The MG Hector Plus 6 Seater has been in the news for the past few months. Showcased at the Auto Expo earlier this year, the hype starting building up when test mules were spotted on the road and recently, after MG rolled out the teaser videos. The SUV was launched earlier this week and today, as the embargo lifts, its time to understand if the MG Hector Plus 6 Seater has been worth the wait or not.
Looks better!
Though I am a fan of cars that come in white, this particular shade of blue looks very good on the Hector Plus. It gels in well with the darker grille and the black add-ons for the alloy wheels. The contrasting, powerful DRLs look way too cool from a distance for this shade. In terms of dimensions, the MG Hector Plus 6 Seater remains identical to its 5 seater sibling. There has been some confusion in regards to the extra 40mm in the overall length but that's down to the redesigned front bumper.
Talking of re-design, the Hector 5 seater was always a good looking SUV and this 6 seater model is even better. The tweaked DRLs, the new fog lamp housing and the redesigned bumper go a long way in making it look, umm, classier! The 17 inch alloy wheels remain and apart from the new badging at the back, the MG Hector Plus 6 Seater remains identical in the overall look. Do note that sporty looking lower part of the rear bumper is a factory fitment.
On the inside?
Step inside and you are greeted with black and tan colour combination that looks a bit LOUD initially but once you settle down, the combination makes the cabin look rich and airy. The design of the dash remains unchanged but MG has thrown in a few added features. Chit-Chat for example that will be loved by your family members and friends and a hands free tail gate access (swipe leg to open). This does add to the overall practicality we say.
So while the front row remains same and we have no complaints here, the second row is where the action is. Getting in is easy and inspite of massive sunroof in here, headroom is great for most adults. Even for my height (6 feet), I still had about 2 inches of headroom left. With the front seat positioned for a tall driver, an equally tall passenger can sit at the back. Needless to say, the 2nd row seats can be adjusted for increased legroom and reclined for added comfort.
When it comes to pampering passengers, the Hector Plus is way ahead of the competition - from the panoramic roof to the huge touch screen interface, 360 degree camera view, ambient lights et al, you get a lot of car for your money. Back to the seats, given the extra-wide dimensions, shorter adults or kids can easily 'walk' into the 3rd row from between the 2nd row seats. It is that easy - no need to tumble the middle seats in this case. And once seated, you get your own (for last row) air controls and space in here is generous for anyone who is under 5'5". So if you are looking for a family SUV that seats four adults and 2 kids in comfort, the Hector Plus has things sorted for you!
Flipping down the last row also ends up liberating as much as 580 litres of space - the view about does justify the numbers, eh?
Comfort levels?
I will start with the second row here. On the move, seated here, the overall space and comfort levels match up to that of the Innova. Though the Toyota offering has better headroom due to a higher exterior dimension, the Hector Plus hits back with features and a smoother diesel unit. Things are equally good over bad roads for the 1st and 2nd row passengers too. During the launch, MG India was transparent enough to quote that the last row is for kids only and we loved this aspect. Companies should be vocal about what they offer and trust me, your little ones will be more than happy at the back while you do the driving part.
This gets us to the driving part from a driver's perspective. The Hector has always been an easy to drive SUV and the Plus is no different. You get the same engine options of a turbo petrol, petrol hybrid and turbo diesel. All three continue to power the Hector Plus in the same state of tune as well. There is a DCT automatic with the turbo petrol as well. Refinement levels are very good and this is a genuine long distance vehicle, one that will not tire the driver or the occupants easily. I also like the light EPS here which requires less effort than say the Innova's steering.
The package
Priced from Rs 13.48 lakh for the petrol line up and Rs 14.43 lakh for the diesel one, the MG Hector Plus 6 Seater makes a lot sense for buyers who want a feature loaded, comfortable 6 seater family SUV. Infact, this is India's first 48V 6 seater SUV and the assurance of a 5 year warranty further makes the deal sweeter. Maintenance costs are as low as 45 paise per km for the petrol model and 60 paise for the diesel ones - being an XUV500 owner, I can assure you this is way cheaper!
If you have deeper pockets and want a roomier 3rd row, pick the Innova. For everyone else, this one ticks the right boxes. And pick one in this shade please!
