Our $18,500 MG3 Vibe used less fuel than its own trip computer suggested during a 1,565km Melbourne-to-Bowral return trip, recording a measured 6.42L/100km against the dashboard’s 6.7L/100km.

That was the surprise from our first extended freeway outing in Australia’s cheapest new car.
The less surprising part was its acceleration with two people and camera gear aboard, while phone charging and a late-night headlight glitch also gave us something to investigate.

We bought this base, 2026-plated MG3 Vibe through CarSauce Buy for $18,500, against its advertised $19,990 drive-away price.
It is our own long-term car, rather than a borrowed test vehicle, and will eventually be sold through CarSauce Sell.

CarSauce’s Matt Brand and Jacob Brooke cover the journey in our YouTube video, “Can Australia's CHEAPEST CAR Survive a 1,600km ROAD TRIP?!”
The route took us from our Melbourne office to Bowral via the Hume and Goulburn, with roughly 800km and eight-and-a-half hours behind the wheel each way.

Our Vibe has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 81kW and 142Nm, driving the front wheels through a CVT automatic.
It is not the MG3 Hybrid+, which produces substantially more at 155kW.

What the fuel stops and freeway driving revealed

Across the complete journey, we put in 100.48 litres over 1,565km, giving a tank-to-tank result of 6.42L/100km.
The first refill was consistent with that result: 34.15 litres after 531km, or approximately 6.4L/100km.

Our measured consumption was below the trip computer’s final reading, but above MG Australia’s official combined figure of 6.0L/100km.
Those figures describe different driving conditions, rather than a like-for-like laboratory comparison.

We used 98 RON petrol, although the MG3 accepts 91 RON, and has a 45 litre fuel tank.

With one person aboard, we recorded a 0-100km/h time below 12 seconds.
Loaded with two people, camera equipment and a couple of full bellies, the run from rest to 110km/h on a freeway entry took approximately 14.36 seconds.

The MG3 moved away readily, but acceleration faded as speed increased, and holding 110km/h required revs.
Even so, we found little road noise and no persistent CVT drone during the journey.

The cabin was comfortable, although the passenger seat felt mounted very high.
An accidental detour onto a rough dirt road also produced no bump-stop impacts, with good stopping performance on gravel and mild understeer.

Adaptive cruise control and lane centring generally worked well during our drive, but the steering assistance occasionally moved us towards the right when travelling in the right lane or passing trucks.
The safety functions were straightforward to switch off with a swipe.

Phone charging was less successful: one phone stayed at 87 per cent for half an hour, and one cable did not work.
The halogen headlights were only average, while automatic high beam initially worked well before stopping later that night, requiring manual operation.
We also noticed differences in some panel gaps.

Our freeway result does not settle the question of urban running costs.
We expect around-town consumption of 8 - 9L/100km, rather than the figure achieved on this trip.

The 2026 Kia Picanto Sport starts at $22,290 drive-away with a five-speed manual, compared with $19,990 drive-away for the automatic MG3 Vibe.
It has a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and we expected it to use less fuel than the MG3.

The 2026 Suzuki Swift Hybrid manual starts at $25,490 drive-away, $5500 above the MG3’s advertised drive-away price.
Its official combined consumption is approximately 4.0L/100km versus the MG3’s 6.0L/100km, while its 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with 12V mild-hybrid assistance produces 61kW and 112Nm, below the MG3’s 81kW and 142Nm.

By the return to Melbourne, Jacob’s first extended experience of the car had prompted him to say he could buy one.
Our measured economy and cabin observations sat alongside clear limitations in loaded freeway acceleration and several technology faults.
Next, we will put the MG3 on a hoist for a closer inspection.

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