

William Stopford
4 Days Ago
MG has dropped the entry price of its MG 3 hatch with the addition of a new base variant, but it still isn't Australia's cheapest car.
Marketplace Journalist
Marketplace Journalist
The MG 3 remains Australia’s favourite light car after being renewed in mid-2024, and it now enters 2025 unchanged, bar the addition of an even cheaper entry variant in the form of the Vibe.
Despite the introductory price of $21,990 drive-away, the MG 3 Vibe hasn’t been able to reclaim the title of Australia’s cheapest new car from the smaller Kia Picanto, which starts at $21,340 drive-away.
Excluding current discounts, the MG 3 Vibe is $2000 cheaper than the previous entry-level Excite at $23,990 before on-roads.
The two-grade Hybrid+ range typically kicks off at $27,990 before on-roads, but is currently available for as little as $27,888 drive-away. Only the top-spec Hybrid+ Essence exceeds the $30,000 mark.
The MG 3 retains a comprehensive suite of standard safety gear, which includes lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert – though the latter two have been removed from the Vibe.
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The MG 3 is by far the best-selling vehicle in its segment, holding a 48.4 per cent share in 2024 despite the price increase from the old generation to the new.
With 3081 sales to the end of March 2025, the MG 3 is up 6.6 per cent on the 2889 figure during the same period last year, and the addition of a cheaper version should contribute to a further increase in sales.
Its closest rivals are now just the Picanto and Suzuki Swift Hybrid, as the cheapest range-opening variants of the Mazda 2 sedan and hatch were axed earlier this year, increasing the model’s starting price by more than $4000.
The MG 3 Vibe is now considerably cheaper than the base Swift Hybrid manual ($24,490 before on-roads) and, as mentioned, slightly more expensive than the Picanto Sport manual.
At the top of the range, the MG 3 Hybrid+ Excite remains the cheapest electrified vehicle in Australia at $27,990 before on-roads, undercutting the Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport Hybrid at $28,500 before on-roads.
Prices are unchanged from 2024, except that the addition of the range-opening Vibe variant brings the new MG 3 range below $22,000 for the first time. Drive-away offers are currently in place across the range, so we’ve listed prices before on-roads below for clarity.
Model | Drive-away price (until May 31, 2025) | Price before on-road costs |
---|---|---|
2025 MG 3 Vibe | $21,990 | – |
2025 MG 3 Excite | $22,888 | $23,990 |
2025 MG 3 Essence | $24,990 | $25,990 |
2025 MG 3 Hybrid+ Excite | $27,888 | $27,990 |
2025 MG 3 Hybrid+ Essence | $30,990 | $29,990 |
Specifications | MG 3 petrol | MG 3 Hybrid+ |
---|---|---|
Engine | 1.5L naturally aspirated 4cyl petrol | 1.5L petrol-electric 4cyl |
Battery capacity | – | 1.83kWh |
Engine power | 81kW @ 6000rpm | 75kW @ 6000rpm |
Engine torque | 142Nm @ 4500rpm | 128Nm @ 4500rpm |
Combined peak system power | – | 155kW @ 6000rpm |
Combined peak system torque | – | 425Nm |
Transmission | CVT | Hybrid Transmission |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
Tare mass | 1186kg (Vibe) 1185kg (Excite, Essence) | 1280kg (Excite) 1300kg (Essence) |
Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.0L/100km | 4.3L/100km |
CO2 emissions (claimed) | 139g/km | 100g/km |
Fuel tank capacity | 45L | 36L |
Fuel requirement | 91 octane regular unleaded | 95 octane premium unleaded |
Emissions standard | Euro 5 | Euro 5 |
Braked towing capacity | 500kg | 500kg |
Dimensions | MG 3 |
---|---|
Length | 4113mm |
Width | 1797mm |
Height | 1502mm |
Wheelbase | 2570mm |
Cargo capacity | 293L (rear seats up) 983L (rear seats folded) |
MG Motor Australia offers a market-leading 10-year, 250,000km warranty for its model range, and MG 3 service intervals are 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.
Servicing and Warranty | MG 3 |
---|---|
Warranty | 10 years, 250,000km |
Battery warranty | 10 years, 250,000km |
Roadside assistance | 7 years |
Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
Capped-price servicing | 7 years or 70,000km |
Average annual capped-price service cost | $436,43 (petrol) $466.43 (Hybrid+) |
Total capped-price service cost | $3055 (petrol) $3265 (Hybrid+) |
MG’s service pricing guide differs between petrol and Hybrid+ MG 3 models, with individual prices detailed below:
Service | MG 3 petrol | MG 3 Hybrid+ |
---|---|---|
1yr or 10,000km | $287 | $287 |
2yrs or 20,000km | $399 | $428 |
3yrs or 30,000km | $422 | $414 |
4yrs or 40,000km | $649 | $749 |
5yrs or 50,000km | $477 | $545 |
6yrs or 60,000km | $527 | $548 |
7yrs or 70,000km | $294 | $294 |
The MG 3 wears a three-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2024.
Category | MG 3 |
---|---|
Adult occupant protection | 72 per cent |
Child occupant protection | 74 per cent |
Vulnerable road user protection | 76 per cent |
Safety assist | 58 per cent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
MG 3 Excite adds:
The MG 3 Essence and Hybrid+ Essence are the only two grades to receive a surround-view camera.
There are now three distinct MG 3 trim levels, but only the top two are available with the Hybrid+ powertrain.
2025 MG 3 Vibe equipment highlights:
MG 3 Excite adds:
MG 3 Hybrid+ Excite adds:
MG 3 Essence adds (over Excite):
Only the range-topping MG 3 Hybrid+ Essence is available with a white interior, a $500 option over the standard black interior.
Seven exterior paint colours are available for the MG 3, and four command a $500 premium.
No-cost colours:
Premium colours ($500 each):
MORE: Everything MG 3
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Max Davies is an automotive journalist based in Melbourne, Australia. Max studied journalism at La Trobe University and stepped into the automotive world after graduating in late 2023. He grew up in regional Victoria, and with a passion for everything motorsport is a fan of Fernando Alonso.
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