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New MG3 Hybrid+ goes on sale as the UK's cheapest full hybrid car

Despite featuring a full-hybrid powertrain and long kit list, the all-new MG3 manages to undercut Vauxhall Corsa

The all-new MG3 Hybrid+ was unveiled less than a month ago at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show, but has already gone on sale priced from £18,495. That’ll be a punch in the gut to its key rivals in the supermini class; the full-hybrid MG3 is close to £1,000 less than a base-spec petrol-powered Vauxhall Corsa.

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The price gulf grows even further when the MG3 is compared to hybrid superminis, such as the Renault Clio E-Tech and recently facelifted Toyota Yaris, entry-level versions of which start from £21,295 and £22,630 respectively. Even a top-of-the-range MG3 in Trophy trim costs only £20,495.

Hybrid+ powertrain, performance and fuel efficiency

The new MG3 features the company’s first full-hybrid powertrain, with the Hybrid+ setup similar to those found in the Clio E-Tech and Yaris Hybrid. 

The MG3 uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor to drive its front wheels, producing a combined 192bhp. As much as 134bhp of that comes from the e-motor alone, along with 250Nm of torque.

The 1.83kWh battery in the MG3 is also larger than most hybrid superminis, which MG says allows for more pure-electric driving, especially around town. The MG3 can sprint from 0 to 62mph in exactly eight seconds – compared to 9.3 seconds in the hybrid Clio. MG says its hatchback can return up to 64.2mpg, while emitting 100g/km of CO2

You don’t have to plug the car in anywhere to charge the battery though, as that’s taken care of by the engine working together with a separate generator motor. The Hybrid+ system automatically selects one of its five possible powertrain modes depending on the situation, but drivers can toggle between Eco, Standard and Sport settings.

MG says its Longbridge-based engineering team has tuned the chassis and suspension on the MG3 Hybrid+ for UK roads, and like every new MG, it comes with a seven-year/80,000-mile warranty as standard.

Prices, trim levels and equipment

The MG3 Hybrid+ is available in two trim levels – SE and Trophy. SE trim includes a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus sat-nav, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and the MG Pilot suite of driver-assistance systems. This bundles together adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, driver attention alert and active emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection.

For an extra £2,000, the MG3 Hybrid+ in Trophy trim swaps the base model’s halogen headlights for LED units, and builds on the standard kit list by adding a 360-degree parking camera, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, leather-effect upholstery, keyless entry, rain sensing wipers, blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert.

Now read more about the best hybrid cars to buy...

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News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

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