MG 3 Hybrid Plus: Quick and practical

While subcompact hatchbacks, in general, have been relegated to a niche in the global market, the local scene still has a taste for these tiny cars. Case in point are the thousands of examples of the Toyota Wigo and Honda Brio units plying roads in Metro Manila and a large majority of local roads. 

So, to capitalize on the continuing popularity of small cars in the country, Morris Garages (MG) Philippines introduced the 3, which received a top-spec hybrid variant - a rarity in the local subcompact hatch market segment. 

The question now is: how does the MG 3 Hybrid Plus perform on local roads? Here’s what Zigwheels Philippines experienced and learned about the electrified hatch when we had it for a week. 

Exterior

Where exterior styling is concerned, the 3 Hybrid Plus is a good mix of the typical hatchback proportions and the familiar modern styling of MG products. 

Up front, it sports a sharp nose flanked by upswept LED headlamp clusters. Further below is a prominent grille, as well as notably large mesh-covered air intakes. The front fascia is also capped off by a sculpted hood, which leads upwards to a relatively wide and tall windshield. 

From the side and rear of the MG 3, it received the usual accouterments of a hatchback model. It has several character lines, black-colored window pillars, and a somewhat sporty but clean rear design.

Notable exterior features of the ride include the following: 

• LED headlamps
• LED daytime running lamps
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Halogen taillights
• Front and rear fog lamps
• Glass printed antenna
• Roof-mounted spoiler
• 16-inch alloy wheels

Based on the feature list above, the small MG hatchback has a decent amount of exterior features. Sadly, its taillights are halogens, which, of course, eschews the advantages one gets from LED taillights. Regardless, I felt that it worked well enough to make the ride visible in day and night driving. 

The LED headlamps, however, worked great as their beams could cut through the rainy weather, and its automatic rain-sensing wipers came in handy. Likewise appealing to the eye is its set of 16-inch alloy wheels. Usually, I do not like the unfinished look of “diamond-cut” wheels, but the way the wheel design was executed on this hatch looked appropriate for the slightly sporty but low-key look the MG 3 Hybrid Plus was going for. 

Interior

Affordable models often cut corners when it comes to interiors, but it appears that MG made sure that the insides of the 3 Hybrid Plus remained comfortable and stylish. 

For starters, most of the top-spec MG 3’s dashboard is made of plastic, but that’s alright since everything fits well and is durable. Furthermore, all driving controls, such as the car’s dial-type gear selector, the electronic parking brake, the push-to-start button, and the drive mode selector, are within easy reach for the driver. 

To note, the 3 hatchback does get some piano black plastic surrounding most of the controls mentioned above, but I can happily report that it is not prone to getting dirty or smudgy. 

The steering wheel itself also felt comfortable to the touch. It did not have telescopic adjustability, and the front seats only came with manual slide and height adjustment, but I found no issues in finding my ideal driving position. For reference, I am five foot and 11 inches tall. 

Manipulating the vehicle’s 7-inch virtual instrument cluster is a breeze thanks to the car’s easily understandable steering-wheel-mounted controls. It takes getting used to for the first time, but that’s par for the course for most tech-laden vehicles nowadays. 

Going back to its seats, I noticed that they were notably comfortable despite my large size. The leather covering used on the seats is soft and supple, plus their diamond patterns provide a nice visual touch. 

I likewise took the opportunity to have a seat in the vehicle’s rear cabin. Pleasantly enough, the model has rear vents for its electronically controlled manual air-conditioning (AC) system. I also found knee room in the back ample, and I can see three average-sized adults being able to fit themselves on the rear seat. 

Overall, I found the insides of the MG 3 to be comfortable, logically arranged, and well-equipped. The only downside I can see is the lack of physical controls dedicated to its AC thermostat and fan speed settings. Most drivers, including myself, would want the said features on a car as it could help keep one’s eyes on the road. 

Tech, Safety

One huge highlight of the MG 3 Hybrid Plus’ interior is its 10.25-inch touchscreen. It is notable for its colorful user interface and its Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity options. However, it can lag at times, depending on the app one is running. 

Particular to the top-spec MG 3 is a six-piece speaker system, which sounds decent, especially after twiddling a bit with the infotainment system’s built-in equalizer. 

The said MG model doesn’t get wireless charging, but it has a total of three USB ports and a 12-volt accessory outlet, which thankfully were set on easy-to-reach and easy-to-spot positions. 

For safety, the 3 hatch boasts an extensive kit considering its price. It has dual front airbags, side airbags, side curtain airbags, anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-start assist, ISOFIX, and a security system - among others. 

Notably useful is the 360-degree view monitor, which proved to give a clear video feed even at night. It also has several parking sensors, which were quite vigilant in warning me of nearby objects whenever I shuffle the MG-made hybrid into my tight parking spot at home. 

Apart from its set of basic safety gear, the MG 3 Hybrid Plus also has the following advanced driver assist systems (ADAS): 

• Pre-collision system
• Lane watch
• Lane keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control

Powertrain, driving

Propelling the MG 3 Hybrid Plus is a 1.5-liter engine combined with an electric motor and a 1.83 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. Altogether, the said system can send up to 190 horsepower and 250 Newton-meters of torque to the vehicle’s front wheels. 

With its engine output, the 3 Hybrid Plus is quick despite its large and heavy battery. Overtaking on highways is effortless. Plus, its three-speed transmission, while unusual, doesn’t feel clunky. In fact, it feels more like a well-tuned continuously variable transmission. 

It also handled corners quite well, and in most instances, I felt like the car could turn on a dime despite using a set of all-weather Kumho Solus tires, which are specced for easy-going commutes. 

I found out about its handling capabilities when I grabbed the opportunity to take the car up to the curvacious Marikina-Infanta Highway, or Marilaque. I didn’t push the vehicle hard in order to stay within speed limits, but its powertrain definitely made short work when it came to the said road’s steeper sections. 

Notably, the vehicle’s sport mode truly lives up to its name. The powertrain becomes livelier, and the steering gets a heavier feel as well. 

On the other hand, some wind and engine noise can be heard inside the cabin, but those are overshadowed by how fun the car is to drive. 

On the more practical side of things, the MG 3 Hybrid Plus behaves well on roads like Quezon City’s Commonwealth, the C5 road, and EDSA. Despite its rather sporty handling, its suspension system didn’t feel jarring or too rigid. 

Additionally, the hybrid hatch managed to return an average fuel economy reading of around 22 kilometers per liter from a mix of in-city and highway runs. It's pretty efficient thanks to its electric-vehicle mode, which activates automatically when the car’s battery has enough juice. 

The car’s regenerative braking was quite effective at topping up the vehicle’s battery as well. During the descent from Marilaque, the car’s range (per the in-car gauge cluster) has climbed from 385 kilometers (km) to around 400 km. 

Under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, the MG 3 Hybrid Plus is also coding exempt. So, it not only fits the bill as a fun backroads car but can also be used as a competent daily driver. 

Final thoughts

With its comfy interior, peppy performance, superb fuel economy, and sharp handling characteristics, the MG 3 Hybrid Plus is the kind of model any small car lover would want. Plus, there’s the mindblowing fact that the hybrid variant is priced at a mere P1,088,888 - making it one of the most affordable hybrids available in the market right now. 

To conclude, there’s a lot to like about the car. As such, folks who are looking to get a hatch should place this model in their respective shortlists. 

MG 3 Hybrid Plus: specs

Model	MG 3 Hybrid Plus
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	4,055x1,729x1,521
Ground clearance (mm)	117
Wheel size	16-inches
Lighting system	LED, halogen (taillights)
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	Electronic manual air-conditioning Six-piece speaker system Three USB ports Tilt-adjustable steering wheel Electronic parking brake Drive mode selector Power-folding side mirrors Rain-sensing wipers 60:40 split-folding rear seat
Instrument cluster	7-inch Virtual Instrument cluster
Infotainment system	10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	5
Powertrain
Engine	1.5-liter Hybrid
Fuel type	Gasoline
Transmission	Three-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission
Horsepower	190
Torque	250 Nm
Brakes	Front and rear discs
Technologies
ADAS	Pre-collision system Lane watch Lane keep assist Adaptive cruise control
Safety	Dual front airbags Side airbags Side curtain airbags 360-degree view camera Parking sensors Anti-lock braking Stability control Hill-start assist ISOFIX
Security	Engine immobilizer
Price	P1,008,888

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