MG HECTOR PLUS REVIEW-THE 7 SEATER SUV

The 7-seater SUV race has begun and every manufacturer is eyeing this space to stand ahead. By launching a new variant MG has also jumped into this race with the all-new MG Hector Plus, the 7- seater. This time we have got a chance to review the all-new MG Hector Plus Hybrid petrol version so sit back and enjoy the saga of the 7-seater.

Exterior and Design of MG Hector Plus-

The exterior of the SUV is marked by the bold instance due to its length of 4720mm, 1835mm width and 1760mm height.

The design language used in MG Hector Plus breaks the conventional rough and tough look of SUV’s but gives a modern look. At the front, the first thing to catch your eyes is the bold and large grille with the MG logo on it. The LED headlamps, turn indicators and fog lamps in the front overall give the Hector Plus a futuristic look. The badging of Morris Garages in the bonnet adds well to the premiumness of the car.

The side view of the car actually gives the feel of the overall length of the 7-seater. The road presence from the side view is quite noticeable. Please note that before buying this car do check the length of the garage, which may seem normal for other cars, may not fit the 7-seater MG Hector Plus. The chrome finish door handlebars, the turn indicator on the ORVMs, the dual-tone machined alloy wheels, side body cladding finish, shark fin antenna and the roof rail give the MG Hector Plus a subtle look.

Coming to the rear you get a massive tailgate and a rear bumper. The tailgate houses the rear taillamp, turn indicators, rear wipers and reverse parking camera. Again the MG logo, Hector Plus, Hybrid badging and the curved design at the tailgate redefines the luxury sports character of the SUV.

MG Hector Plus Interior|Design and Layout of MG 7 Seater –

The front side including the dashboard has been designed to give a premium look and feel to this car. Apart from this design aspect, the driver and co-driver convenience has also been kept in mind.

The first thing you will notice in the dashboard is the massive 10.4″ touch display which has reduced the number of toggle keys from the dashboard. The steering wheel has mounter control for music control, call receiving function and cruise control setting button. The instrument cluster has a speedometer, tachometer, 17.78cm display which encompasses various functions like odometer, trip meter, engine temperature, fuel level indicator, distance to empty and battery charge indicator. AC vents are quite large which help in fast cooling of the car cabin. The glove box is having ample space to keep miscellaneous stuff and also has an AC vent for cooling.

On the driver side, you get the power windows button, central locking button, space for bottle holder which can easily fit 1 L bottle and an umbrella. Apart from these, there is more space left for keeping other items. Furthermore, there is plenty of space for a bottle holder along each side of the passenger seat.

The middle seat is having ample space for 3 passengers to easily fit and each passenger gets a separate headrest for themselves. In case only two passengers are occupying the middle row seat then you have the option to pull out the rear armrest which also has the cup holder. You also get the rear AC vents for better comfort. The bump in between the middle passenger seat is also minimal.

Coming to the extreme rear seat at the end, you need to fold the middle seat in order to reach there. The rear seat is suitable for small kids or teenagers basically. Despite the space being limited MG engineers have still made out space for 1 L bottle holders on both side, AC vents with fan speed control and a 5V/2A USB socket. So the comfort and convenience has been kept on top most priority while designing the interiors.

Passenger Amenities-

As mentioned earlier there is plenty of storage options for bottles and other stuff in this car. Coming to the mobile charging feature. MG Hector Plus is full of USB ports to help you make your journey free from charging worries. Apart from the charging ports shown above MG has given ports at different seating rows to help each one of the passengers on board. Just have a look at USB charging ports below-

Furthermore, both the sun visor has a vanity mirror.

The 10.4″ touchscreen has various features like Navigation by TomTom, Apple Car Play, Android Auto,FM Radio, AC Controls, Call Features, Music Player, Sound Equalizer, USB connectivity, Rear Camera Display, etc. The sound system consists of 6 speakers and tweeters from MG.

Please note that MG Hector Plus Hybrid(Super) model does not have an internet connectivity feature which restricts all the network-connected features in this model.

The boot space with all the seats on is 155 L. A boot lamp makes you access the space in even in dark.

The controls for adjusting the ORVMs are present near the steering of the MG Hector Plus.

Taking into consideration the above list of amenities available it is clear that MG has worked with customer-centricity in mind. Bringing the features which were a part of ultra-premium vehicles until yesterday MG is playing its part in being the game-changer in the SUV segment.

Technical Specification of MG Hector Plus-

The MG Hector1Plus comes with both diesel and petrol engine options. I had a chance to drive the petrol hybrid engine which produces 143Ps@5000rpm maximum power and 250Nm@1600-3600rpm of maximum torque. The engine is of 1.5 L Turbocharged Intercooled with belt starter generator which is paired with 6-speed manual transmission. The braking duties are performed by disc brakes both at the front and rear sides. The tyre setup consists of 215/60 R17 in the front and rear, tubeless tyres. The ground clearance measures 192mm.

Hybrid MG Hector Plus 7 Seater-

Basically, the Hybrid system employed in this SUV works like an engine idle start-stop system, with employs regenerative braking and a 48V battery to help boost the ecology. In simple words, it is just like a start-stop system without the need of switching off the vehicle manually. This hybrid system in the MG Hector Plus switches off the engine automatically with the release of the clutch in neutral gear at a halt and automatically ignites it when the gear is shifted. Thus it helps in saving fuel and reducing pollution.

Please note that users should not get confused with this hybrid term and take the SUV to be capable of running through electricity and petrol both separately. Such a system has already been utilized in SUVs like Mahindra Scorpio.

Safety Features-

The MG Hector Plus Super Hybrid comes with a host of safety features which include 2 airbags at the front, an electronic stability program (ESP), a traction control system(TCS), hill hold control, ABS+EBD+Brake Assist and cruise control. High-strength steel is used in the body of this car.

Reverse parking camera with reverse parking sensors, cornering front fog lamp, speed sensing auto door lock, etc features are present to aid driving through modern age nooks and corners.

Performance and Drivability Of MG Hector Plus-

The MG Hector Plus turbocharged engine works like a gem. The 143Ps@5000rpm engine gives sufficient top end to the vehicle. At the same time, the low-end torque band of 1600-3600rpm does not let you feel the turbo lag in it. The gearbox is smooth and crisp, meaning to say that the gear travel is shorter in order to engage the next gear. The electronic steering does not let you feel the size of the SUV. It is quite easy to change the lane with such steering. The 250Nm torque never lets you feel underpowered especially while overtaking another vehicle.

The braking system of MG Hector Plus is very crisp and responsive. One should be careful if you are not used to it. The all-disc brakes indeed give you more confidence while driving at high speed.

Features like ABS, EBD, Brake Assist has been made standard across all the variants of MG Hector Plus which really shows the safety concern of the carmaker towards the customer.

The suspension setup does not let the minor jerks through bumps and potholes make their way into the cabin. Overall the NVH level of this SUV is well controlled. This model of the MG Hector Plus being the petrol version, hardly lets the engine noise come inside the cabin. You will need to see the tachometer to check whether the engine is on or not.

MG Hector Plus Full Specifications

Specification	Value
Fuel Type	Petrol, Diesel
Engine Type	1451 cc Petrol, 1956 cc Diesel
Max Power	141bhp@5000rpm (Petrol), 167.67bhp@3750rpm (Diesel)
Max Torque	250Nm@1600-3600rpm (Petrol), 350Nm@1750-2500rpm (Diesel)
Transmission	Manual & Automatic
Seating Capacity	6, 7
Length	4,699 mm
Width	1,835 mm
Height	1,760 mm
Boot Space	155 liters
Ground Clearance	192 mm (laden)
Wheelbase	2,750 mm
Kerb Weight	1,755 kg
No. of Doors	5

Mileage of MG Hector Plus-

The mileage of MG Hector Plus in the city as claimed by the owner is around 10kmpl, which is quite good considering the size of the SUV. While driving on the highways the mileage will be more. The fuel tank of the MG Hector Plus is 60 Litres.

Please note that mileage is a subjective term that varies on various conditions and cannot be termed as fixed for every vehicle.

Cons Of MG Hector Plus-

• Turbocharged Petrol engine costly to maintain if goes out of order
• Lack of adequate knee room on the rear seat, a problem common with every 7 seater
• A limited number of service outlets.
• Chrome treatment on mirrors,headlamps,Morris Garages 3D sticker on the bonnet, is chargeable which otherwise comes factory fitted in MG Hector
• Power ORVMs not available in the MG Hector Plus Super Hybrid model
• Boot opening button near the tailgate is not there which is available in high end model

Verdict-

The MG Hector Plus is an overall package with a host of other features to make your ride comfortable. The tech-savvy features like the 10.4″ touchscreen with internet connectivity and other connected applications mark the beginning of a new-age SUV. Although the competition has gained momentum in this space with the launch of Mahindra XUV 700, Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari still MG Hector Plus has been able to market the niche features to consumers which makes it a tough contender in the SUV range. With an ex-showroom price starting at 15.39 Lacs MG Hector Plus offers one of the safest driving experiences.

Please note that the on-road price of MG Hector Plus in Patna is 18.30 Lacs approximately (Super, Petrol Hybrid model)