Bought a MG core. Good value for money and no issues so far. Does the job and has good room in the car. Found no issues with acceleration and does not chew fuel. Nothing fancy but great value with a good 10 year warranty so can't complain. Seats are actually very comfortable. Other cars we were looking at were at least 30 grand so happy with this one. Show details
Drove one as a courtesy car. So not my car. Absolute disappointment, I drove it down Kings Park, Perth and quickly pulled over to answer a text from a friend. Upon wanting to get out, it got bogged and I struggled to get it out of the sand. Performance is extremely poor, the car struggled to get to speed. Also the interior is an absolute joke,… Read more
analog instrument cluster and blank switches. No hill holding brake, old-school hand brake. For a 2025 car i would have expected digital and easy stuff.
Car kept struggling. Never going to own one nor have it as a courtesy.
I actually quite like this car! We had one as a rental, and after my terrible experience with an MG ZS—which was an absolute bucket—I was pleasantly surprised. It felt nippy, handled well, and was genuinely enjoyable to drive. The interior was nicely designed. Sure, it’s made from cheap materials, but when the car was new it cost $18,990… Read more
drive-away—it’s not fair to expect premium finishes at that price. I liked the tartan accents, which broke up the dark, hard plastics and gave the cabin some character. The seats were excellent: supportive, well-bolstered, and comfortable over longer drives. Boot space was also impressive for a car of this size, easily swallowing groceries, bags, or even a weekend’s worth of gear.
On the road, it felt well-matched to its engine. It could use a touch more power, but it never felt anywhere near as sluggish as the ZS. Highway cruising was surprisingly good, although the gearbox wasn’t the smartest—on hills it wouldn’t always hold a lower gear without some coaxing. Visibility was another strong point, with slim A and C pillars and a tall, wide windscreen making it easy to see out in all directions.
Is it refined like my family’s 2013 Kia Sportage or my 2022 Kia Sorento? No—but for what it is, it’s impressive. As long as you manage your expectations and remember it’s a sub-$20k car, it delivers great value. I’d happily recommend it as a first car, a runaround, a daily commuter or a grocery-getter.
Reviews with attachments
I honestly hate my MG3, Despite being told it was a good car, Its not a good car, its a terrible car, Only got the car because my lender told me too. If anything, Avoid MG and get something else! Show details
- +1
BE AWARE - BE WARNED – My car is 18 months old. Recently I needed a new bumper bar due to hitting a very small animal at night. Smash repairer says they cannot fit a new bumper bar because it's the MG car itself. I've got two 'pinched' and 'puckered' places where the bumper bar does not fit. The bumper bar also has wider gap than other side (see two photos to compare)… Read more
luckily I took photos of original bumper bar with no 'pinched' effects, to prove that the car, originally, came with a perfectly fitted bumper bar. My APIA (also Suncorp and Ammi) will not do anything about it. Looking at my photo, I've uploaded, there is another just the same on the other side. I brought my car online, as my car and house completely flooded. Two hours away, I hitch hiked to dealer, to collect the car. Driving off in my new car, the steering pulled heavily to the left. Immediately, I phoned the dealer he assured me, it would be paid (took me six months to get money) if I took the car to get a tyre balance. I have the receipt, and have uploaded it herewith. But, in the meantime here's the car bumper photo, which is far from 'new' replacement. The insurance company APIA, will not do anything. MG car company should know that APIA refuses to replace a MG car bumper bar, due to the MG car, is faulty and to blame, after their smash repairer tells APIA "it's not their fault". Lastly had puncher, spare tyre was 14inch (car is 15inch rim) had large sticker 50/80 apparently means don't go over 50/80klms. Obviously cannot put car wheel trim back on. On my way to Coffs Harbour 350klms away, hd to wait for another tyre being sent overnight express. "Why cheap skate on a spare tyre?' I ask myself. Not same brand tyre on spare. Be ware. Be warned.
Not happy – While fuel mileage is good. Headlights are too low they shine only 20-25 metres in front of the car. So I find a lot of people turning out of side streets don’t see the headlights until they have cut you off. They don’t appear to be adjustable. Poor design fault for a small car. Seals aren’t that great in the wet weather I find doors sometimes… Read more
leak. I don’t like the clip together design holding the panels on. I have had to clip it back together a couple of times.
Love my mg3 – Brought brand new a few months ago. I'm very impressed with it I drive 40mins to Work each way and have done 5000kms already not one problem. Fuel economy is great and the handling is good to. Yes it's built to a budget but it's done in a nice way.only thing is the head lights not that strong but I will get a light bar fitted. Show details
Positive reviews
Good little car but don’t expect perfection – Just purchased my 2024 MG3 Core in White. I was skeptical at first but it drives well. Had a lot of basic electronic stuff for a cheap car. Good for city driving and parking. Not fast or has power like my old Mazda CX3, if you want a fast car with power don’t buy it. Lots of room for short person like me, not for people who likes SUV or long distance driving. So far so good. Show details
Underrated and solid – Underrated car in its class. Lacks some safety features you'd expect in MY22, but the driving experience is solid. Steering is firm, which may not appeal to some, and its turning circle is wide for a modern car of its size. The infotainment screen is well integrated (not a gigantic box on the dash that forces the vents downwards) if small. Show details
Uncomfortable seat bolster – I have found the car in general to be pretty good. My only real concern is the driver seat base bolster digs into my hip and is very uncomfortable they're way to hard. Also has an annoying rattle not loud just annoying. Apart from that all good for a cheap car. Show details
Negative reviews
MG Warranty DOESNT HOLD UP – My daughter purchased her BRAND NEW MG 3 from the Tuggerah show room in 2021. She has kept up to date with her scheduled servicing and has run into an issue (which seems to be extremely common when you get into the MG forums) that the car won’t start. She has spoken with the dealership reporting the issue for the last three weeks stating that she… Read more
needs her car to be looked at under warranty and the woman on the phone is UNBELIEVABLY rude. Finally, her car was towed today after three weeks and she was given an EXPIRED $80 uber voucher! I can’t make this stuff up! No courtesy car offered, they state they MIGHT be able to look at her car in the next 5 business days but they are going to charge her for diagnostics? The car has done 28000 kms! And if you lot are not replacing the spark plugs (if that is actually the issue) why is she going to pay for it? Last service the clowns broke the latch on her glove box and she chased them for weeks asking for it to be fixed. Guess what though!? It never got fixed! My daughter uses her car for her employment and is now losing money because she bought such a poor quality vehicle. I will be going to fair trading and the ACCC but thought everyone should be made aware - don’t deal with this company. Save yourself the issues and headaches.
Cruise control – On my second MG3 as husband crashed the first one which was almost perfect car with no faults. However this secong one is nothing but a lemon and Maryborough dealer are useless. Fan only blows air that you can actually feel on at least 4. Another mechanic found the filter on air con was full. Drivers side door does not always disengage when… Read more
engine turned off. Dealer cannot find problem had it back to them twice. Now cruise control sometimes will work sometimes it wont. Been back to dealer 3 times they cannot find anything wrong. I see this fault common in the EV. Will def not buy another one
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Cheap, but not in the long run – Goes through brake pads and rotors every 25000K. MG states usual wear and tear. It brakes really harshly and chews up front tyres. Show details
Recent reviews
Some interesting info about this car – We all know what the reviews are like about this car. Yes it's not a hot rod ..has 4 stage auto..yea yea. But read on for some features. Firstly if you have only an Android phone and you want the display and hands features in the car ( screen )system that apparently can't accommodate because it has Apple car play Well you can, simply buy an… Read more · 1
Android connect USB dongle from eBay and you're away. . So if you buy the core version...no need to worry. ( certainly, no need to spend 500 dollars on the core for the 2nd rate GPS ) Seat goes up and down..( don't be sitting in it at the time ) Good head height. Auto lights are good, Auto defrost is good, good heat and air-con. Indicators on the left
Ok, it has some exhaust/engine noise, I kinda like it that about it. You can also adjust the pitch on the headlights, even though the main lights are only halogen...cool running lights though. Doors automatically lock when you move off. Get the Excite for only a grand more than the Core..bigger nicer wheels, a better sound system unimpressive gps ( read above) ..better colour options. My MG3 is a good ride, comfortable, so far reliable...about 500k to a full tank.
Door design – Doors have not any rubber seal as per design at that case when closing the doors ,a sound coming. I contacted with dealer, said it is design related matter . I think all others car have rubber seal on the doors except MG3rubber,So please improve your design. Show details
Great for L Drivers! – Shopped around for an L Driver suitable hatchback and it was on average $4k cheaper than a 5yr old used Japan/Korean hatchback, most of which had over 30,000 on the clock and needed either new tyres and/or service and parts. Plus it came with apple car play/reverse camera,7 yr warranty, roadside assistance and capped price servicing...no brainer at this price point! Show details
Unsafe – I've driven a couple of these extensively for work. They are ok to drive for a cheap, low powered car. I've driven worse. Our cars have been involved in a few collisions. The issue is that if you have a low impact front or rear collision, the damage is extensive, and disproportionate to the impact. In a medium to high speed impact, I'd be surprised if there were survivors. They don't have an ANCAP safety rating. Show details
Technically a car – I recently had the displeasure of driving an MG3 as a 'courtesy' car. I was instantly impelled to record my views on this experience. It is technically a car.. but it certainly stretches this definition. It is incredible to think that in this modern day an engine could produce so little movement out of so much noise The engine sounds like it was… Read more
cast out of aluminium cans and there is exactly zero attenuation between the whiny little engine and the cabin. Further down the line there is little relief, I feel sorry for what I believe is a small distressed cow trapped inside the tailpipe, desperate to escape. Ride quality can only be described as being forcefully ejected out of a nightclub by 2 bouncers. I haven't looked at what is connecting the knuckle to the strut towers but I would expect to find a steel rod with a couple of sponges wedged in place. Drive by wire has been taken quite literally with the underpaid elves inside desperately trying to relay instructions between the right pedal and the front wheels by what I can only assume is Morse code. The interior is spacious however, the unfortunate result of this is it gives additional space to 'appreciate' the stupor inducing design, lovingly filled with crudely crafted injection moulded plastic. Overall I am genuinely impressed with how bad this vehicle is.. and my deepest condolences for anyone who spent their money on this 'car'.
Rubbish – Hired car whist on holiday. Was one of the worst cars I have ever driven. No guts. Have to have the revs up just to gets up any sort of hills. Inside just cheap and nasty. Show details
Great little second car - Very Reliable – I was a bit dubious as first after reading a number of reviews, however after purchasing one as a second car for city driving, its actually proved a great little car for its price point. As an affordable small car, it does have a basic interior (its not a luxury car), however it is deceivingly quite spacious both front and rear and dives really… Read more
well. It has what you expect in terms of the standard tech, i.e Apple Car play, (Android Auto also with an aftermarket adapter) , Radio, Bluetooth / Handsfree, Reversing Camera , Cruise Control etc. With 32,000KM on the clock , it is still going strong , very economical on fuel and over the time we have owned it , its has proven itself very reliable. Good points, as already mentioned, its economical to run and maintain, its 7 year warranty, it has great visibility and is very roomy for a small car. Its easy to manoeuvre and park and is great for shopping, school runs, local driving etc.
Chinese Junk – I've been loaned an MG3 Core as a hire car whilst my car is being repaired from a rear ending collision and safe to say this is one of the worst cars I've personally driven. MG try to fool you with apple car play, and it's probably the only good thing about this car when it decides to work and not drop in and out of sound. The steering is average… Read more
at best, the wind noise when driving anything over 80kms is frustrating, the seat position for someone who is 5'11" is shocking almost sitting ontop of the steering wheel, The boot never shuts correctly unless you slam the hell out of it and the reversing camera might as well not even be there and to top it all off if your heading up a hill it cant make its mind up what gear to be in so might as well buy a manual.
Overall I would highly suggest going for a Mazda/Kia/Volkswagen sized equivalent over an MG unless your after a gutless chinese piece of snot.
Find out how MG MG3 ZP11 compares to other Hatchbacks
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Do not buy MG3 or any variant – Chinese car built cheaply. Terrible vibration when decelerating. MG claim its just a characteristic. Have spoken to my mechanic and he advised he wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole! Show details
Excellent value – The MG3 is a beauty when it comes to a compromise of value and spend! It has all the gadgets you would expect on a sub compacted car without the big price. Handling is excellent on country roads and performance is adequate for a small car. Interior space and boot huge for its pint size. A car I have had for four and a half years and hasn’t missed… Read more
a beat. Do yourself a favor and ignore any of the biased opinions on this site from people who expect Ferrari performance and Porsche handling along with Rolls Royce quality. They are just whingers!
Can’t get it repaired – My car was involved in an accident not my fault October 2022 - 7 MONTHS LATER - it’s still in the crash repairs and now they have pushed it out to September “ maybe “ …. So that will be if they repair it then 11 MONTHS without my car .. update - the insurance awarded me a new car - after a long long wait - and dishonestly from the crash repairer - …. Show details
Cheap and nasty – Following the rebirth of MG through SAIC Motor, I was keen to assess one of these vehicles myself. Rented one for a week and put the car through all the usual paces. On a positive front the car externally has a very contemporary and clean design, good economy and a solid infotainment offering. After a week of driving my assessment started to… Read more
diminish rapidly. The interior is cramped and bedecked in the most awful cheap plastic. The seats are utterly dreadful and have no lumbar support whilst pushing your upper torso forward. The pedal position was also extremely awkward and required me to twist my ankle in order to utilise the clutch. The vehicle I drove had only 16 000km on it but was already creaking, clunking and squeaking like an old car. The engine was utterly gutless, bereft of torque and provided no confidence to overtake. And drum brakes on the rear? Seriously MG, this is 2023. This is a cheap car built to a price. Don’t expect much and you will likely be happy.
MG3 Excite Absolute Rubbish – Car broke down driving out of car yard when purchased. Back doors failed to open. Now 5 months later the steering is gone. The Service Centre at Brisbane Motorama Moorooka is ordinary at best. Show details
Great little car – Great little car the price makes it even better. Don't know what all the fuss is about - knocking them. Had a Kia Rio not so long ago and it sounded like a screaming vacuum cleaner, with it constantly changing up and down the gears on the highway struggling for which gear it needed. Absolute rubbish compared to our MG3. All mod cons to boot! Show details
Get what you pay for – Great second car for the family. Mainly used it to run around and the occasional drive to the city. Brakes are a bit sensitive and sometimes hold, sometimes music drops out for .1 of a second (will raise this at the next service), not the most comfortable car with its seats, small motor and only 4 speed gearbox. BUT, if you can deal with those… Read more
things, then it’s not too bad. The tech in the car is up to date. Aircon is breezy, decent on fuel, love the Apple car play and when I compared to used cars on the market at $20k, it was a no brainer to get a brand new MG3 that has 7 year warranty.
Update - Just had the 1 year service, seems to be going well. Told the mechanics/service department about the issue with sound dropping out and they performed a factory reset on the head unit, have not noticed any issues with the music.
Low price shows – Had the MG 3 as a loan car First impressions from the outside was its pretty good looking sleek and well built . Once I stepped inside the cheap price showed For the price you really can't expect to much . Cheap looking interior all plastic The good : Power is pretty good for a small car Air conditioning is good Vision is good Has Apple… Read more
car play Big reverse camera/though a bit dull
The bad : Breaks really sensitive Air conditioner has bad smell So very cheap looking inside Multimedia screen is very dull When you put your foot down it leeches forward aggressively Seats uncomfortable Did I say really cheap looking The suspension is really crap every single bump in the road the cars bouncing around just unsettled really bad actually to the point of feeling uncomfortable and really annoying
Would I buy one ? Definitely not i think save a few more thousand and get a kia rio they are cheap and way better then the MG 3 . Even a older Toyota yaris would be way better then the MG3
Wipers and Radio will not switch off even when ignition key is removed – Wipers and Radio will not switch off even when ignition key is removed. We have had this happen a couple of times after it’s been raining. It has been to dealer before and they have found nothing. But keeps on doing it and I have read other owners have same issue. Show details
Wipers also just suddenly stopped for no reason in middle of heavy rain on freeway and had to pull over
Not impressed – The car we hired had only done 53,000 and already had a serious engine problem. Was hesitating at times on the flat and became more prominent on steep climbs which is just what you don't need. Tinny feel and euro equipped with indicators and wipers on the wrong side. Locks the doors whether you want it or not as soon as you take off. Like Chinese… Read more
power tools. OK for the price, but don't expect it to last long. Noisy on the road. Not impressed at any price.
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Developed oil leaks after 70000k. Dealer won't even reply to request for repair.