Article By Josh Wild

Suzuki Swift SZ-T vs MG 3

​The now Chinese-owned MG Motors brand has been making some headway with sales in the UK since the release of the MG 6 in 2011 (the first new MG car in the country for 16 years) after production restarted in 2007. Since then and with a focus on affordability, MG Motors have released a number of other new models into the UK market, one of those being their compact city car - the MG 3. Like the Suzuki Swift, the MG 3 is a dark horse in an already busy compact car market and has stiff competition from household names like the FiestaPolo and Corsa, so we decided it was only fair to see how they both faired in a head-to-head review.

The Suzuki Swift SZ-T Hybrid

The all-new Suzuki Swift Hybrid - great fun to drive, more practical and better equipped than ever, available from Colin Appleyard Cars. With its new hybrid engine combined with a lightweight chassis, the all-new Suzuki Swift is more powerful, more environmentally friendly and more efficient than ever before. 

RRP: £15,249

Our Price £14,999

The Mg 3

A 95 year reputation built on sporty and distinctive cars, MGs are both affordable and a joy to drive. MG3 is no different, it’s one of the best value hatchbacks on the current market and boasts a wealth of features to make your drive fun and distinctive.

RRP: 13,295

Our Price £13,295

Exterior

Both the Suzuki Swift and MG 3 have their own unique set of exterior features, showcasing alloy wheels and sleek body lines. There is one noticeable difference on first glance however, which is the lack of front fog lamps on the MG 3. This isn't just a missing feature on the Exclusive derivative either - it's not available throughout the range, which is an odd decision from MG given that the exterior design seems to catered for their inclusion.

Both cars come with daytime running lights as standard, but the Suzuki Swift excels over the MG 3 by being equipped with automatic headlights, and when it comes to peace of mind the Swift SZ-T also comes with rear privacy glass.

'Under The Hood' - The Engines

The Suzuki Swift hybrid model is mated with the 1.2 dualjet engine also seen in the Ignis, lauded for its fuel economy and peppy response. Conversely, under the hood of the MG 3 is a thirsty 1.5 engine providing more power than the Suzuki's but at a cost to fuel economy and emissions.

The numbers speak for themselves - although the MG 3 is just over 1 second quicker than the Swift from 0-60mph because of the extra power generated from the 1.5 engine, it has a combined MPG of just 42.3 vs the Swifts impressive 56.4. This means you'll be visiting the petrol station much less often in the Swift. CO2 emissions on the MG 3 are also much higher, coughing out 152g/km vs 113g/km which equates to a whopping £540 in 1st year road tax (£365 more than the Swift).

Safety

Both vehicles received a 3 star rating from NCAP, however the Swift has the option of adding 'Radar Brake Support' to the SZ3 and SZ-T (it's standard on the SZ5 model) which increases the score to 4 out of 5 stars. Radar Brake Support monitors the road ahead for potential collisions and will make an audible warning then apply the brakes if necessary. The MG 3 lacks this additional safety equipment and has no option to add it on.

Both cars are also equipped with a rear parking camera, and the MG 3 is also coupled with reversing sensors giving you additional confidence when manoeuvring.

Reliability

The MG 3 surpasses the Suzuki with it's 7 year / 80,000 mile warranty, compared to the Swifts 3 year / 60,000 mile warranty, which will give some buyers extra peace of mind. However, in the latest Manufacturer Reliability Index, MG scored an average ranking of 17th out of 40 manufacturers whereas Suzuki ranked an exceptional 3rd out of 40. (Although Daihatsu ranks 1st in the list, this is deceptive as it hasn't produced a new vehicle in the UK since 2011 - so we can technically place Suzuki 2nd in the chart and MG 16th.)

Similarly, Suzuki also places 3rd (2nd if removing Daihatsu) in terms of average repair cost, vs MG's 10th (9th) position - meaning that in the unfortunate event your Suzuki needs repairing it will cost on average less than the MG.

Suzuki Swift SZ-T MG 3
RRP On The Road £15,249 £13,295
Current Price £14,999 £13,295
Combined MPG (WLTP)
56.4 42.3
CO2 Emissions 113g/km 152g/km
1st Year Car Tax £175 £540
Doors 5 5
Engine Power 90 HP 106 PS
0-60mpg 11.5 seconds 10.4 seconds
Top Speed 111mph 108mph
Euro NCAP Safety Rating ★★★★ (with Radar Brake Support)
★★★
Warranty 3 Years / 60,000 Miles 7 Years / 80,000 Miles
Manufacturer Reliability Index 3rd (Out of 40) 17th (Out of 40)
Average Repair Cost 3rd (Out of 40) 10th (Out of 40)
Radar Brake Support
Rear Parking Camera
Reversing Sensors
Air Conditioning
Front Fog Lamps
Automatic Headlights
Daytime Running Lights
Apple CarPlay / Android Auto
Cruise Control
DAB Radio
Alloy Wheels
Leather Steering Wheel
Rear Privacy Glass
Score 18 12