MG 3 South Africa
It has been a long wait for those who may have taken a partial look at the MG 3 when it was first displayed at the Johannesburg Motor Show in 2013. Now the first few models of limited quantity have arrived to bolster the existing MG 6 sedan as the company begins its modest penetration into the most contested of new markets. However the MG 3 will be attracting a young market, assumedly, not one with any loyalty to the humble Morris Garages’ background so the new car will have to be every bit as good as rivals from Germany and Korea.
Bigger than some of the key sellers in the segment the MG 3 is an attractive shape, more so if you opt for the contrasting alloys in the highest of the three derivatives. This outward substance is conveyed through to the interior with excellent levels of rear legroom, even with the tallest of drivers, and a big boot, although not the best shaped. The usual caveat of Chinese quality (MG is designed in the UK but assembled by SAIC in China) seems a distant concern once you hop inside with flush fittings, conservative colour trims and the usual amenities while the flagship Style model packs USB, Bluetooth, Daytime running lights and steering controls.
On the road the MG 3 is less impressive. Ride is unnecessarily firm, jostling passengers while the steering is quick but never communicates on any real level. Don’t expect turbo charging, start/stop or ECO modes either from the 1.5-litre normally aspirated engine. Large in size but with fairly insipid figures the MG 3 needs a heavy dose of revs before coming alive which only enforces why there’s only a manual gearbox.
Sadly the MG 3 very much feels like a car that has had its path to market severely delayed and when compared to rivals with regular updates, it seems slightly behind the latest innovations. The MG 3, is sold with a 3yr/100 000km warranty and a 2yr/60 000km service plan.
Read our preview to this car: http://www.sacarfan.co.za/2013/08/new-mg3-hatchback-due-in-south-africa/
