Morris Garages, a Chinese-owned British car manufacturer, is the most recent entrant in India. MG was renowned for making small and zippy sports cars back in its heyday, and after its purchase by the Nanjing Automotive Group in 2006, it was again bought over at a later stage by SAIC in 2011. Ever since the brand has focused primarily on producing sedans and SUVs. Their first product in India is the Hector, based on the Baojun 530 from SAIC's expansive model portfolio. With a whole lot of brands making their foray in India, MG wanted to be among the first to be a part of the party, and the Hector seems to have a lot riding on it, for it performs well, is spacious on the inside, and comes laden with the latest connectivity features.
Exterior
The MG Hector definitely comes across as a stylish SUV, and that chrome all around is sure to get the attention of Indian buyers. Up-front, the split headlight design trend continues on the Hector, with the upper half being the LED DRLs, and the lower half, the main headlamp. There are also fog lamps right below. Even the stylish tail lamp design that streams across the tailgate, gets the LED treatment – a segment-first. The side profile gets a sharp belt line, and the squared-off wheel arches house 17-inch wheels. It also gets an 'Internet Inside' badge just below the A-pillar.
Variants
The 2019 MG Hector variants are as follows: Style, Super, Smart and Sharp. Features include rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, panoramic sunroof, mood lighting in 8 colours, heated ORVMs, cruise control, navigation, 6-way electrically adjustable driver's seat, 4-way electrically adjustable co-driver's seat, internet connectivity via SIM, a 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cooled glovebox, rear AC vents and a 7.0-inch multi-information display. On the safety front, it is equipped with ABS with EBD, ESP, 6 airbags, reverse parking sensors, rear camera and a 360-degree camera.
Interior
The cabin of the Hector feels pretty premium, with the right blend of good materials and tech bits around. Space is never an issue; there's loads of it around, and the seats are very comfortable. They're wide and well bolstered. The steering also adjusts for rake and reach. Legroom and headroom at the rear are more than sufficient even for six-footers. Three occupants can be seated on the rear bench without having to squeeze in. The big infotainment screen features in-built navigation with traffic updates by TomTom, and is pre-loaded with apps like Gaana and AccuWeather. You can also stream pre-loaded videos on the huge screen. The top-of-the-line model also comes with an 8-speaker Infinity sound system, coupled with an amplifier and sub-woofer. Coming to the 'Internet Inside' badge: the Hector offers segment-first connectivity features. It also comes with an embedded 5G-ready eSIM from Airtel that provides wireless software updates for the Hector and gets a digital instrument cluster with a 7-inch TFT screen in the middle that displays tyre pressure, fuel economy and the manner in which the smart hybrid system works. Say 'Hello MG', and you will be able to activate more than 100 voice commands. Boot space, at 587 litres, is great.
Engine Specifications & Performance
The MG Hector is powered by two engine options: a 1.5-litre, turbo petrol engine that makes 141bhp and 250Nm of torque and a 2.0-litre, diesel engine that produces 168bhp and 350Nm of torque, the latter being Fiat-sourced. We drove the mild-hybrid petrol version that comes paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Also, the dual-clutch automatic gearbox is offered on the standard petrol variant. Start up the SUV, and it immediately impresses with its refinement. When you feel the need to overtake, there is some turbo lag apparent. But when driven in a relaxed manner, the Hector happily potters on, with the 48V hybrid system adding some oomph as well. The ride quality is really good, as most of the bumps are absorbed effortlessly. The light steering is best enjoyed within the city, and the Hector stays planted at high speeds as well, while the brakes too, bite well, thanks to the disc brakes all around.
Mileage
The MG Hector's ARAI-certified fuel efficiency figure is rated at 17.41kmpl for the diesel model and 15.81kmpl for the hybrid model.
