Yes, the MG3 Hybrid (2024) is cheaper than the Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio

When you say hybrid, you say Toyota. But now MG has launched the MG3 Hybrid, a competitor to the Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio. Advantage: it is faster and has more power. Disadvantage: it is less clean and less economical. Still, the chance of success is high since MG keeps the price low.

Toyota has been preaching the hybrid gospel for years. They were quite alone in that for a long time, especially with the smaller models. In 2020, Renault also threw itself into this with great dedication and launched the Clio Hybrid. Now the Yaris and Clio are getting competition from China. The MG3 Hybrid will not only be faster, but also cheaper.

The MG3 Hybrid has an electric motor that produces 136 hp. Purely on this engine, the MG can drive electrically up to a speed of 80 km/h. Together, the electric motor and 1.5-liter gasoline engine produce 192 hp. Compared to this, the Renault Clio (145 hp) and Toyota Yaris (115 or 130 hp) are left behind. Sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h is a piece of cake for the MG3; it gets the job done in 8 seconds.

Tip

MG3 with three-speed automatic transmission

Very striking: the MG3 gets an automatic transmission with only three gears. That sounds old-fashioned, but MG swears that the gearbox shifts smoothly and refined. It seems like a sneer at the blaring CVT transmission that Toyota always uses for its hybrid models. The Renault Clio has a complicated transmission with eight gears, which regularly fight with each other.

The consumption of the MG3 is 4.4 l/100 km (1 in 22.7). Quite economical, but the Toyota Yaris is still lord and master. The most powerful Yaris Hybrid 130 consumes 4.2 l/100 km (1 in 23.8), while the 115 hp Yaris Hybrid is even satisfied with 3.8 l/100 km (1 in 26.3). The Clio Hybrid is also slightly more economical than the MG (4.3 l/100 km; 1 in 23.2).

New technology

Like the larger electric MG4, the MG3 will be available in three versions: Standard, Comfort and Luxury. The dashboard is dominated by a 10.25-inch touchscreen, but underneath there are also real buttons for the most important functions. Air conditioning, a navigation system, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard.

Safety systems such as lane keeping assistant, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, collision warning and traffic jam assistant are also available on every MG3 Hybrid.

Price MG3 Hybrid: from 22,769 euros

MG saw the prices of the Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid and Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid 145 and thought: this must be cheaper. Both models start at 26 grand and the MG3 Hybrid drops below that with a base price of 22,769 euros.

MG3 Hybrid versions

Standard – 22,769 euros
Comfort – 24,269 euros
Luxury – 25,769 euros

You can upgrade from the Standard to the Comfort (+1500 euros) for the 16-inch alloy wheels, the heated exterior mirrors, the rain sensor and the start button.

For another 1,500 euros extra you jump from Comfort to Luxury and get heated seats and steering wheel, powerful LED headlights, blind spot warning and a 360-degree camera.

The boat with the first load of MG3s arrives in early May and a few weeks later those cars are at the dealer. MG gives a 7-year or 150,000 kilometer warranty.