Hybrid cars:there are many new features, but without incentives sales risk paralysis

The incentives will arrive (perhaps) in May.In the meantime, the hybrid market stops at 3.3% in April.While manufacturers rediscover compact and accessible models, such as the MG3.

We've been talking about incentives and ecobonuses for months.In the meantime, inexplicably "on the front of cars with plugs", as Michele Crisci, president, recently defined them Unrae, “we proceed in reverse”.The cause?The prolonged wait for the incentives, which it seems will not be available before mid May;in fact, the publication in the Official Journal of the Prime Ministerial Decree announced three months ago is needed and without which the Invitalia platform remains inoperative.

The result?A market paralyzed for 4 months, with the electricity stopped in the month of April 2,3% of altitude and the hybrids al 3,3.A stalemate situation, in which even compact models, especially suitable for the city, economical (under 20 thousand euros) with very low emissions and consumption (over 20 km/l), such as the new hybrid MG3, they could end up on the "waiting list" of Italians.In the same situation, other compact hybrids of the so-called segment B, city cars such as Toyota Yaris, Renault Clio, Honda Jazz and others that we will see later.

MG3, what the hybrid designed for the city offers

Hybrid, compact, economical, powerful (it has 3 engines, 2 of which are electric and more horsepower than the majority of its rivals).There MG3, a Chinese passport with a brand that recalls glorious English pasts, plays everything (or a lot) on the economic aspect, with a price list that, ecobonus (and scrapping of an old model) permitting, can even drop to around 16 thousand euros.Perhaps it will not have such a distinctive style, on the contrary, an aspect on which as always we leave every consideration to you, but the general quality, the rationality of the spaces (large for the category) and, above all, the good performances that emerged from our test drive, predict good market reception.

MG3 enters the ranking of the 10 most interesting compact hybrids

What are the 10 most popular compact full hybrid cars on the market, the cheapest ones, which access the 2024 incentives?To understand the panorama it fits into MG3, let's see the most accessible hybrid models, all belonging to the so-called "third band" foreseen by the ecobonus, i.e. the one that includes cars with CO2 emissions between 61 and 135 g/km, to which the MG3 also belongs.

• Dacia Jogger Hybrid
• Honda Jazz e:HEV Full Hybrid
• Mazda2 Hybrid
• MG3 Hybrid
• Mitsubishi Colt Full Hybrid
• Nissan Juke Full Hybrid
• Renault Clio E-Tech hybrid
• Renault Captur E-Tech hybrid
• Suzuki Vitara Hybrid
• Toyota Yaris Hybrid
• Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid

Three motors (including 2 electric)

The MG3 is a hybrid designed above all for the city.The reason is the size, but even more so the efficiency of a hybrid system which provides the best performance in traffic, at least in terms of consumption and emissions;We'll see about the rest shortly.We are talking about a full hybrid system that uses a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, Atkinson cycle (among the most efficient solutions available today), a 45 kW electric generator that recharges the battery but also provides additional thrust when required and, finally, a second electric motor which acts directly on the wheels.In all, the MG3 provides 195 horsepower (143 kW) of power, a podium value when compared to its competitors.

The advantage of a larger battery

Net of the performance, which is certainly also suitable for extra-urban travel, the MG3 gives its best in the city, where thanks also to the emissions contained (100 g/km), enters without paying even the most restrictive restricted traffic zones, such as Area C in Milan.Always 3 driving modes (Eco, Normal and Sport), the MG3 has a hybrid system (which in MG they call Hybrid+) particularly efficient.This is well understood in the city, where if the battery charge allows it, you almost always travel in electric mode also taking advantage of the (adjustable) energy regeneration at each braking, with advantages also in terms of noise and vibration reduction, in fact without the need to ever change gear, like on an electric car.

The “secret” lies in one larger battery than almost all competitors (from 1.83 kWh) and an on average more powerful electric motor.As the speed increases, the petrol engine also comes into play, as on all hybrids, but initially it only serves as an "help" to the electric part, which remains predominant.Only by asking for more power does the MG3 progressively exploit the combustion engine;operation at this point becomes more similar to a petrol model (always supported by the electric unit), including the 3-speed automatic gearbox.

Standard equipment:among the best in the segment (despite some shortcomings...)

The result is a car that is pleasant to drive, ready to accelerate even when Eco is selected and the system reduces power, in favor of consumption.The MG3 loses a bit of pleasantness by selecting Sport, the mode that certainly provides the best performance, but with a clear worsening of acoustic comfort.For the rest, it is a car that offers a spacious interior with many compartments for storing objects, with good loading compartment (shame about the rear seat not divisible – most of the competitors offer the 60/40 split – and for the steering wheel not adjustable in depth), complete instrumentation (everything is concentrated on the double digital screen, one 7 inches in front of the driver, the other 10.25 dedicated to the central infotainment system.The quality of the finishes and plastics is decent.

The standard equipment is good and always includes the air conditioning, the audio system with Bluetooth connection, 4 USB ports, the rear parking sensors and the camera (which partly remedies a rear visibility not optimal due to the large rear window pillars), a policy that rewards those looking for economy from a car, but also comfort and connectivity which is no longer possible to derogate from.Perhaps, in terms of safety, LED headlights could have been added as standard, more efficient and powerful (which instead can be obtained for a fee on the MG3).

To return to safety, we close with the now indispensable Adas driving assistance systems, such as the lane keeping system, the adaptive cruise control or the forward collision warning to name the most significant. In conclusion, Although some rivals offer better interiors, the low price, the overall driving comfort and above all the efficient hybrid engine (along with the good level of standard equipment) make the MG3 one of the most interesting compact hybrids in its segment.