The MG 3 city hatchback is set to expand its lineup with a new entry-level model called the MG 3 Vibe, nearly a year after the latest-generation version debuted with a significant price hike of approximately $7,000. Scheduled to arrive in Australian showrooms this June—barring any unexpected delays—the Vibe aims to offer a more affordable alternative within the MG 3 range. However, whether it will return to the appealing sub-$20,000 drive-away pricing of its predecessor remains uncertain.
The arrival of the Vibe will coincide with a broader safety update across MG’s city-car lineup. These updates are being implemented in response to the MG 3’s disappointing three-star ANCAP safety rating, which was issued last year. The goal of these upgrades is to enhance the vehicle’s safety performance and potentially push it into a higher safety category.
Details regarding the final pricing and features of the MG 3 Vibe have not yet been disclosed. What is known, however, is that this base model will be powered exclusively by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, with no hybrid option offered. For context, the current MG 3 Excite—the next model up—is being advertised at a national drive-away special price of $22,888, discounted from its regular retail price of $23,990 (which typically results in a drive-away cost between $25,900 and $26,600, depending on the location). According to MG Motor Australia’s Chief Commercial Officer, Giles Belcher, it is not guaranteed that the Vibe will be priced below the Excite, especially when factoring in these current promotions.
A more affordable version would mark a return to the pricing strategy of the outgoing generation, which had been available from $18,990 drive-away before being phased out. Belcher confirmed that supply of the older MG 3 has now been exhausted, following strategic stockpiling during its final production phase.
As for the new Vibe variant, it is expected to come equipped with 15-inch steel wheels and hubcaps, as per government certification documents. However, other cost-saving measures may include the removal of certain features like push-button start (replaced by a traditional key ignition), power-folding mirrors, and possibly even adaptive cruise control, based on configurations seen in overseas markets.
Nevertheless, MG appears unwilling to compromise on core safety features, particularly those relevant to ANCAP ratings. Systems such as lane-keep assist and speed sign recognition are likely to be standard, as they are essential to improving crash-test scores. While structural changes had previously been hinted at to improve safety ratings, Belcher has since indicated that the upcoming updates may instead focus on enhancing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)—a suite of crash-avoidance technologies critical in modern vehicle safety evaluations.