MG 3 1.5l Exclusive
Mildly revised hatchback rated
Examine the UK’ new car sales figures for July compared to last year and you’ll discover MG’S rate of growth has been spectacular. No less than 167% in fact, at a time when most marques are experiencing sales falls, not least value-proposition opposition Dacia.
That Bentley is the next highest in terms of growth on 103%, however, should give you some indication of the underlying reasons for such an apparent statistical surge. The truth is that it’s taken four long years for the Chinese-manufactured MG 3 to amass 10,000 sales in an out-and-out volume segment. Ford, for reference, sells the British public around 5000 examples of the Fiesta every month.
But if the MG 3 is some way off the pace in sales, this lightly revised version also remains some way off the price. The top-spec Exclusive model tested here costs £12,795, and if that’s not thrifty enough then consider that in entry-level Explore guise this car costs a mere £9495, almost a match for the less capacious VW Up.
In the middle of the 3’s range is Excite trim, which is necessary if you’re to enjoy 16in diamond-cut alloy wheels, instead of 14in steelies, and a sharp new 8in touchscreen (without navigation but with Apple Carplay and DAB radio). It’s sleekly integrated into the dashboard, and in terms of materials and fit the interior is more credible than you might expect. Along with exterior design tweaks, chief among them the adoption of a larger, chromerimmed grille, the MG3 cuts a lithe and attractive figure.
On the road it’s clear that MG’S tickling of the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre DOHC engine – which now produces 115bhp, though torque remains unchanged – has done nothing to address a conspicuous lack of performance. Not only is pick-up exasperatingly blunt but the delivery is faintly uneven, and in a straight line progress feels lethargic.
Elsewhere this is a surprisingly impressive package. The steering column lacks telescopic adjustment but there’s satisfactory weight and accuracy in the driving controls, the seats are well bolstered and the European-spec chassis – firmer than that tuned for the domestic Chinese market – tackles a British B-road with relish. Body control is tight and grip is good, although there is a pervasive fidget largely absent from most of the established players.
If MG could find a better engine while maintaining the 3’s aggressive pricing, this car would be a serious and likeable challenger.