Did MG Just End The MG3's Chances of Success?

shxhshzhz on 14/06/2024 - 01:48
Last edited 14/06/2024 - 15:27 by 1 other user

The original MG3 was a sub $20k small car that was bought by many people as it did all the basic things that cars do at a very affordable price.

The newly released model has had a very steep price increase, with the base model petrol now from $26k, and the new hybrid model from $30k. As well as allowing the Kia Picanto to take a comfortable lead as the cheapest new car, the MG3 now competes in the same range as more reliable and popular models such as the Yaris Hybrid (~$32k) and the Mazda 2 (~$27k).

Poll Options

  • 43
    Yes
  • 13
    No
Automotive Car MG

Comments

  • xuqi on 14/06/2024 - 02:04
    +6

    Hybrid also requires 95+ RON fuel…

  • payless69 on 14/06/2024 - 02:05
    +3

    Who wants to own cheap Asian crap
    when you can show off to the Jones next door your once famous British MG ?

      • brad1-8tsi on 14/06/2024 - 07:22
        +8

        Just because they make lots of cars doesn't mean they are durable and reliable.

        British Leyland used to make lots of cars. Stellantis (owners of FIAT and other crappers) still make lots of cars.

        VW make lots of cars. Are they nice to drive? Yes. Are they durable? Debatable (and I keep buying them)

        • Murkymerv on 14/06/2024 - 13:34
          -1

          You need to read the comment above my response again .

          • brad1-8tsi on 16/06/2024 - 08:42

            @Murkymerv: I'm fully aware of the MG brand ownership history and where they are made. They are throw away vehicles.

            • Euphemistic on 16/06/2024 - 10:12

              @brad1-8tsi: They have been throw away, built down t a price vehciles. Sounds like they are trying to turn that around. IMO they probably need another generation of vehicles, probably 2, to lift their quality enough to justify prices matching korean cars.

              I dont doubt they can build quality, they just can't have cheap AND quality

      • Sal in SA on 14/06/2024 - 08:53
        +1

        How does any of that define quality..

      • payless69 on 14/06/2024 - 08:55
        -5

        But hey if you can't afford a Aston Martin and feel a little down that an Indian Prime Minister rules the once greatest empire you feel a bit sad that the Morris Minor is no longer available. Even the Austin Mini is now under "former enemy" control!

  • M8y on 14/06/2024 - 02:21

    Yeah. Probs. Shame.

  • JIMB0 on 14/06/2024 - 05:15
    +9

    Maybe they'll run frequent sales. People like to brag about how much something is worth and how much they saved on it.

    • Almighty Dollar on 14/06/2024 - 21:21
      +3

      I hear there are whole websites devoted to this. Weird.

  • Euphemistic on 14/06/2024 - 06:15

    They want to catch people cpmong in for a cheap EV and getting a shock at the price. "Too much? Ok, over here, this one is heaps cheaper"

  • Clambabula on 14/06/2024 - 07:11
    +4

    Someone close to me got a new one 3.5 years ago for 17k. Its a hairdryer that you need to use 95 in or it runs badly

    No way is it worth 26k.

    • JimB on 14/06/2024 - 12:00

      The new one is much improved.

      • Clambabula on 14/06/2024 - 13:03

        9k improved?

        • JimB on 14/06/2024 - 13:07

          Prob not but it’s unrealistic to sell the new one for $17k

  • SBOB on 14/06/2024 - 07:19
    +1

    Also now more $ than their larger, zst small SUV.

    • cuteseal on 14/06/2024 - 09:38
      +2

      Also more expensive than the MG5! The base model for that is $25k and arguably comes with more space and features.

      • pegaxs on 14/06/2024 - 10:23

        I bet there is a new model coming and a price pump for the MG5 in the very near future as well…

  • JimmyF on 14/06/2024 - 08:39
    +1

    The original MG3 was a sub $20k small car that was bought by many people
    The newly released model(mgmotor.com.au) has had a very steep price increase, with the base model petrol now from $26k.

    Welcome to inflation! 20% price rise! Less than Milk or Bread or Meat got!

    • pegaxs on 14/06/2024 - 10:29
      +1

      It went from sub $20k, to $26k. That is closer to a 30% price hike.

      Base model "last season's" MG3 was $18,990, the new base model MG3 is $26,079… A $7,089 price hike. That would be an almost 40% increase in price.

      • xuqi on 14/06/2024 - 11:25
        +1

        They figured if Toyota can do this with their cars, so can they…

      • JimmyF on 14/06/2024 - 12:55

        Sub $20k was the clear out the old stock that hasn't sold price, and not the real RRP.

  • recycledrevenge on 14/06/2024 - 09:20
    +2

    I don't see many good or even passable reviews of this car. I suppose if you literally just need a point A to point B car and do not care about anything else about it, it'll do. But there's going to be far better options in the used market for cheaper if that's all you're worried about.

  • Dollar General on 14/06/2024 - 09:21

    They have added more spyware so need to recover the costs now

  • AngusD on 14/06/2024 - 09:41
    +7

    I can't imagine any world or parallel universe in which I'd buy a Chinese car, especially a POS like an MG3, when I could get the equivalent Kia, Mazda or Toyota for a similar price.

  • GordonD on 14/06/2024 - 09:47
    +1

    The old MG3 had been on the market a long time.

    When it came out it met all the relevant safety rules. And for a while you can keep selling a car with the safety equipment it originally came out with, and advertising the crash test result you originally got. But the safety nazis keep updating what is required to be fitted, and the crash tests. It doesn't matter whether you want the better safety, you have no choice. It has taken a lot of cheaper cars off the Australian market because they can't make a profit if they have to engineer a uniquely Australian model, and fit the same safety equipment to a $20K car as to a $60K car.

    MG eventually had no choice but to update the MG3. It wasn't MG's choice. They were selling a lot of cars by keeping the price down. And they were as safe as the similar-priced alternative, a few years old second-hand car.

  • pegaxs on 14/06/2024 - 10:16
    +2

    Same as the Hyundai and Kia play book… Bring in a cheap, cheerful, souless shitbox and get it to be a sales powerhouse for the brand… Get that to build brand recognition and then once it's established and has saturated the market… jack the price.

    For the $32k on the hybrid, I would spend a few $$'s more and just get the EV MG4.

    • shxhshzhz on 14/06/2024 - 11:05

      For the $32k on the hybrid, I would spend a few $$'s more and just get the EV MG4.

      Could be on purpose to convince people to spend a few extra $k and get an EV.

      • pegaxs on 14/06/2024 - 12:04

        It's a no brainer… Cheaper to fuel, so the ROI would be sooner. And a hybrid town run about? Why? The MG3 is not a highway mile eater, it's a glorified shopping trolley and mum bus. A hybrid version makes no sense. What they should have done is made a cheaper, smaller MG3 EV or at least made the hybrid MG3 a PHEV.

        • Euphemistic on 14/06/2024 - 15:28

          Absolutely. Hybrid tiny cars arw just a way of getting you to buy now rather than wait a couple more years to go EV. They want you to have to buy a hybrid now so that you buy again soon. When petrpl goes up even more and you realise that EVs actually work really well in city driving, even if you can only charge once a week because you park on street.

  • Gdsamp on 14/06/2024 - 10:57
    +1

    The new model is a bit bigger than the one it replaces. it's nearly the same size as the original Hyundai i30.
    City cars have grown in size and are taking the spot of where small cars used to be, along with their price point.

  • bdl on 14/06/2024 - 11:07

    MG3 not for me

  • dtc on 14/06/2024 - 12:07
    +3

    All the review of the new model point out its a big step up in quality and driveability and fit out. Just because its a 'new model' doesnt mean its the same as the old model (look at the differences in, say, the Commodore over time). Albeit the old model is one that gets terrible reviews so being a 'step up' wasnt a high bar.

    Anchoring your pricing expectations to a previous version that is a very different car is what people do and so MG may have made a marketing error (for example, perhaps they should have called it the MG3 Premium or something, or the MG3 mark 2). But when you buy the car you shouldnt assess it as being 'so much more expensive than the previous model and therefore a rip off', you should assess it against all the other cars that are at that price range. If its still the best at that price range then you buy it. If its no longer good value relative to the competition then you dont buy it. Its still one of the cheapest cars around.

    • Euphemistic on 14/06/2024 - 15:30

      All the review of the new model point out its a big step up in quality and driveability and fit out.

      looks like theyve just skipped a few steps (years) of development that all other cheap car makers have gone through to go a bit more mainstream?.

      • seannami on 14/06/2024 - 20:53
        +1

        What MG really needs (in all models, as an MG driver) is… lumbar support and better software. I would be keeping my car after the novated runs out if it had lumbar support in the driver's seat, just saying.

  • simplystu on 15/06/2024 - 12:11
    -4

    I voted NO … As an owner of an MG (bought in FEB 24).

    MG Also have advantage of 7 year warranty.
    YOU don't get that with the others..

    • Dklovesnl on 15/06/2024 - 14:56
      +2

      you do get 7 years with kia and 10 years with Mitsubishi

      • simplystu on 15/06/2024 - 16:11

        How about that … Thanks for info.
        Seems they are trying to out-do each other.

        As an EX Mitsi owner though (+ parents with a mitsi) ….

        Will prob find you have the Mitsi in getting fixed more than times you have it on the road.

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