese are…
😂😂😂
Think the title is really misleading there, esp given the conclusion you drew. Never seen any of these, didn t even know it existed and honestly, this seems to be an okay rival for a Dacia Sandero so this is what it should be compared to I assume