The compact SUV segment has always been one the most lucrative segments in India and it is set to get even hotter with the launch of new SUVs. One such SUV which will enter the segment is the MG Hector with which the SAIC-owned British brand, will foray in our market. It was yesterday that MG Motor had announced the name of its first SUV. The MG Hector has been named after the legendary British biplane used by the British Airforce in the 1930s which in turn was named after the Prince Hector of Troy.
Also Read: MG Motors India Christens Its First SUV Hector
The Hector will be the first model in the MG Motor's line-up in India. It will be manufactured locally at MG Motor's Halol facility in Gujarat and the company is planning to launch it in India by mid-2019. The MG Hector is likely to boast of over 70 per cent of localisation and the prices are expected to start at Rs. 16 lakh which will entitle it to compete with a wide range of SUVs in our market.
The new MG Hector is will be a five-seater compact SUV and looking at its specifications, it is likely to compete with a set rivals not only from the compact segment but also from the entry-level mid-size SUV segment. The segment leader Hyundai Creta is one of its chief rivals but it will also battle with the likes of the Nissan Kicks, Jeep Compass, Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV500 and even the Hyundai Tucson. The Hector will also face competition from yet another newbie, the Kia SP concept which is all set to hit the Indian market by Diwali 2019.
The MG Hector will get both petrol and diesel variants which will have BS 6 ready powertrains. The petrol will be a 1.5-litre, 4 cylinder, turbo-petrol unit and the diesel will be 2-litre, four-cylinder diesel motor. Power figures of both the engines are still unknown but looking at its parent company- SAIC's global line-up of similar category, we expect the petrol engine to make around 148 bhp while the diesel is likely to churn 177 bhp. Having both the powertrains on offer, the MG Hector will have an edge over the Tata Harrier which was launched only with a diesel motor.
The MG Hector is expected to be well-equipped with some of the latest segment-leading features. Apart from features like touchscreen power adjustable seats, infotainment system and cruise control which now have become standard in the segment, the company will also put together some of the latest premium features in the Hector like the electronic parking brake which only the Jeep Compass has), a panoramic sunroof (a segment first) and 360-degree (bird-eye) camera view which is only seen in the Nissan Kicks.
The MG Hector is not going to be a small SUV. With a length of 4655 mm, a width of 1835 mm and a height of 1760 mm. The Hector will be larger in dimensions than the upcoming Tata Harrier which in-turn is longer and wider than all other SUVs in the segment.
