2025 MG 3 Essence review

The MG 3 has taken a big step up in its current generation, leaving the last model in its wake with better technology, a completely new look inside and out, new powertrain options and more advanced safety systems.

So, is the budget-friendly top-spec MG 3 Essence the small car you should be considering?

How much does the MG 3 Essence cost?

MG offers four versions of the new MG 3 in Australia, including two very affordable petrol-powered entry-level versions that are specified almost identically to their hybrid (MG 3 Hybrid+) counterparts.

Here’s a rundown of the lineup, with drive-away pricing denoted where applicable, and the model tested in this review in bold.

We have provided more detailed information on the list of standard equipment for each model below.

There are a few other alternatives in the light car segment of the market, but the real question for some customers might be if it’s worth buying the Hybrid+ model over the non-hybrid petrol version. We’ve got a comparison coming soon covering exactly that!

In the meantime, check out our comparison tool to see how it compares to its rivals.

What is the MG 3 Essence like on the inside?

It still looks incredibly smart inside with its twin digital screens (a 10.25-inch unit for multimedia, and a 7.0-inch screen for the driver’s instrument cluster), which leaves some rivals, and its predecessor, in the rear-view mirror when it comes to cabin design.

The infotainment screen has an array of buttons below the display, including volume up/down controls, a home key, air-con on/off, front and rear demister buttons, and a fan-speed button. But you won’t find separate temperature and fan toggles; you still need to make those adjustments through the screen.

For drivers who don’t like the bings-and-bongs of modern safety technology, you’ll need to make some adjustments each time you start the car through the menus for the MG Pilot advanced safety suite. While there is a drop-down menu to disable the lane-keeping assistance, I wish there was a quick control for the speed-sign recognition/warning system as well, as it got on my nerves.

You get sat-nav as standard, but for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto you still need to connect via cable. Sadly, there’s no wireless connection for smartphone mirroring, nor is there a wireless phone charging pad.

The minimalist buttons and toggles on the steering wheel are intuitive once you’ve got the hang of them, but they are finished in shiny black plastic which attracts fingerprints.

The steering wheel icon is the cruise control button, with the toggle allowing you to increase speed and/or distance to the car ahead if you’re using adaptive cruise control. The little ‘pages’ icon on the right side lets you dive into the driver info screen using the arrow trigger, otherwise you will be skipping songs or turning up/down the volume.

On the practicality front, this small car is big on smarts.

There’s a pair of cupholders and a storage tray in front of the gear selector, as well as a sliding tray section that hides another spot for loose items between the front seats. Plus there’s a comfy centre armrest, too, and bottle holders in the doors as well. It’s just a shame that the finishes are hard plastics, rather than rubberised, meaning loose items will move around.

The seats offer good comfort, decent adjustability for people of different shapes and sizes, and there’s also tilt adjustment for the steering, too. However, there is no reach adjustment, which means some drivers might not be able to get perfectly comfy.

The material finish is a mix of fake leather and cloth, and while there is a dark headliner, Essence variants have an opening glass sunroof with a cover, which adds a degree of spacious ambience to the cabin.

If you are thinking that this little car won’t cope with adults in the back, think again.

At 182cm/6’0” tall, I could fit behind my own driving position with knee and toe room to spare, and headroom is good as well. Three small adults could fit across the back but it’ll be more comfortable if it’s just two in the back.

The door opening apertures might be the biggest issue for adults accessing the back seat, or when loading a baby into the child restraint.

If you do have smaller passengers, there are ISOFIX child seat anchor points in the outboard seats and top-tethers for all three rear seats, too. And unlike most other little cars on the market, there are directional rear air vents, not to mention a single USB-A port for charging devices.

Map pockets are standard, and there are bottle holders in the doors, but you don’t get a centre armrest or cupholders.

Boot space is better than some bigger cars in the class above, with a claimed cargo capacity of 293 litres with the seats up, expanding to 983L with the back seat folded down. There’s a light and shopping bag hook to keep things in check.

A bonus for those shopping for the petrol model is the inclusion of a space-saver spare wheel, whereas sadly the Hybrid+ models miss out on a spare wheel due to the positioning of the hybrid battery pack, so under the floor there is just a tyre repair kit. 

Also worth noting for those who need to take parcels and people with them, the rear-seat backrest is a single-piece folding design, which could be a problem if you have to do a Bunnings run with a child-seat-aged kiddo.

Use our comparison tool to see how the MG 3 Essence compares to its rivals.

What’s under the bonnet?

The powertrain on offer in the more affordable ‘ICE’ versions of the MG 3 is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder non-turbo engine teamed to a continuously variable transmission (aka CVT auto), and with front-wheel drive.

The CVT auto has a simulated stepped ratio system similar to some other vehicles, with eight ‘gears’ to play with. 

It is a featherweight little car, tipping the scales at just 1198kg, which is 110kg lighter than the Hybrid+ equivalent, and can tow up to a maximum of 500kg.

The official combined cycle fuel consumption number is impressive, at 6.0L/100km (emitting 139g/km of CO2). 

During my testing, I saw a real-world figure of 7.2L/100km across a mix of urban, highway, open road and daily driving.

The ICE versions of the MG 3 can run on 91RON regular unleaded petrol (hybrids require premium 95RON), and the fuel tank capacity is 45 litres (36L for the hybrid).

How does the MG 3 Essence drive?

The new MG 3 petrol variants are impressive in so many ways when it comes to the drive experience.

They are far more refined to drive than a Yaris hybrid hatch, which sounds and feels raspier courtesy of its three-cylinder engine. 

This powertrain in particular isn’t a jaw-dropper by any stretch. In fact, the hybrid version might be better for those who appreciate a bit of zip in their runabout, as the non-assisted petrol motor can feel lethargic in some situations. 

It is a reasonably torquey engine, despite its low on-paper outputs, but the CVT automatic robs it of instant punch and can be a little laggy and lurchy in low-speed and light-throttle situations.

On the other hand, when you are a bit heavier with your right foot, you will be rewarded with positive levels of response from the powertrain… though it does bring with it a noisy soundtrack.

I think for commuters who will spend most of their time cruising at pace – maybe you live in the western suburbs of Sydney and travel outside of peak times – then this would be a fantastic choice. I enjoyed each of my long-distance commutes, and when I didn’t encounter heavy stop-start traffic, I found the powertrain to be more than up to the task.

At lower speeds there are some considerations to be mindful of. It isn’t as smooth as some other engine and transmission combos, and indeed the hybrid’s eager electrified responsiveness makes this ICE vehicle feel slower in a lot of situations.

The braking response feels more natural and better regulated in the ICE model than in the hybrid, so when you do encounter those traffic jams, it should be easy to manage.

The most likeable thing about this car for me, though, is the maturity and confidence of the drive experience more generally.

It is a little car so it can still occasionally get upset by sharp bumps, but the general ride compliance is excellent, and so the comfort level is good, in both low- and high-speed situations. It handles corners and direction changes well, too, with good body control.

The steering is predictable and nicely weighted, which makes it bit feel more engaging through the corners. Although, I stand by my previous criticism that the steering wheel diameter is too big for this car. 

The biggest downside for some people might be the safety technology. There is incessant beeping and bonging from the assistance tech such as the ‘Intelligent Speed Assist’ that reads speed signs and warns you if you’re driving over the limit. That might be helpful if you’re on your last demerit points, but I hate these systems that chime all the time.

Use our comparison tool to see how the MG 3 Essence compares to its rivals.

What do you get?

The MG 3 range is still split into Excite and Essence grades, with a few minor differences between the petrol and Hybrid+ versions. Here’s a rundown of the standard equipment across the grades and powertrains:

2025 MG 3 Excite equipment highlights: 

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Space-saver spare wheel
• Halogen headlights
• LED daytime running lights
• Auto headlights
• Rear fog light
• Push-button start
• Six-way manual driver’s seat adjustment
• Four-way manual passenger’s seat adjustment
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors
• MG Pilot ADAS suite – details in safety section below

MG3 Hybrid+ differences to petrol:

• No spare wheel (tyre repair kit instead)
• Auto climate control
• Dial-type gear selector
• Drive modes
• Pedestrian warning sound (external speaker)

MG 3 Essence adds (over Excite):

• Projector LED headlights
• Keyless entry system
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Sunroof
• Fake leather and cloth trim
• Leather steering wheel
• Sunglass compartment
• Rear map pockets
• Front centre armrest
• Satellite navigation
• DAB digital radio
• Connected mobile services (iSmart compatibility)
• 360 degree surround-view camera system

MG3 Hybrid+ Essence differences to petrol:

• No spare wheel (tyre repair kit instead)
• Dial-type gear selector
• Drive modes
• Pedestrian warning sound (external speaker)

Use our comparison tool to see howthe MG3 Essence compares to its rivals.

Is the MG 3 Essence safe?

The MG 3 has been awarded a three-star ANCAP rating based on the 2024 testing protocols. 

It achieved 72 per cent for adult occupant protection, 74 per cent for child occupant protection, 76 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 58 per cent for safety assist. 

Despite those scores, it is comprehensively equipped with an array of active safety features.

Here’s a list of the standard safety tech and features across all grades:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Lane keeping assistance and lane departure warning
• Emergency lane keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Intelligent cruise assistance (traffic jam assist with steering, acceleration and braking)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Intelligent speed assist 
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Tyre pressure monitoring system

Essence variants add:

• Surround view camera system

Hybrid variants add:

• Pedestrian warning system outside the car

There are six airbags fitted: dual front, front side and full-length curtains. There is no front centre airbag, which is part of the reason it didn’t score higher in crash performance. 

Use our comparison tool to see how the MG 3 Essence compares to its rivals.

How much does the MG 3 Essence cost to run?

This could be the big decision maker for you. 

Since the launch of the MG 3, the brand has bumped up the warranty cover for its model range, with a generous 10-year, 250,000km warranty now offered.

But bear in mind, if you’re a commercial user or business buyer, the warranty cover is seven years or 160,000km, whichever comes first.

It isn’t conditional upon servicing with the brand, either. And that may be a positive, because servicing is another big consideration.

The servicing intervals are still every 12 months and 10,000km, which is needy for a city car.

The annual average servicing cost works out at $501 over the capped-price plan, which is 10 years/100,000km.

It’s worth noting that you will also get a 10-year roadside assistance program included if you service with MG’s network of workshops.

Use our comparison tool to see how the MG 3 Essence compares to its rivals.

CarExpert’s Take on the MG 3 Essence

The new version of the MG 3 is a great thing, and the petrol Essence stands up as a solid choice from a value perspective. 

There are some considerations, clearly, but if you want a stylish, modern and comfortable little hatch with a very, very long warranty, this is a compelling choice.