THE new MG3 Hybrid is fun to drive, offers stacks of equipment as well as very strong fuel consumption figures.

And the even better news is that it does all that with prices that undercut all of its rivals in the supermini class.

MG's super-efficient hybrid powertrain makes its debut in the newcomer and delivers an official fuel return rated at 64.2mpg. That was easy to achieve and on some longer runs my car returned over 70mpg on a couple of motorway journeys.

The top range Trophy specification model I drove was priced at £20,495 - £2,000 more than the entry-level SE version - and came fully loaded with lots of driver aids including rear cross traffic alerts as well as blind zone detection, keyless entry and smart looking synthetic leather upholstery with fabric inserts.

It also boasts LED projector headlamps, a rear wiper, heated front seats and steering wheel plus a 360-degree view camera system.

Slightly larger than its predecessor it now offers more space inside. The boot offers 293 to 983 litres with the rear seats folded, although surpisingly the back bench does not split.

It is not stunning to look at but it is crisply styled with sculpted bodywork and a smart front grille that stretches the car's entire width.

The dash has a nice two-screen layout with a seven-inch digital instrument panel and a 10.25 oblong display in the middle of the facia and both are easy to read.

Sat nav is standard on the MG3 and thereis Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Some of the touchscreen features and steering wheel controls can be a bit confusing but owners will get used to them quickly.

The hybrid setup uses a 1.5-litre engine mated to an electric motor and has a very effective regeneration system which you can adjust to allow almost single pedal driving.

The smooth three-speed automatic gearbox operated from a rotary control in the centre console is unusual in hybrids as most vehicles use CVT systems.

A touch of a button allows you to select from three driving modes - Eco really reduces throttle effect while Sport is sharper - and the Normal mode is the one to use most of the time.

Performance is lively enough with a top speed is.106mph and a 0 to 62mph acceleration time of eight seconds. With 191bhp on tap the MG3 neverstruggles and the suspension deals well with all surfaces. The steering is light and accurate and the MG3 feels refined but remains agile and fun to drive.

The cabin has a nice uncluttered feel and offers lots of storage space as well as room for four adults to travel in comfort and five for shorter journeys.

Some of the materials may not be plush and there is lotsof hard plastic but nothing feels flimsy.