MG M9 Review: Big In Size But Big On The Wallet?

The MG M9 is colossal, unavoidable, and the longest MPV India has seen to date. I know what you're thinking. "Is that a mobile lounge, a private jet on wheels, or did someone just super-size a very fancy shoebox?" Whatever you might think. It’s big enough to get your attention. 

MG M9 Review: Design and Dimensions

Now, before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's address the elephant in the room, which, coincidentally, is about the size of this MPV. At over 5.2 meters long, 2 meters wide, and nearly 1.8 meters tall, the M9 doesn’t just arrive, it announces itself. Forget subtly pulling into your driveway; this thing needs a flight plan and perhaps some ground crew, too.

But what a display it is! From the outside, the M9 is pure modern MPV chic. Those sleek LED DRLs, the imposing trapezoidal grille – it’s less "minivan" and more "ministerial transport." Presidential, if I have to quote MG.

But there’s a slight issue I have with the design. Overall, it looks like a mash-up of designs from different car makers. The front is like a Kia, the rear like a Lexus, side like a Toyota. And that’s where I feel the identity crisis deepens.

And oh, the chrome. There’s so much of it. On a sunny day, the MPV will be shining all around. I might be nitpicking, but it’s a bit much, I feel. However, the M9 makes you feel important.. You've got the power sliding doors, naturally, because who has time to manually open a door when you’re this important? 

Naturally, the focus is on the inside because there’s just one variant on offer, so the expectation is that it would have everything packed in it. And boy, does it deliver on that promise. Step inside, and it’s less car cabin, more first-class cabin. 

MG M9 Review: Interior and Features

Forget business class, this is beyond business class. You are in the top tier, frankly, when it comes to space here, and there's so much on offer here. You have the screen up front, and you have eight ways to adjust the way you sit. I mean, my office chair has three settings: up, down, and broken. And here I am in the lap of luxury. Plus, I have ventilated seats. I have, you know, a great source of entertainment when it comes to whatever I want to see here. I have a cup holder. I have a place to keep my phone, and I have a charging suite as well, right there.

And you know what? I'm just trying to think about things that are not here, and I am feeling miserable. And if you get kind of tired with all the luxury that this space has to offer, then you have an eight-setting massage system. Which again spoils you. So out of my way, let me get that massage right now.

You also get fold-out ottoman seats, so you can kick your feet up. It's like having a private living room on wheels, complete with a dual panoramic sunroof. One for the front – because even the driver deserves a sliver of sky – and a massive panoramic one for the VIPs in the back. Because why just see the sky when you can bathe in it?

It’s bathed with screens and cameras as well. Inside, you have 7 screens altogether. Well, there's a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch virtual cluster, small, but all right. And as you can see, over the dashboard, fewer buttons and more swag. So it's all kept simple, just to ensure that the look and feel is more about space, and it's more about, well, opulence.

You’ve got 64-colour ambient lighting.  That’s enough colours to match every single mood swing during a long family trip. There’s Wireless charging, a 12-speaker sound system, and a three-zone climate control system means that everyone is happy. 

MG M9 Review: Performance

Now, let's talk about the drive. This is an EV, remember? The only one in this segment. 90 kWh. That's the battery pack that the MG M9 packs in. Power is good enough, and so is the torque, so it propels this car, which is massive in size, and that feels enough, no doubt about that. 

There are two things, though, that have been bugging me. One is the steering wheel. It looks very much like a Skoda steering wheel. I can't, I can't really come to terms with it other than saying just that.

And that display. Now, every time you are in this car and your speed and you pick up speed, you have to check that display. Now, I have to check up front, but I have to go down and just check that. Is that a distraction, or is that not a distraction? I let you decide that. But a head-up display in such circumstances would have definitely helped, given that this is an absolutely feature-loaded car. Something to think about, I think.

Having said that, it drives really well, you're not going to spend your time behind the wheel, of course, but extremely smooth when it comes to acceleration, extremely smooth when it comes to deceleration and and overall, it's simple and not complicated at all.

MG M9 Review: Range & Charging

While the actual range eludes us, MG says that internal testing has seen a range of over 530 km, impressive, yes, but what happens on the real world front? Well, that’s tricky because MG didn’t give us much time with the car, we could manage to drive for only 100 km in the time given and that too on roads that didn’t have traffic or were not winding. However, you can see here that we started out with 418 km of range and the 100-odd km we drove brought that range down to 252 km. percentage decrease is around 39 per cent if my calculations are correct. 

MG promises a quick charge, though. A DC fast charger will take you from 30-80 per cent charge in 30 minutes means your pit stops are more espresso break, less existential crisis.

MG M9 Review: Rear Seat

The ride at the back is not bad. You do feel some of those larger potholes at the back, but otherwise it is pretty plain. You are cocooned in luxury, and you don't mind it at all. This larger glass area actually helps the cabin feel more airy. And if you think this was large, this is something different altogether,r the panoramic sunroof for the people behind. It's absolutely VIP treatment. And you have a lot of knick-knacks around you. I mean, open this, open this.

You have a lot going on here, right, from chargers to tissue holders.  So and of course, your own entertainment system right up front, a lot going on there, and a lot to make you comfortable here. And of course, the ride just adds to that opulence. And if you think this glass area is larger. Well, look at this, the panoramic sunroof. It just makes you feel like you're all VIP. It's brilliant. You get a clear view of the skies, and the airy feeling just keeps on coming. That's exactly what you need. 

MG M9 Review: Boot Space

But, and there's always a "but" that’s usually bigger than the boot of an MPV... This being a luxury MPV, designed for maximum passenger comfort, means compromises elsewhere. Specifically, the boot. With all three rows up, if you’re planning a family vacation that involves more than a toothbrush and a credit card, you might need a roof box. 

Or a second M9 just for luggage. It’s spacious for people, less so for their entire lives. So, if you're thinking of transporting seven adults and their week's worth of luggage, prepare for some creative packing, or perhaps a fierce game of "what can we leave behind?"

MG M9 Review: ADAS

You'll be grateful for that 360-degree camera and the Level 2 ADAS suite – because trust me, you'll be using every sensor and every digital assist available. Lane Keep Assist? Adaptive Cruise Control? Blind Spot Monitoring? Seven airbags? Yes, yes, yes, and thank you, MG, for thinking of everything, including my sanity in a mall parking lot.

MG M9 Review: Price & Verdict

Now, for the pricing. The MG M9 is expected to fall in the ₹90 lakh to 1 crore  (ex-showroom) range. This positions it squarely against the Kia Carnival, and as a more EV-centric, slightly more attainable alternative to the Toyota Vellfire or Lexus LM. For that money, you're getting a lot of electric luxury, a lot of space for people, and a driving experience that’s designed to be supremely comfortable and quiet.

The MG M9 MPV is a bold statement. It's big, it's luxurious, it's electric, and it's certainly got enough massage functions to put a professional masseuse out of business. It might not fit into every parking spot, and your family might have to choose between their third pair of shoes or their emotional support blanket, but for sheer passenger comfort and tech-laden opulence, the MG M9 is an impressive contender. Just remember to check your garage dimensions before you book one!