MG Hector Engine & Performance

MG offers two engine options for the  Hector – a 1.5 litre turbocharged Petrol unit producing 140 hp and 250Nm torque with 20 Nm coming from a 48V battery in the mild hybrid variant. The other engine is a 2.0 litre Fiat sourced Diesel engine pumping out 170 horses with 350Nm torque. Interestingly, the Tata Harrier and Jeep Compass are also powered by the same diesel engine. Both engines are mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, while the automatic petrol variant will feature a 7 speed DCT transmission.

We got our hands on the Petrol hybrid variant first. As expected in all turbocharged engines, there is noticeable turbo-lag at the lower end. As you approach the 2000-rpm mark, it starts gathering speed at a brisk pace. Surprisingly, it’s very smooth and nice to drive around in the city. However, it starts feeling underpowered on inclines and needs a bit of planning for overtaking moves. On the flip side, the diesel burns the problem faced by the petrol mill. The diesel can cruise all day long effortlessly. This makes driving more relaxed as power is available on tap. Downshifts are required incase there is drop in speeds but are less compared to the petrol engine. The diesel feels very refined and only gets a little audible at the higher end of the rev band.  The petrol is a great option if you drive primarily in the city, but our pick would be the diesel Hector overall, incase you plan to do a lot of highway trips including few visits to the mountains.

MG Hector Ride & Handling

In the handling department, the Hector feels at home when driven at easy speeds. The body roll is evident but doesn’t panic when it comes to sudden change of direction or flowing through corners. As expected, it feels solid while doing high speeds. The overall ride quality is smooth but tends to break into a sweat while going over sharp undulations. All four disc brakes infuse confidence under any braking situation. True to SUV nature, do not push the Hector outside its comfort zone and it promises to keep you happy.  Outright steering feedback could be better but it is light enough to make city driving a breeze. Also, the view through the rear windshield isn’t that great and the 360-degree camera really makes itself useful here.

Contd…