MG Gloster, Track Test

With the Hector, MG has definitely made a foothold in the Indian market. But, honestly speaking, there are a few chinks in its armour that need to be addressed. For instance, driving dynamics.

But now, with the Gloster, MG has taken a quantum leap ahead on many fronts. First, in terms of appearance, the Gloster’s design is more cohesive and traditional, handsome even. Overall, it looks like a refined product. That Gloster badging on the tailgate is a bit of an eyesore though. 

And the interior quality is pretty good, plus the space management is excellent for all occupants – it can easily fit six full-size adults. Like the Hector, the Gloster also comes loaded with more tech than you can count on your fingertips – from voice controls and app integration in the multimedia system to ventilated seats, and more. 

However, the biggest surprise comes in the form of its driving dynamics. Both on the road and at the track, the Gloster offers quite an impressive driving experience. Sure, it seems to have a fair amount of body roll – tall height, large dimensions, and a heavy kerb weight all lead to a physics equation that’s difficult to manage at the end of the day – but it feels planted and drives enthusiastically, with sharp steering response. Also, its body roll is actually less than that of the Endeavour. 

Combine all this with excellent refinement and a pretty spot-on price tag, and the Gloster has all the makings of a sales success. Heck, it even goes off-road quite convincingly, with proper four-wheel-drive credentials. No wonder, then, that the Gloster has finished so high up in our annual mega test – it truly is a product that feels modern and, at least, two generations ahead of the Hector. It’s not easy to take on the likes of the Toyota Fortuner in the Indian market, but MG has made its intentions very clear with the launch of the Gloster. The competition has been warned!

Best of 2020 << BACKNEXT >> Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Turbo