MG in India’s shores- Hector, the first connected SUV on offer.

MG is ready for its global debut in India, its SUV, the Hector is unveiled on May 15th ahead of its launch in June. The Hector will be the first automobile from the British brand in India. A lot depends on the Hector to mark a good impression in the Indian Market. The Hector was spotted on Indian Roads, and is already being manufactured in Halol, Gujarat. The car does look very up-market and suave. MG which stands for Morris Garages is unveiling what many believe to be the most awaited moment in the Indian Market this year. It is said to be stacked up against Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, Mahindra XUV 500 and the upcoming Kia SUV.

Exterior

Judging by the dimensions, the Hector is pretty imposing and it does create a strong impression. The Hector has more American traits rather than being quintessentially British. The front is dominated by a wide mesh grille surrounded with chrome. An interesting bit is, it does come with a panoramic sunroof, which is definitely first in class.  The front of the car is butch which looks very admirable. The headlamp assembly is mounted on the bumper and the DRL’s are fitted just below the bonnet. The looks are not in any way understated and it looks pretty unconventional. But this unconventionality was seen previously on the Tata Harrier, so this shouldn’t take much time to get used to. The Hector feels a bit bulky from the side and does not merge into the rear that well. But what does look smart on the side are the Hector’s 10 spoke alloy wheels. The rear is nicely done with a lot of curvy treatment and the tapered rear windscreen fits perfectly. So in no way does this MG look overdone, all plastic claddings goes well with the color of the car. The use of chrome throughout the car is nicely done and looks subtle.

Interior

On entering the Hector, the first thing one spots is the vertical 10.4-inch screen. It is a multi functional and user friendly unit. Other features include a 360-degree parking camera, push button start and a color MID. Other elements on the car follow the vertical styling of the screen, for instance the air vents, and the kite shaped horn pad. The color scheme is beige and grey. Other elements in the feature rich cabin include a Harman Infinity audio system, a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, a massive panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, cruise control and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Hector will also feature the, I smart connectivity feature suite which can be accessed via the 10.4-inch touch screen infotainment system. This 5 seat SUV will also have AI-powered Voice Assist, pre-loaded apps and the ability to receive over-the-air updates. The infotainment system will support both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The MG Hector will come with a three-spoke steering wheel with mounted controls for better convenience. There is no compromise on the quality of materials and the fit and finish of different elements is precise. The instrument cluster is going to be analogue with a digital screen in between.

Drive

The Hector is said to be coming with three engine options, two petrol and a diesel. The power trains will be the 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder engine and the Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre oil burner engine respectively. Transmission options could include both manual and automatic option. The 2.0-litre diesel unit is expected to be mated to a 6-speed manual transmission while the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol is likely to be mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 2.0 litre unit is expected to churn out a maximum of 180 bhp. For now its too early to comment on the performance and handling of the Hector. Fuel figures might just be around 12-15 km/l. It definitely should be coming with discs at both ends with ABS. 

Should you have one-

MG being an iconic brand should be good enough to propel enthusiasts to get a sense of the Hector experience. It is definitely feature rich with the I smart connectivity feature being the pick of the lot. It is a butch and rugged SUV with a size slightly smaller than the Fortuner. The engines are robust and with a price tag of around Rs. 15 lakh, the Hector seems to be a lucrative deal.