MG Motor recently entered the Indian automobile market with the launch of its first model, the Hector SUV. The Hector gets petrol and diesel engine options in multiple states of tune, mated to manual and automatic gearbox choices. MG seems to have focused on technology, features, and performance with the Hector while packaging it in an SUV to appeal to Indian automobile buyers. Here are the features and specifications of MG Hector:
Expansive Touchscreen Infotainment: The Hector sports a 14-inch panoramic HD touchscreen system dominating the dashboard. It offers seamless smartphone integration, multimedia playback, navigation, and infotainment controls.
ADAS Driver Assistance Technology: With ADAS, MG brings autonomous driving aids like lane assistance, adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, blind spot detection, etc. These minimise driving effort, mitigate risks, and enhance safety.
Connectivity and Convenience Functions: The Hector comes loaded with over 75 internet features, including eSIM support, remote vehicle controls, location sharing, find my car, alerts for speeding or system tampering, and more, enabled via machine learning and voice controls.
Premium Comfort and Convenience Equipment: From an electronic tailgate and keyless entry to rain-sensing wipers and an electric driver seat, the Hector focuses on comfort, ergonomics, and premium cabin feel with soft-touch materials and ambient mood lighting options. The panoramic sunroof also adds to the premium experience.
Advanced Safety Credentials: The Hector packs 6 airbags alongside essentials like traction control, hill start assist, and all-around disc brakes. These technologies combine to deliver vital stability, minimise collision impact stress, and enable quicker, safer stops even in unpredictable situations.
Frontal Lighting Hardware Upgrades: The sharply designed projector headlamps are enveloped in LED rings with integrated LED DRL bands. Squared-out fog lamps get chrome garnishing, adding street swagger.
Segment-first Personalisation and Modes: A first-in-class, the Hector offers personalisation options with customer profiles catering to preferred air conditioning, ambient lighting, seat adjustments, etc. It also provides three steering-linked driving modes: Normal, Eeco, and Sport.
The Hector goes against the heavyweight competition - Tata's tough and stylish Harrier, Kia's fashionable Seltos, and practical 7-seater XUV700 from Mahindra. Well-established players, each with strengths - ride finesse, features, space versatility, or value. Hector banks on next-gen connectivity, its British legacy, and flexible room for Indian families.
Styling: The MG Hector features a bold chrome studded grille with LED lighting elements and roof rails, giving it a tech-rich persona. The Harrier flaunts rugged, thick lines, a stepped-up roof, and gun-metal elements in its dark demeanour, targeting adventure buffs.
Space & Practicality: With its extended wheelbase, the Hector boasts generous cabin and boot space for family expeditions. The Harrier balances adequate room for five and their weekend luggage.
Performance: Tata favours drivability with a responsive 170PS diesel sitting snug in the Harrier. The Hector offers peppy 143hp/170hp petrol and diesel-auto options for efficiency and enthusiasm-based needs.
Features: MG generously uses automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, electric seats, ambient lighting, and a full-blown connected car dashboard. Harrier handpicks functionalities like a powered driver seat, auto headlamps, and Android Auto to appeal to technology enthusiasts.
Safety: Both cars take safety seriously with essential aids like six airbags, stability control, hill hold, etc. But, given our conditions, Hector edges ahead with auto emergency braking while Tata counters with hazard lights upon panic braking first.
Dimensions & Space Utility: The XUV700 dominates on roominess and three-row seating flexibility thanks to a 65mm longer wheelbase and higher length and width measures versus Hector's 2-row 5-seater layout.
Transmission Choices & Drive Modes: Hector’s transmission options include 2 choices - 6MT and CVT. The XUV700 also gets a 6MT and 6AT in the XUV700. It also offers selectable Urban, Dynamic, and Manual specific steering-linked drive modes.
Infotainment & Interior Ambience: With its giant 14-inch display, 64-color ambient lighting themes, and luxury knitted seats, the Hector attempts more visual theatre over the smart yet functional XUV700 cabin.
High-End Features: The Hector gets premium bits like auto climate control, a power-adjustable driver seat, a panoramic sunroof, and an electronic tailgate. XUV700 scores on connected tech, Alexa compatibility, built-in air purifier, and ADAS safety aids.
Fuel Economy & Performance: The 143 hp petrol Hector pips the 198 hp XUV's mileage by 1 km/l. But the XUV700 diesel trumps on output by over 30 horses while matching economy - offering a better power-to-efficiency balance.
Dimensions: The MG Hector and Kia Seltos offer spacious and practical cabins, albeit with some key differences. The Hector's exceptionally long 2750mm wheelbase allows it to have one of the most generous legroom figures in its segment, especially for rear passengers. With an overall length of about 4655mm, it is also one of the longest in its category. By contrast, the Seltos has a shorter 2610mm wheelbase and a length of 4315mm.
Design: Based on British heritage, the Hector has a bold, imposing look with an oversized grille, squared wheel arches, roof rails, and a high bonnet. Seltos turns heads through sportier elements like its signature tiger-nose grille; arrowhead LED DRLs, rakish lines, and dual mufflers.
Engine Options: The Seltos has the edge when it comes to powertrain variety - there's a regular petrol engine, a turbo-petrol, and a diesel, paired with manual, IVT/CVT automatic, and dual-clutch gearbox. The Hector keeps things simpler with a turbo-petrol and a diesel engine. Both get a manual gearbox option, while the petrol has automatic choices like a dual-clutch or a CVT, depending on the variant.
Is MG Hector a 5 or 7-seater?
How many airbags are in the MG Hector?
Which engine does MG Hector use?
What are the colours of MG Hector?
What is the size of the MG Hector infotainment system?