100kW Boost for New MG3 Hybrid
Jun 19, 2024
In the music world, the follow-up album is considered one of the toughest jobs for a band, especially when the first release was a smash hit. That might explain why MG has taken its time with the MG3, which held an impressive 27.3% share of its market segment in 2023 in New Zealand.
Now, they’ve followed up the chart-topper with an all-new MG3, this time with a ‘bonus track’: an option of an RUC-free hybrid powertrain. The MG3 range, starts at just $25,990 for the 1.5 litre Excite, and tops out with the Essence Hybrid+ for $31,990.
MG’s smallest car has always been to provide unbeatable value, and the new iteration hasn’t messed with the formula. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 10.25” display are among the standard equipment, while upgrading to the Essence gets you 360-degree cameras, LED headlights and remote connectivity through the MG app – all for under $30,000 in the ICE versions.
But it’s the new Hybrid+ powertrain, in which a hybrid battery is paired with the MG3’s 1.5-litre four-pot engine, where the new car really leaps forward from the previous generation. Its 1.83kW battery can be used to drive the car in EV mode for short periods, and it charges while you drive.
With this clever hybrid system, you get a fuel consumption figure comparable to a plug-in hybrid at 4.3l/100km (WLTP) without the added concern of having to pay Road User Charges. The MG3 also sets a new benchmark in class for C02 emissions at just 111g/km, meaning you’ll be well placed when an inevitable C02 tax is implemented in the future.
The extra boost from the battery also means that when added to the ICE, the Hybrid+ boasts 155kW of power and a zippy 0-100km/h time of 8 seconds. Not bad when you consider that you also get a 7-year warranty and 7-year roadside assistance. Independently, the two power units deliver 75kW (ICE) and 100kW (electric).
MG Motor Australia and New Zealand CEO Peter Ciao said: “The MG3 has been redesigned from the ground up and sets a new standard for hybrid and small petrol vehicles in New Zealand. MG has brought together a brilliant mix of affordability, range and quality for New Zealand’s drivers in the all-new MG3 range.”
“If you don’t have a driveway or you live in an apartment or if you’d rather not plug in a charging cable at the end of each journey, our all-new MG3 Hybrid+ makes perfect sense for people looking for a stylish and tech savvy yet affordable car.
The new MG Pilot brings safety, with features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot detection, being just a few of the available ways that the MG3 will look after you on the road.
The All New MG3 at Giltrap MG:
MG3 Excite ICE - $25,990 + ORC
MG3 Essence ICE - $27,990 + ORC
MG3 Excite Hybrid - $29,990 + ORC
MG3 Essence Hybrid - $31,990 + ORC