MG entered the Indian market with the Hector in August 2019. By April 2021, they had already sold 50000 units of the Hector which is a huge number considering the domestic market delivered the worst performance of the decade in 2020, courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pros – Feature Loaded, Futuristic Design, Practical And Spacious Cabin
Cons – Lack Of Gearbox Options In The Diesel Trim, Low-End Turbo Lag
MG Hector Exterior
The headlamps on the Hector would remind one of the Hyundai Venue to some extent. With the sharp and futuristic shape of the LED headlamps, the MG Hector is sure to capture hearts. To add to that, the tiger nose grille with the MG badging right at the centre along with the chrome treatment connecting the two headlamps just makes one go in awe of Hector’s design language. The tilted Fu Manchu moustache style chrome treatment around the fog lamps is also noteworthy.
The Hector is 4655mm in length, 1835mm in breadth and 1760mm in height. From the side, the Hector does not look like the most brawny SUV which is fair enough to say when compared to the likes of Jeep Compass and the Tata Harrier but that doesn’t refrain one from commenting that it has a decent road presence. The Hector gets trapezoidal taillights which are LEDs. It also gets a rear spoiler to intensify the looks of the car.
MG Hector Interior
If someone is buying the Hector then it is assumed that cabin space and features are of utmost priority. A 10.4-inch HD infotainment system is loaded with features like inbuilt voice commands in more than 100 languages, remote vehicle control, vehicle car status, geofencing, smart drive and much more. It also gets a 5G ready Airtel sim card and embedded apps like the Tom Tom navigation and Gaana premium account for 3 years. It gets 4 speakers, 4 tweeters, an amplifier and a subwoofer. It also gets a panoramic sunroof with a fatigue assistant. It gets four 360° cameras with one on the front, the rear and on either side. Other features include automatic climate control, cruise control, fast-charging USB ports (both at the front and at the rear), 8 coloured ambient lighting, six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat and much more.
MG Hector Space
The Hector being the longest SUV in the segment also happens to have the longest wheelbase. It has a boot space of 587-litres which is segment-leading. It might feel a bit congested though to fit in a lot of luggage, courtesy of a high loading lip and a large cargo area below the floor.
MG Hector Engine Performance
The MG Hector gets a 1451cc petrol engine which is offered with manual, CVT and DCT gearbox options. The petrol trim makes 143 PS of power at 5000 RPM with a torque output of 250 Nm between 1600-3600 RPM. There is a lot of turbo lag below 2000 RPM but above 2000 RPM, the Hector loves to be revved. The mid-range and the high end is very strong and the car redlines up to 6000 RPM.
The diesel engine is a 1956cc unit that gets the option of a manual transmission only. It makes 170 PS of power at 3750 RPM with a torque output of 350 Nm between 1750-2500 RPM. There is some amount of turbo lag below 2000 RPM in the diesel trim. The mid-range is fairly good and redlines all the way to 5000 RPM.
MG Hector Mileage
The ARAI mileage of MG Hector in the petrol manual is 14.1 km/l. It gets up to 15.8 km/l in the petrol hybrid and reduces to 13.96 km/l in the petrol DCT. One can expect around 9-11 km/l in real-world conditions in the manual, 10-12 km/l in the hybrid and 11-12 km/l in real-world conditions in the petrol DCT.
The ARAI mileage of the MG Hector in the diesel trim is 17.41 km/l. One can expect around 11-12 km/l in the city which would increase to 12-13 km/l out on the highway.
MG Hector Handling
The gear shifts in the MG Hector are sleek for the most part but if one tries to shift aggressively then it tends to get a bit notchy. The steering is extremely light but around the corners, it lacks confidence in terms of feel and feedback for enthusiasts. Nevertheless, it’s perfectly tuned for the daily chores. The suspension is on the softer side which implies that the ride quality is good however there is a tendency of the suspension to have some vertical movement at high speeds.
MG Hector Comfort
The under-thigh support could certainly have been better at the rear, however even with a sunroof, there happens to be a lot of headroom for a 6 footer. With a flat flooring and ample amount of knee room at the rear, three passengers can be accommodated at the back.
MG Hector Safety
The MG Hector gets a lot of safety features such as 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Rear Parking Sensors, Hill Hold Control, 360° cameras and much more.
MG Hector Service
MG is not yet there when it comes to the number of service centres across India which is understandable considering they entered the Indian market in 2019. Nevertheless, they are quickly picking up pace and doing their best to offer top-notch services to their customers.
MG Hector Prices
Following are the prices (on road Mumbai) of the MG Hector :
- Style 1.5 Petrol Turbo MT : Rs. 15.93 lakhs
- Shine 1.5 Petrol Turbo MT : Rs. 17.12 lakhs
- Style 2.0 Diesel Turbo MT : Rs. 18.17 lakhs
- Shine 1.5 Petrol Turbo CVT : Rs. 18.52 lakhs
- Smart 1.5 Petrol Turbo Hybrid MT : Rs. 19.29 lakhs
- Shine 2.0 Diesel Turbo MT : Rs. 19.96 lakhs
- Smart 1.5 Petrol CVT : Rs. 20.01 lakhs
- Smart 1.5 Petrol Turbo DCT : Rs. 20.01 lakhs
- Sharp 1.5 Petrol Turbo Hybrid MT Dual Tone : Rs. 20.88 lakhs
- Sharp 1.5 Petrol Turbo Hybrid MT : Rs. 21.03 lakhs
- Smart 2.0 Diesel Turbo MT : Rs. 21.84 lakhs
- Sharp 1.5 Petrol CVT : Rs. 21.99 lakhs
- Sharp 1.5 Petrol Turbo DCT : Rs. 21.99 lakhs
- Sharp 1.5 Petrol Turbo DCT Dual Tone : Rs. 22.05 lakhs
- Sharp 2.0 Diesel Turbo MT Dual Tone : Rs. 23.24 lakhs
- Sharp 2.0 Diesel Turbo MT : Rs. 23.52 lakhs
MG Hector Resale Value
MG has established a firm grip in the Indian market. However, with the success of Hector, it’s no brainer that the carmaker has bright future prospects with the sheer number of features it has to offer. The resale value also depends on the number of kilometres driven along with the condition in which the vehicle is in.
MG Hector Colours
The MG Hector is offered in the following colours :
- Glaze Red
- Aurora Silver
- Burgundy Red
- Candy White
- Starry Black
- Glaze Red with Starry Black
- Candy White with Starry Black
- Starry Sky Blue
- Havana Grey Color
MG Hector Specs
Engine: 1451cc, 4-Cyl, Petrol/Petrol-Hybrid | 1956cc, 4-Cyl, Diesel
Power: 143 PS @ 5000 RPM | 170 PS @ 3750 RPM
Torque: 250 Nm @ 1600-3600 RPM | 350 Nm @ 1750-2500 RPM
Transmission: 6-Speed MT, 6-Speed DCT | 6-Speed MT
Fuel Consumption: 14.16 km/l (P MT), 13.96 km/l (P DCT), 15.81 km/l (P Hybrid), 17.41 km/l (D)
Fuel Type: Petrol | Diesel
Tyre Size: 215/60/17 (Style, Shine), 215/55/18 (Smart, Sharp) {Front and Rear}
Suspension: MacPherson Strut (Front), Semi-Independent (Rear)
Brakes: Disc (Front & Rear)
Safety: 6 Airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP
Dimensions (LxWxH): 4655 mm X 1835 mm X 1760 mm
Wheelbase: 2750 mm
Ground Clearance: 192 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 60-litres
Boot Space: 587-litres
MG Hector Variants
The MG Hector is offered in the following variants in the petrol trim :
- Style MT
- Shine MT
- Shine CVT
- Smart Hybrid MT
- Smart CVT
- Smart DCT
- Sharp Hybrid MT
- Sharp CVT
- Sharp DCT
The MG Hector is offered in the following variants in the diesel trim :
- Style MT
- Shine MT
- Smart MT
- Sharp MT
MG Hector Rating
We gave the MG Hector a rating of 4.5/5.
MG Hector Upcoming Models
MG recently launched the Shine variant of the Hector in August 2021. As of now, the Hector is not expected to get a facelift anytime soon.
MG Hector vs Kia Seltos
The Kia Seltos is 340mm smaller than the MG Hector and gets 1.5-litre engine options in both petrol and diesel trim along with a 1.4-litre turbo petrol motor. It gets an option of an automatic torque converter in the diesel trim which is not offered in the Hector. For someone looking to have a toss-up between the Hector and the Seltos, they might tilt towards the Seltos if an automatic is a priority in the diesel trim.
MG Hector vs Tata Harrier
The Tata Harrier arguably has the best built among its contemporaries. It has a robust design, sleek headlamps and is put together nicely when viewed from a distance. The biggest drawback of the Harrier is the fact that it is not offered in the petrol trim whereas the Hector does get the option of the same. If a petrol engine and a feature-rich cabin is a priority, one might like to go for the Hector.
MG Hector vs Jeep Compass
The unique selling point of the Jeep Compass is the fact that it comes with four-wheel drive. It does look pricey when compared to the Hector but for that extra money, one gets to enjoy the capability of four-wheel drive along with the brand value of Jeep. If comfort, convenience and space is a priority then the Hector is the way to go.
MG Hector vs XUV 500
Just like the Harrier, the XUV500 is only offered in the diesel trim. If someone wants to opt for the diesel trim and that too with the automatic torque converter gearbox option, only then one may opt for the XUV500 over the MG Hector.
