New Delhi: MG Motor has launched the facelifted Hector and Hector Plus SUVs in India. Prices of the new MG Hector start from Rs 14.73 lakh, while the three-row MG Hector Plus facelift has been priced from Rs 20.80 lakh (ex-showroom).

Both SUVs get heavily redesigned front along with a completely redesigned interior, but remain mechanically unchanged from the pre-facelift models.

The 5-seater Hector is available in six trim levels – Style, Shine, Smart, Smart Pro, Sharp Pro, Savvy Pro. The 6/7-seater Hector Plus is available in Smart, Smart Pro, Sharp Pro, Savvy Pro trims.

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Exterior design

Interestingly, in their facelifted guise the Hector and Hector Plus facelifts look identical to each other, unlike the pre-facelift models which were slightly different in design.

At the front, the Hector and Hector Plus have a completely new grille with sharp lines and well-defined angles. The grille has grown considerably and features a new diamond pattern along with an angular chrome frame that blends neatly with the high-mounted LED daytime running lights.

The main headlight cluster on the bumper also has a new pentagonal shape that mimics the shape of the radiator grille and is surrounded by a glossy black frame. The front chin also has a new chrome frame for the central air intake.

At the rear, the facelifted Hector and Hector Plus SUVs get a new tail lamp assembly with a redesigned red strip connecting the lamps at either end. The rear bumper has also been redesigned with new angular creases.

The outgoing model’s two-tone black and silver finish has given way to a cleaner design with subtle new chrome inserts. However, the profile of both SUVs remains completely unchanged – even the 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels are identical to the outgoing models.

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Interior and features

Both the SUVs have received a more comprehensive update to their interiors – a much larger 14.0-inch touchscreen is integrated into the dashboard – the largest ever fitted to any mass market car in India. The dashboard has also been completely redesigned with more horizontal lines and redesigned D-shaped AC vents.

The center console appears to flow down from the infotainment screen – on the Hector it has a faux aluminum finish, while the Hector Plus has a faux wood finish. In addition, the Hector has a black and silver interior, while the Hector Plus has a black and beige finish.

The center console also features many more buttons, a redesigned cup holder and an electric parking button. In terms of features, the biggest talking point is the inclusion of ADAS features on both the Hector and the Hector Plus.

This brings new features such as lane keep assist, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning and lane departure warning. MG has also updated the iSmart infotainment software along with a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster.

As before, the Hector comes in a five-seat configuration, while the Hector Plus is offered in a six- or seven-seat configuration.

Engine options

The Hector and Hector Plus SUVs continue to be offered with the same 1.5-litre petrol engine, available with either a 6-speed manual or CVT automatic transmission. This unit produces 143 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque.

Previously, this engine was also offered with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. However, this is no longer offered on facelifted SUVs. In addition, the seven-speed DCT transmission on the petgrol engine was also discontinued.

The diesel engine also remains the same, a 170bhp, 350Nm, 2.0-litre unit that it shares with the Harrier, Safari and Compass. MG only offers a single six-speed manual transmission on the Hector diesel as before.

Rivals

As before, the MG Hector continues to compete with the Tata Harrier and Mahindra XUV700 along with other compact SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and even the newer Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder. Meanwhile, the Hector Plus rivals the likes of Tata Safari and Hyundai Alcazar.

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