MG, the car brand that used to be British until its acquisition by SAIC Group China, came to this year’s Geneva Motor Show with the next-generation MG3 hatchback. The mild hybrid will go on sale in Europe in June priced from €20,000 or so.
Coming in at 4,113 mm long, 1,797 mm wide and 1,502 mm tall with 2,570 mm between the axles, the new car is slightly larger but less tall than its predecessor. MG claims it has more legroom in the cabin and a larger 293-liter trunk.
Overall, the interior seems borrowed from the slightly larger MG4 model with more physical buttons and smaller displays. The digital dash is 7 inches across, and the multimedia screen is 10.25 inches corner-to-corner. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported out of the box, and there are multiple USB ports on board. The higher trim levels get MG Pilot driving assists, including adaptive cruise control.
For the powertrain, the latest MG MG3 relies on a 1.5-liter engine rated at 102 PS (101 hp / 75 kW) and a single electric motor adding 136 PS (134 hp / 100 kW). Their respective torques peak at 128 and 250 Nm (94 and 184 lb-ft). In hybrid mode, the car sends 194 PS (191 hp / 143 kW) to the wheels and reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in eight seconds. You can switch to driving on gas or electricity alone, but the tiny 1.83-kWh battery pack is not rechargeable. When the all-electric mode is chosen, the main engine switches from driving the wheels to generating power for the motor. In hybrid mode, the fuel economy averages 4.4 liters per 100 km, or 53.5 MPG.
Once the MG3 reaches showrooms in Europe, it will mainly compete against the part-electric Honda Jazz, Renault Clio, and Toyota Yaris.
