2025 MG 3 Essence review

This is one car that should be firmly on your shopping list if you’re in the market for an affordable hatchback.

MG has put criticisms of the previous-gen MG 3 to bed with a new hybrid flagship that's more grown up, inside and out.

MG's cheapest model may no longer hold the budget crown in Australia, but there's a lot to like about this new compact hatch.

The hybrid impressed us, but is the petrol version of the new-generation MG 3 also worth its now higher price?

The new MG 3 is safer and smarter than the last, but the price has been pushed to a new level – is it good enough to justify the cost?

The MG 3 is the best-selling light car in Australia with a nearly 50 per cent market share – so why is it so controversial to recommend one?

If the MG 3 had a five-star safety rating we would have no hesitation to recommend this city car as a great cost-conscious offering, but...