2018 MG 3

Introducing the MG3: a game-changing hatchback for South African drivers

MG Motors dipped its toes into the South African waters again in January this year with the petrol-driven ZS and HS SUVs, complemented by the fully electric, low-slung Cyberster.

MG will officially start reporting monthly sales figures from September, but for now, they say they have sold just under 2,000 units in the past six months and grown their dealer network to 44, with another six scheduled to open before the end of the year.

To widen the net, the company has now added the all-new MG3, marking the local debut of its third-generation best-selling compact hatchback.

Yes, you read it correctly; the MG3 is a fully-fledged hatchback and not another SUV from the Chinese owned brand.

The MG3 is offered in two variants: a petrol engine with either a five speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a Hybrid+, the first conventional, non-plug-in hybrid system fitted to an MG model.

There are two grade options: Comfort and Luxury, with the Hybrid+ offered only in Luxury guise.

Exterior

MG says it’s a torpedo-inspired silhouette anchored by a striking "sharkline" front profile with Projector LED headlamps (on the Luxury model) and LED DRLs.

They’ve incorporated some of the Cyberster design language, including its “bubble butt” rear profile.

It stands on 16-inch alloys, and in St. Moritz Blue, it’s a fine-looking car while the Hamstead Grey we also had on the launch drive tends to camouflage the lines.

Flare Red, Morning Yellow, York White, Blade Silver and Pearl Black wrap up the rest of the colour palette.

Pricing:

MG3 1.5 MT Comfort: R269 900
MG3 1.5 CVT Comfort: R309 900
MG3 1.5 CVT Luxury: R344 900
MG3 1.5 HEV: R469 900

 
I popped into the MG dealership in Boksburg this morning & test-drove a brand-new MG3 'Comfort' CVT - it only had 8 kms on the odometer & I was the first person to test-drive it... ;)

I was VERY impressed by the build quality, the quietness of the drivetrain & the smoothness of the CVT in urban traffic - as well as all of the creature comforts as well - thankfully only the 'Luxury' CVT & 'Hybrid+' PHEV models have the obtrusive 'driver assistance' aids - there was no constant binging & bonging or steering wheel tugging, due to ADAS being absent on the Comfort spec model I tested.

Seriously considering it as a possible upgrade on my 2008 'CityRover'... ;)
 
MG3 (2025) Launch Review

How much does the new MG3 cost in South Africa?

DERIVATIVE PRICE
MG3 1.5 Comfort 5MT R269 900
MG3 1.5 Comfort CVT R309 900
MG3 1.5 Luxury CVT R344 900
MG3 1.5 Luxury CVT (sunroof) R359 900
MG3 1.5 Hybrid+ Luxury 3DHT R469 900

Prices (August 2025) include a 7-year/200 000 km warranty and a 3-year/45 000 km service plan.

Summary

But, in a world where more is more, I do wonder how many consumers might consider a hatchback to be less of a car than the larger (small crossover) models, which can be had for similar money. Because while the MG3 will indeed have to fight for its place in the B-segment alongside the aforementioned perennial stalwarts and newer models such as the Toyota Starlet and Suzuki Baleno, there’s also the fact that it will be compared against offerings from its Chinese peers. And those are all bigger cars.

 
2025 MG3

Verdict

The caprices of its transmission aside, there’s plenty to like about the new MG3 – from its comprehensive standard specification to its well-balanced road manners and stylish execution. The hybrid is a niche choice, especially given the competitive pricing of the ICE models, and we’d be keen to sample the entry-level Comfort-spec model to see if its five-speed manual ‘box gels better with what’s a decent little engine. But overall, it’s a promising starting point to MG ownership.

MG3 1.5 Luxury HEV specifications

Price: R469 900
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, petrol + electric motor
Transmission: three-speed automatic
Driven wheels: front
Power: 155 kW
Torque: 425 N.m
0-100 km/h: 8.0 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 170 km/h (claimed)
Fuel consumption: 4.3 L/100 km (claimed)

www.carmag.co.za

Review: 2025 MG3 - CAR Magazine

The arrival of the new MG3 marks a promising return to the B-segment hatchback fold. First impressions on the hybrid model here...
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
How Did This Chinese-Built Car Do So Poorly In A Crash Test And Still Get 4-Out-5 Stars? - The Autopian

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has been around for nearly 30 years.

Since its first evaluation in 1997, it’s tested hundreds of cars through crash tests and pedestrian safety evaluations.

But the organization says it’s never come across a problem like this.

Euro NCAP recently did a full sweep of tests on the MG 3, a Chinese-built small hatchback.

The routine involved five full-scale crash tests: a 50-percent front-overlap crash, a full-width frontal impact, a side impact crash, a pole test, and a whiplash test.

During that first test, Euro NCAP says the MG suffered a seat latch-related failure that caused the crash test dummy to experience more forces on its right side than expected.
Click to expand...

www.theautopian.com

How Did This Chinese-Built Car Do So Poorly In A Crash Test And Still Get 4-Out-5 Stars? - The Autopian

Euro NCAP discovered that the MG 3's seat latch could detach in the event of a crash, leading to some serious safety concerns.
www.theautopian.com www.theautopian.com
 
MG3 Scores 4-Star Euro NCAP Rating Despite Rare Safety Failure

According to Euro NCAP, the MG3 ‘suffered a critical safety failure’, resulting in a four-star safety rating.

Following its local launch last month, the MG3 has received a four-star Euro NCAP safety rating, citing a rare and serious seat failure during the crash test. The driver’s side seat latching mechanism failed during the frontal offset crash test, a first in any Euro NCAP test. This failure of the seat adjuster, which is intended to hold the seat in place, resulted in the driver’s seat rotating sideways during the impact.

MG responded to Euro NCAP’s findings by claiming that the failure was due to improper latching of the seat. However, the organisation reassured the Chinese-owned automaker that the seat latching had been checked before the crash test, as per standard procedure.

In addition to the aforementioned failure, head protection was rated as ‘adequate’, as the crash test showed the driver dummy’s head ‘bottom out’ the airbag, making contact with the steering wheel.

Despite these failures raising concerns about driver protection in the case of an accident, the 3 still managed to score a respectable four-star overall rating thanks to its performance in the other categories. Notably, the increase in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) resulted in an improved score in the Safety Assist category compared to the three-star ANCAP rating last year.

www.carmag.co.za

MG3 Scores 4-Star Euro NCAP Rating Despite Rare Safety Failure

According to Euro NCAP, the MG3 suffered a critical safety failure, resulting in a four-star safety rating...
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za

 
How well did the MG3 hatchback sell in its 1st full month?

The MG3 has just completed its first full month on the market in South Africa. Here’s how many units of this new hatchback were sold in September 2025…

- MG3 completes first full month on local market
- 131 units of the hatchback sold in September
- 5 derivatives, priced from R269 900 to R469 900

The new MG3 launched in South Africa towards the end of August 2025. So, how many examples of this hatchback were sold in September 2025, its first full month on the local market?

Well, we can confirm that the Chinese-backed British brand registered 131 units of the MG3 in Mzansi in September, all sold via the dealer channel. The MG3 thus accounted for 23.5% of the automaker’s 557 local sales last month.

For the record, the ZS was MG Motor South Africa’s most popular model in September with 252 units, meaning the MG3 placed 2nd. The HS (91 units), ZS Pro (77 units) and Cyberster (6 units) completed the picture.

As a reminder, the new MG3 range in South Africa comprises 5 derivatives, including a flagship hybrid variant. The hatchback measures 4 113 mm from nose to tail, making it longer than the likes of the Suzuki Swift (3 860 mm), Toyota Starlet (3 990 mm) and Hyundai i20 (3 995 mm). Pricing currently runs from R269 900 to R469 900.

 
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