MG Hector Plus

If you thought the looks of the first Hector were imposing, think again! With the mid-cycle facelift, MG Motor has gone all out to make the Hector Plus’ face look more blingy. There’s a huge grille up front with large diamond-shaped chrome elements, which look unlike any compact SUV on sale in India. The headlamp and DRL placements remain the same, but the headlamps themselves are slightly redesigned to look more butch. The sides are similar to the older car, but the rear gets another dose of bling with LED elements connecting the tail lights. There’s also new ‘HECTOR’ lettering at the back in chrome — similar to the Gloster — and the infamous ‘internet inside’ badge has finally been omitted, and has been replaced by an ‘ADAS’ badge. As with any car, liking the looks of the Hector Plus will be a subjective matter. But considering the amount of chrome present, many Indian buyers will love it. 

While the changes to the exteriorare more ‘facelifty’, the interior of the Hector Plus gets a thoroughly reworked design. The portrait oriented touchscreen takes centre stage again, but the already large 10.4-inch screen has made way for a much larger 14-inch touchscreen, which really elevates the premiumness of the interior. The dashboard layout has also been redesigned to accommodate the larger screen, and the screen now sits in a floating housing, instead of being embedded on the dash. The AC vents have also been redesigned and repositioned, and the new layout looks much more premium. The quality of materials has also improved to deliver a premium experience, and it feels as though the interiors belong to an SUV from a segment above. Unlike the 5-seater Hector, the Hector Plus gets dual-tone brown and black finish with wooden finish inserts, which look more luxurious than the all-black theme on the Hector.

Comfort is one of the key areas where the Hector Plus performs exceptionally well. The front two rows have plenty of space, and the bolstering and cushioning is great. The middle row bench is also wide enough to accommodate three adults in its 7-seater configuration. And for the chauffeur driven, the 6-seater Hector Plus is the best pick of the lot, as it gets comfy captain seats in the middle row. The third row however is best suited for kids. 

The driving position isn’t the best for taller individuals, as the pedals are too close to the seat. But anyone under 5’ 9” wouldn’t complain about it. The electrically adjustable front seats also get seat ventilation, which is super helpful on hot afternoons. The suspension setup is also on the softer side, and it rounds off bumps and potholes very well. The ride stays stable for the most part at high speeds, but bigger undulations can make the car feel unsettled.

The MG Hector Plus is available with either a 2.0-litre diesel or a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. The diesel engine is the more powerful of the lot, but it is available only with a manual transmission. The engine exhibits some turbo lag below 2,000 RPM, post which the power delivery is linear and effortless. The clutch is slightly snappy though. As for the petrol, it is available with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-step CVT gearbox. The engine isn’t as responsive and powerful as the diesel, and struggles with fuel economy, with figures dropping to single digits in urban conditions. The CVT gearbox is also slow to respond to quick throttle inputs, and the rubberband effect is prominent when pushed hard.

The Hector Plus isn’t a driver’s car, and that comes across the most in handling. The suspension is tuned to deliver comfort, and the soft setup results in a lot of body roll and understeer in corners. Steering also feels weightless and disconnected when cornering, and the Hector Plus is best driven in a sedate MPV-esque driving style.

Despite being launched in India in 2019, the MG Hector is yet to receive a crash test rating from Global NCAP. However, the compact SUV does exude a feeling of safety, thanks to the tough build quality. The doors have a certain heft to them, and the materials used around the cabin are also sturdy. It also has a comprehensive list of safety features, including six airbags, ABS, EBD, ESC, traction control, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree parking camera, TPMS, and more. Adding to the safety suite is a range of level 2 ADAS features, which include adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, high-beam assist, and more, bringing it up to spec with rivals like the Kia Seltos.

The MG Hector Plus gets a 14-inch portrait oriented display to handle all of its infotainment duties. The display can control several features in the car, including opening the sunroof, changing ambient lighting, air conditioning, and many more. However, most of these features are hidden in menus, so it's very hard to change settings from the screen while driving. The good thing is that you can also use the built-in MG Assistant to control settings using voice commands. The screen also gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and is paired to an 8-speaker Infinity audio system. However, while the screen is great to look at, it is rather slow to respond, and misses touch inputs sometimes. The instrument cluster is also a digital one, with a 7-inch insert flanked by analog dials. The screen displays a variety of information, including ADAS related updates. Top spec variants also get MG’s i-Smart connected car tech, and a PM 2.5 air purifier.

The MG Hector is a car that appeals most to the urban SUV buyer. It’s big, flashy, feature loaded, spacious, and exudes a sense of premiumness like few others do. Yes, it has a few cons, and it isn’t a driver’s car, but for someone who is going to be driven around more than driving themselves, the only big con is low fuel economy from the petrol variants. The MG Hector Plus only ups the ante from the Hector, enabling the option to have additional seats for more occupants, or captain seats in the middle row for added comfort for the chauffeur driven. For most buyers then, the MG Hector Plus is a considerable option, especially if they like the exterior looks of the compact SUV, and have a large family.