Skip advert
Advertisement

MG3 SW

Is reborn Streetwise better than the Rover original?

Overall Auto Express rating

2.0

How we review cars
Find your next car here
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

While the 75-based Roewe 550 has proved Chinese manufacturers are capable of translating ageing Rovers into capable modern cars, the MG3 falls well short of the mark. It’s barely changed from the original Streetwise, and trails the likes of Fiat’s Panda 4x4 by a long way. Corners have been cut in the search for volume sales, but buyers won’t be fooled.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The original Streetwise was a cheap attempt at making the Rover brand more appealing to young drivers. By adding chunky plastic wheelarches, top brass aimed to tempt buyers of more fashionable SUV alternatives, such as the Toyota RAV4

Can Chinese firm Nanjing use the same formula to capture sales five years after the original Streetwise hit the UK? We tried the new MG3 SW to find out.

On the outside, the car is virtually unchanged. The wing mirrors feature integrated LED indicators and the tail-lights are updated, plus MG badges have been fitted. But in every other way, it’s identical to the Rover.

Climb inside and it’s quickly apparent the MG3 has inherited the Streetwise’s poor finish. The controls for the lights and windscreen wipers feel cheap and nasty, as do most of the plastics. Worse still, one of our car’s air vents was already broken and the driver’s door rubber seal was coming apart.

Still, standard equipment is reasonable. The rear view mirror incorporates a digital compass and distance read-out for the rear parking sensors, while the six-speaker stereo has an MP3 input. There’s also Bluetooth with steering controls, although you get only two airbags, which raises questions about safety.

Our top-spec Luxury model’s 1.8-litre petrol engine was mated to a CVT box, and on the road it was a lively performer. But it’s very noisy at motorway speeds.

While the raised suspension offers good all-round visibility, it’s too soft, creating lots of roll in corners and a bouncy ride for passengers in the rear. The MG3 SW is on sale now in China, and could be offered in the UK from September. Yet there’s no disguising its age.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,028 off RRP*Used from £12,500
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,510 off RRP*Used from £11,695
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,391 off RRP*Used from £15,600
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,848 off RRP*Used from £7,250
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution
Connecting charger to Hyundai Tucson PHEV

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution

Half a million extra PHEVs could reach UK roads by 2030 in place of cleaner EVs due to changes surrounding the ZEV Mandate
News
19 May 2025
New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return
Ford Fiesta exclusive image

New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return

The Ford Fiesta could be coming back as an electric car, and here’s everything we know so far
News
20 May 2025
Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots
Opinion - Kia

Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots

Mike Rutherford thinks new cars are simply too expensive, but some manufacturers are starting to do something about it
Opinion
19 May 2025