Overnight at the Geneva Motor Show, the all-new 2024 MG 3 was revealed ahead of Australian arrivals in the middle of 2024. Larger and more advanced than the car it replaces, the new MG 3 will offer a hybrid drivetrain when it arrives locally and its price will pushed up by around $5,000, according to MG. That means that the MG 3 will no longer be Australia’s cheapest car, a position it recently took from the facelifted Kia Picanto – itself launching with significantly more safety kit that pushed the price up. We expect the new 3 to retail from around $25,000 drive away.
According to the company, “MG can confirm that, due to advancements in technology, safety and specification, the new MG 3 revealed at the Geneva Motor Show will mean the popular model will no longer be a sub-$20,000 car when it launches in Australia this year,” an MG Australia spokesperson said in a media statement.
“There will be a price increase of around $5000 associated with the new model, thanks to the introduction of new technology, safety updates and all-new specification.”
Not much has been revealed about the 2024 MG 3’s platform, aside from that it’s significantly stronger than the current model, and it’s also larger than the current model. At 4,113mm long, 1,797mm wide, 1,502mm tall and with a 2,570mm long wheelbase, the new MG 3 is 58mm longer, 68mm wider, 2mm taller and with a 50mm longer wheelbase than the current model. Its 293L boot is 14L smaller, though.
The exterior styling follows other new MG models like the MG 5, with angular styling at both ends, including a large front grille, new LED lighting units and wheels up to 16-inches in size. At the rear, the MG 3’s taillights are now horizontal instead of vertical, which accentuates the new car’s extra width.
Inside, the new MG 3’s interior follows other recent new MG models as well. A 10.25-inch touchscreen with MG’s ‘iSmart’ software and a 7.0-inch digital driver’s display has been taken from the MG 4, as has the steering wheel and the keys below the touchscreen for shortcuts into the screen.
Available interior features include synthetic leather upholstery, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree camera, single-zone automatic climate control and four USB ports.
Importantly, the 2024 MG 3 is fitted with a suite of active safety equipment, including auto emergency braking, lane keeping assistance with lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert – standard on the updated Picanto – are yet to be announced.
Like the current model, the new MG 3 will be offered in a range of colours (at least in Europe – Australian options are yet to be confirmed): ‘York White’, ‘St Moritz Blue’, ‘Flaming Red’, ‘Morning Yellow’, ‘Pearl Black’, ‘Blade Silver’ and ‘Hampstead Grey’.
Under the bonnet of the 2024 MG 3 is a 75kW/128Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine matched to a 100kW/250Nm electric motor for a healthy system output of 143kW. The electric motor draws power from a 1.83kWh battery pack and a three-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels. In European spec, MG claims the 3 will hit 100km/h in 8.0 seconds, while on the WLTP cycle, its claimed combined fuel consumption is 4.4L/100km and claimed CO2 emissions of 100g/km – a lot less than the current model’s 6.7L/100km and 159g/km claims.
The hybrid drivetrain is capable of driving the car on electric power alone, using the engine as a generator to power the electric motor, using both motors to power the wheels or using the petrol engine to power the wheels and charge the battery. A petrol engine is also confirmed for the MG 3’s Australian debut, but MG is yet to confirm any details about it.
The 2024 MG 3 will go on sale in Australia later in 2024, with local pricing and specifications to be announced before then. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
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