Last year, MG Motor India launched their first car in India which was the Hector SUV. The Hector since launch in 2019 was a 5-seater SUV which was a rival to the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier, Nissan Kicks and the likes. Now, in 2020, MG Motor India has taken a step ahead and have launched a new version based on the Hector dubbed as the Hector Plus. The MG Hector Plus is nothing but a redesigned & 6-seater iteration of the Hector while keeping almost all the mechanical bits identical between both models. The MG Hector Plus tries to provide more value for the customers looking for more space, and an extra seat for the 6th passenger. Do note, the MG Hector Plus is strictly a 6-seater and there is no 7-seater model on sale. Morris Garages makes it clear that the Hector Plus is a car for 4 adults with 3 kids in the 3rd row.
Powering the MG Hector Plus are the same set of engines which we have been familiar with even under the hood of the Hector. Now though, all engines have become BS6 compliant. The 1.5L, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol motor produces 143 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque. Now when you buy this turbo petrol motor with mild-hybrid system, you only get a 6-speed manual gearbox while the standard 1.5L petrol variants get a DCT automatic gearbox. The 2.0L, turbocharged, 4-cylinder diesel motor produces 170 PS of power and 350 Nm of torque matched to a 6-speed manual gearbox only.
The highlight of the MG Hector Plus is the 2nd and 3rd row seating. The Hector Plus now get captain seats for 2 passengers in the 2nd row and a 3rd row jump seat setup which can be folded flat to allow for more boot space. The 2nd row captain seats can slide fore-and-aft and also recline in a bid to offer optimum comfort. MG Motor India is also adding AC vents in the 3rd row with independent blow speed controls for extra comfort. Another change on the inside is the black with tan leather upholstery dual tone theme which differentiates the Hector from the Hector Plus. Even on the outside, Morris Garages has taken a bold step in redesigning the Hector Plus with new front and rear bumpers, new headlamps, new tail lamps, new LED DRLs, new front grille, new tail gate, new skid plate design and have introduced a new shade of blue exclusive to the Hector Plus.
Safety features on the Hector Plus include 6-airbags, 360 degree camera, front parking sensors, ESP, TCS, Hill Hold, TPMS, Electronic Parking Brake, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, rear wheel disc brakes, and more. All previous highlights of the MG Hector are carried over in the Hector Plus, providing a long list of features and quite some bang for the buck. The i-Smart infotainment also gets a new Chit Chat function. The smart swipe feature allows users to open the electric tailgate.
The Hector Plus is also offered with the MG Shield with 5-year / unlimited km warranty, 5-year RSA and 5-services with no labour charges. Morris Garages claims best-in-class cost of ownership of INR 45 paise / km for the petrol variant and INR 60 paise / km for the diesel variants. The 60% buyback value is also on offer for the Hector Plus.
