New MG3 interior previewed before official Geneva Motor Show debut

• Complete interior and exterior redesign
• Full-hybrid powertrain
• To be revealed on February 26th 

MG has confirmed that the replacement for its MG3 supermini will be fully unveiled on February 26th at the Geneva Motor Show. Along with the official reveal date, MG has provided a glimpse of the MG3’s interior – and it looks to be a big step up from the outgoing model.

We have seen a variety of leaked patent images and teaser photos over the past few months, but the upcoming official reveal will allow us to take an unimpeded view of the new MG3 in the metal. Until then, here’s everything we know so far.

What does the new MG3’s interior look like?

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The single teaser picture of the MG3’s interior reveals an entirely redesigned cabin, complete with dual infotainment and driver displays. The central infotainment display sits above a row of control buttons, presumably for important interior functions such as climate control. The centre console features a rotary gear selector, similar to the one found in the MG4 EV, hinting that the new model will be offered with an automatic gearbox for the first time in the UK.

There’s diamond-stitched upholstery for the seats, along with leather or faux-leather, but this is likely to be reserved for higher trim levels.

What about the exterior of the new MG3?

Leaked patent images gave us a preview of the new MG3 last year, revealing the exterior design in full. Although no dimensions have been linked to the images, the car appears to retain its supermini proportions, so it’s likely to continue competing against the likes of the Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, and Dacia Sandero. It looks slightly larger than the outgoing MG3, and its new packaging could prove slightly more practical as a result.

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An official teaser photo revealed the new MG3’s front-end styling. It’s somewhat reminiscent of the larger, electric MG4, with sharp-looking triangular headlights up front. Also visible is a large grille, similar in shape to that of the combustion-engined HS, reflecting the fact that the new MG3 will still be offered with an internal combustion engine.

What else can we expect from the new MG3?

The MG3 has remained one of the cheapest new cars on sale in the UK since it first went on sale over a decade ago. While the new car is also likely to target the more affordable end of the supermini market, its new full-hybrid powertrain is likely to bump up the starting price compared to the outgoing car.

MG’s Hybrid Plus engine will replace the petrol variant entirely, following the trend set by the Toyota Yaris. It will also push the MG3 into competition with the Renault Clio E-tech and the Honda Jazz Hybrid in the fairly niche full-hybrid supermini market.

MG has stated that this new hybrid system will allow for fully electric driving, which should help to reduce fuel consumption around town, thanks to short bursts of zero-emissions travel. While specific performance and fuel economy details are yet to be revealed, we expect the new MG3 to be both more powerful and more efficient than the outgoing model.

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