I recently got the chance to get behind the wheel of the MG 3 Hybrid+ and despite only handling it for a few hours,  I found a few things that could make you instantly love this little hatchback hybrid.

A great daily for the city

Being more of a city driver, I appreciate a nimble and responsive vehicle and you get just that with this hatchback.

Powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, it delivers a robust 190 PS and 250 Nm of torque — a fair amount of power and something you can immediately feel in this tiny body. It won’t jet itself off from its starting position but you’ll definitely feel the signature instant torque of an EV.

Though admittedly, my turn behind the wheel had me weaving in and out of traffic instead of enjoying long stretches of highway so I didn’t have much time to enjoy its drive at top speeds. But even in short sprints (going about 100km/h or more) the MG 3 Hybrid+ kept its composure.

I did, however, get to see its performance as a street crawler. The tiny body was a welcome feature as I squeezed myself through the sardine-packed, lane-less, rush-hour traffic of Metro Manila. And all while minimizing fuel use.

As fuel efficient as you’d expect

Unexpectedly, this thing sips and doesn’t guzzle.

As a hybrid, fuel efficiency is a given. I wasn’t too attentive to the fuel gauge (driving was too fun, to be honest), but I can confirm that this hatchback can easily fetch you 18 km/L. It’s also been reported that the MG 3 Hybrid+ was also able to achieve upwards of 20km/L which, in our short time with it, doesn’t seem farfetched at all.

If you want to take more control of your fuel and energy, the MG 3 Hybrid+ also offers multiple regenerative braking modes but it is buried way deep in the menus. There are three levels to be set and at its lowest, you barely feel that pull back or slight deceleration when you lift your foot off the gas.

Advanced Safety Features

Safety is paramount, and the MG 3 Hybrid+ comes equipped with an impressive suite of advanced safety technologies in the form of MG Pilot.

MG Pilot is the company’s suite of safety features that offer up to 10 driver and safety assist features. On the MG 3 Hybrid+, you’ll have your hands on some of the essentials including adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, a 360 camera, traffic jam assist, and more.

And best of all, the alerts are not the least bit intrusive. They instead offer gentler beeps to alert the driver and thankfully they’re the kind of alerts that won’t put the whole car in a panic. Even the steering wheel offers a gentler vibration for its lane keep assist safety feature.

Classic design, modern comfort

The MG 3 Hybrid+ is unmistakably a classic-looking hatchback with barely any design quirks (except the badge) that whiff of a hybrid. It opts for a rounder, more classic profile rather than sharp lines. And it leaves all the aggressiveness in its LED projector headlights and 16-inch allow wheels.

Inside, the hatchback is designed to fit up to five passengers though admittedly, that may be a little cramped, especially if you’re on the tall side. As the sole passenger at the back, however, I was nice and snug with my legs all stretched out. I even got to work on my laptop for a short while with no issues.

The soft leatherette and fabric are comfortable to the touch and the contrast stitching adds a slight sophistication. Comfort features  like adequately sized cup holders, charging ports are also there to keep passengers comfy and entertained.

Up front, the MG 3 Hybrid+ features a  10.25-inch infotainment screen that supports Android Auto. It also offers wireless charging.

Our only real complaint is that operating the setting and other features on the touch display lacks a human touch to its design. It’s basically something you do have to spend some time on to learn.

It’s rather hard to get to certain features and controls. As mentioned earlier, regenerative braking controls, which should be pretty prominent on a hybrid, are buried deep within the menus. Some even complained about looking for simple things like air-conditioning or volume controls. But it’s a small quirk that isn’t unique to the MG 3 Hybrid+ and something we have to get used to for now until vehicle software/UI gets more refined and intuitive.

Final thoughts

Priced at PhP 1,088,000, the MG 3 Hybrid+ makes an appealing case against its non-hybrid or non-EV competitors. While it undeniably has many commendable features, it’s not without its areas for improvement.

Limited rear cargo space, is one, and some ergonomic quirks in the touchscreen interface could be addressed in future models. However, with its agile handling, impressive fuel economy, advanced safety features, and pretty modern interior, the MG 3 Hybrid+ is undoubtedly a compelling and non-intimidating hybrid option in the local space.