MG3 3Style

IF ever there was a good indicator of interest in a new car, people aiming cameras in its direction is usually a good start.

MG3 3Style

Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, petrol engine

Power: 102bhp and 101lb.ft. of torque

Performance: 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds and 108mph

Economy: 48.7mpg (combined)

CO2 emissions: 136g/km

Price: £9,999

So when I saw a chap in my gym’s car park drew his Nikon with the gusto of a gunslinger with too much chewing tobacco in his system, the MG3 rose in my estimations.

It might have been the yellow paint and crazy (optional) emoticon roof graphics that attracted his attention but I sense that there also remains a fondness for the one-time British Sports car manufacturer.

A British-badged, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation created five-door hatchback is not a traditional MG.

But a 102bhp, 1.5-litre petrol engine under the bonnet and a reassuringly purposeful stance in the range-topping 3Style specification ensure that it offers something sporty to a youthful market.

At £9,999 it is comfortably cheaper and more powerful than the Suzuki Swift, which I found myself comparing it with.

Interior material quality fits the budget billing, the plastics feeling a little brittle and unrefined.

LED running daylights, 16 inch alloys, cruise control, air conditioning, Bluetooth audio streaming and hands free and a DAB digital radio all make for a budget-defying spec, though.

Everything functioned faultlessly during my test and the covered dash top cubby was a nice storage bonus.

Rear passenger space in the five-door MG3 was also impressive, accommodating two adults with head and legroom to spare.

Discovering what a good drive the MG3 was the most pleasant surprise.

The 1.5-litre engine feels eager on part-throttle but gains revs a little reluctantly to produce meaningful performance.

MG claims a 10.9 second sprint to 62mph and 108mph top speed, with fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 48.7mpg and 136g/km, respectively.

It’s the combination of a snickety five-speed gearbox and nicely sorted suspension that makes it a pleasure to hustle, tucking into corners with enthusiasm and ensuring little momentum is lost as the engine fizzes to keep things moving.

A rorty little hatchback, the MG3 made all the more appealing for its bargain price.

So far sales of the MG3 have been modest — in the hundreds rather than thousands — but young motorists are missing out.

An eye-catching alternative to the usual contenders, to some it’s a picture perfect proposition, whether it tugs on your emoticons or not.

 

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