IT'S not all been plain sailing for MG since it relaunched a few years ago. The Chinese owners' hopes that UK buyers would welcome the venerable badge back to their bosoms didn't exactly pan out.

But the Chinese don't give up easily. The MG3 hatchback was probably the most convincing of the early MGs to arrive from the Far East and certainly the most successful.

This month MG takes the wraps off its successor - still called the MG3 - and hopes arte high that it could be the start of something big.

The old MG3 sold over 10,000 units in its four years on sale and its stylish successor is a natural evolution, bringing it into MG’s new design family, first seen with the MG ZS compact SUV.

The design of the car has undergone an extensive update, inside and out. One of the key design features of the new MG3 is the dynamic new face of MG, featuring the eye-catching ‘star-rider’ grille which frames the brand’s famous octagonal logo. The exterior facelift is rounded off by new side skirts and a smarter rear bumper. As face-lifts go it's highly successful: the old MG3 looked a bit frumpy from some angles but the new one really cuts a dash.

On the inside, the design team has worked hard to create a practical, spacious and stylish interior. Out go the old-fashioned instruments and hard plastics to make way for a new touchscreen Infotainment system with full Apple CarPlay integration (on all but the base models).

Power comes from the tried 'n' tested 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit that's been updated to meet new European emissions regulations. With 105bhp on tap, the MG3's performance is sprightly. Top speed is 108 mph and 0-60mph takes 10.4 seconds.

MG claims its supermini has one of the roomiest cabins in the supermini segment, with class-leading head and leg room for five adults to ride in comfort.

The boot space is also impressive for a car in this category, with designers managing to optimise the space so that it has a staggering 285 litres of capacity.

There are three different versions offered in the New MG3 line-up; the entry grade ‘Explore’, mid-grade ‘Excite’ and the ‘Exclusive’ at the pinnacle of the range. The whole New MG3 range comes packed with a host of exciting technology. All versions come with Bluetooth as standard, while ‘Excite’ and ‘Exclusive’ versions boast an 8” colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay™, DAB radio and steering wheel audio controls. The ‘Exclusive’ version adds a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, completing an exceptional value-for-money package.

Starting from just £9,495 for the entry level ‘Explore’, the new 3 enjoys a considerable cost benefit over its rivals in both purchase and running costs, with the ‘Excite’ and ‘Exclusive’ versions costing £11,395 and £12,795 respectively. New MG3 is also available on a 5-year, zero per cent APR finance package with no deposit required from the customer.

Demonstrating its faith in the build quality and reliability of its products, MG has extended its 7 year/80,000-miles warranty to New MG3. The new warranty really adds to New MG3’s value-for-money offering, making it one of the most attractive packages on the market. Fully-transferable to future owners, the comprehensive warranty gives great reassurance to MG buyers.