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In-depth reviews

MG3 - Design, interior & technology

The MG3 looks a little plain, while the interior isn’t made of particularly plush materials

Interior, design and technology rating

4.0

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Cabin fit and finish hasn’t always been the first reason you’d buy an MG over its rivals, and here, the MG3 is decent but not class leading. While there are some squidgy materials in the places you frequently touch, like the armrests, and the steering wheel, there is plenty of hard plastic elsewhere. This isn’t that unusual in this class, but a Renault Clio or a Peugeot 208 feel much posher inside. There are some very cheap areas, such as the flimsy sliding tray beneath the front centre armrest.

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We appreciate that style is subjective, but the MG’s exterior looks a little plain and already seems dated compared to its sharp-suited rivals like the Clio and 208. Part of that, is down to its small 16-inch wheels, although the trade-off they bring in ride comfort seems worthwhile.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The infotainment system is shown on a bright 10.25-inch screen. It’s fairly responsive to touches, and loading times are fine, but most people will end up bypassing the system and using navigation or music streaming apps from their phone via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. Much like its MG4 sibling, you can set up a shortcut from the steering wheel that allows you to adjust the climate controls using the toggle on the right side of the wheel.

The audio system gets the job done, but the sound quality is a little weak compared to the class best, and there’s no option to upgrade to a fancier system.

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