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.
Pricing
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 |
Drivetrains and Efficiency
-
MG 3 petrol -
MG 3 Hybrid+
| 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
| Dimensions | MG 3 |
|---|---|
| Length | 4113mm |
| Width | 1797mm |
| Height | 1502mm |
| Wheelbase | 2570mm |
| Cargo capacity | 293L (rear seats up) 983L (rear seats folded) |
Servicing and Warranty
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 |
Safety
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:
- 6 airbags
- Dual front
- Dual front-side
- Dual side curtain
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Emergency lane-keep assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Intelligent cruise assist
- Traffic jam assist
- Steering, acceleration, braking assistance
- Intelligent speed assist
- Reversing camera
- Rear parking sensors
- Tyre pressure monitoring
MG 3 Excite adds:
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic assist
The MG 3 Essence and Hybrid+ Essence are the only two grades to receive a surround-view camera.
Standard Equipment
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:
- 15-inch steel wheels
- Tyre repair kit
- Halogen headlights
- LED daytime running lights
- Automatic headlights
- Rear fog light
- Electronic parking brake
- Auto-hold
- Traditional gear selector
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 7.0-inch instrument cluster screen
- 6-speaker sound system
- 6-way manual driver’s seat adjustment
- 4-way manual passenger seat adjustment
- Polyurethane steering wheel
- Cloth upholstery
- Single-zone climate control
MG 3 Excite adds:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Space-saver spare wheel
- Power-folding, heated side mirrors
- Push-button start
- Rear air vent
MG 3 Hybrid+ Excite adds:
- Tyre repair kit (in lieu of spare tyre)
- Dial-type gear selector
- 3 drive modes
- Pedestrian warning sound – external speaker
- Auto climate control
MG 3 Essence adds (over Excite):
- Projector LED headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Sunroof
- Leatherette and cloth trim
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Sunglass compartment
- Rear map pockets
- Satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- Connected mobile services (iSmart compatibility)
- Keyless entry
Options
Only the range-topping MG 3 Hybrid+ Essence is available with a white interior, a $500 option over the standard black interior.
Colours
Seven exterior paint colours are available for the MG 3, and four command a $500 premium.
No-cost colours:
- Dover White
- Pastel Yellow
- Brighton Blue Metallic
Premium colours ($500 each):
- Sloane Silver Metallic
- Hampstead Grey Metallic
- Black Pearl Metallic
- Diamond Red Metallic
MORE: Everything MG 3