The MG Hector is now available in just four variants - Style, Shine, Smart and Sharp.

MG Motor India has discontinued the Super trim level of the Hector. The SUV is now available in just four variants - Style, Shine, Smart and Sharp with prices starting at Rs. 13.49 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Hector Super was available with petrol and diesel engine options. Both the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines came mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

When it comes to features, the Super variant was equipped with LED headlights, LED taillights, a 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control, keyless entry and rearview camera, among others.

Last month, MG introduced a new variant of the Hector called 'Shine'. It is positioned above the Style variant, which is now the base variant of the SUV.

The Shine variant is available with petrol and diesel engine options. While a 6-speed manual transmission is standard, a CVT is available with the turbo-petrol motor.

The upcoming Honda mid-size SUV (codenamed: 31XA) could be based on a completely new platform.

Honda has confirmed that a new India-specific SUV is under development. While the carmaker hasn't revealed the launch timeline, reports suggest that it could be introduced in the market around August 2023.

The new Honda SUV is expected to share its platform with the City. That might sound familiar as the N7X concept that was unveiled in Indonesia also uses the same platform. Although some reports suggest that the new SUV (codename: 31XA) will be built on a completely new platform.

SUVs account for almost 35% of the total passenger vehicle segment. Honda is now looking to grab a piece of the pie that is already divided among popular products like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, MG Hector, Tata Harrier and the likes.

Source: ET Auto

The Shine variant is available in Petrol MT, Petrol CVT and Diesel MT versions.

MG Motor India has launched a new variant of the Hector called 'Shine'. It is available with petrol and diesel engine options with prices starting at Rs. 14.51 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Shine variant is positioned between the Super and Smart trims. It comes equipped with a single-pane sunroof, instead of a panoramic sunroof which is only available on the top-spec Sharp trim. The SUV also gets 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, engine start / stop button, electronic parking brake with auto-hold function, among other features.

The Hector Shine is available with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 141 BHP and 250 Nm as well as a 168 BHP 2.0-litre diesel unit. Both engines come paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, while the turbo-petrol engine gets a CVT option.

MG Hector Shine ex-showroom prices:

• Petrol MT - Rs. 14,51,800
• Petrol CVT - Rs. 15,71,800
• Diesel MT - Rs. 16,49,800

The Hector Shine variant will come with a single-pane sunroof.

MG Motor India is expanding its Hector range with the introduction of the new 'Shine' variant. It will be launched on August 12, 2021.

The Shine variant is expected to be positioned between the 'Super' and 'Smart' trims. According to leaked images, the SUV will be equipped with a single-pane sunroof.

MG has still kept details of the Shine variant under wraps. Whether it will get both petrol and diesel engine options remains to be seen.

The MG Hector comes with a 168 BHP, 2.0-litre diesel engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 141 BHP and 250 Nm mated to 6-speed manual gearbox, DCT, and a CVT, as well as a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid powertrain paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

iCAT found variations in Hydrocarbon and NOx emissions in BS6 Hector DCT test cars.

MG Motor India will be updating the DCT software on 14,000 Hector SUVs after they failed in the conformity of production (CoP) tests.

The CoP tests were conducted by the International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT), Manesar. When tests were conducted on samples (Hector DCT BS6) picked up from the company, iCAT found variations in Hydrocarbon and NOx emissions.

It is said that iCAT found that the issue could be fixed just by updating the software and the same would be formally recommended to MG.

In response to the recent developments, MG has stated that it would reach out to customers of the affected vehicles to get the software updated. This process of reflashing the software in all 14,000 units is expected to be completed by December 2021 depending on the Covid-19 situation.

Source: TOI

At present, the Hector is available in four variants - Style, Super, Smart and Sharp.

MG plans to add yet another variant to the Hector line-up called the Shine. It will be positioned between the Super and Smart variants.

An image of the Hector Shine has already leaked online. The SUV doesn't look any different from the other variants, except for the fact that it is equipped with a single-pane sunroof. Other details are expected to be revealed at the time of launch.

At present, the Hector is available in four variants - Style, Super, Smart and Sharp. The top-spec Sharp trim comes with a panoramic sunroof.

The SUV is powered by a 168 BHP, 2.0-litre diesel engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 141 BHP and 250 Nm mated to 6-speed manual gearbox, DCT, and a CVT, as well as a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid powertrain paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Source: Rushlane

The Hector's main rival, the Kia Seltos, secured a 3-star safety rating. The Tata Harrier is yet to receive a GNCAP rating.

UPDATE on 17 July: MG reached out to us and said that the tweet was incorrect and has been removed.

MG has posted on Twitter that it will be revealing the Hector's NCAP safety rating soon. The Hector's main rival, the Kia Seltos, secured a 3-star safety rating. The Tata Harrier is yet to receive a GNCAP rating.

The Hector is available as a 5-seater, while the Hector Plus is offered as a 6-seater and a 7-seater. It is offered with a host of safety aides including 6 airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, traction control, hill hold assist among others.

The SUV is powered by a 168 BHP, 2.0-litre diesel engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 141 BHP and 250 Nm mated to 6-speed manual gearbox, DCT, and a CVT, as well as a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid powertrain paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Skoda Kushaq

What you'll like:

• A breath of fresh (European) air in a sea of Korean, Chinese & Indian SUVs
• Classy exterior & interior styling matched with solid European build quality
• Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage
• 148 BHP engine makes the Kushaq one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment
• Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs
• Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
• Safety features include 6 airbags (sadly MT only), ESC (all variants), 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
• 6-year extended warranty & 4-year all inclusive service packages available
• Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, audio system with a punchy subwoofer, auto headlamps & wipers etc.

What you won't:

• No 1.5L diesel is a major disadvantage in a world where petrol costs over 100 bucks / litre
• DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India
• Narrow width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
• Lovely 1.5L TSI is only available on the top variant
• At 385 litres, boot space is lesser than its direct rivals (Creta & Seltos = 433L)
• Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors
• Skoda’s notorious dealerships & after-sales horror stories
• Missing some now expected features such as 6 airbags on the ATs, driving modes (sport), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric driver's seat adjustment & regular USB ports
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard

Review Link

Hyundai Creta

What you'll like:

• A superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a premium experience
• We find the Hyundai Creta to be well-priced for what it offers
• User-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality parts
• Loved the 1.4L turbo-petrol & 1.5L diesel. These are fantastic engines
• Smooth & competent automatic gearboxes available. With the useful "auto-hold" feature too
• Sorted road manners & handling for a Hyundai, including on the highway. You will be surprised!
• The Creta's safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS etc.
• Impressive kit (panoramic sunroof, paddle shifters, Bose sound system, cooled seats, cabin air purifier & loads more)
• Hyundai's competent after-sales service, fuss-free ownership & upto 5-years standard warranty

What you won't:

• Oddball love it or hate it styling. We find the Creta's exterior design to be too weird & futuristic
• Firmer suspension isn't as cushy as the 1st-gen Creta. It is more comfortable than the Seltos though
• Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
• Some misses (no auto wipers, 360-degree camera, illuminated window buttons, full-size spare tyre on top trims)
• Dual-clutch ATs (like the Hyundai Creta Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
• Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment. Old 1.6L CRDi was superior
• No manual transmission available with the fast 1.4L Petrol (Seltos offers this combo)
• The stiffer Seltos has an edge in the handling department. IMHO, the Kia is better looking too
• You get bigger SUVs & Crossovers for the same money (e.g. Hector, Harrier, XUV500)

Review Link

Kia Seltos

What you'll like:

• A superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a premium experience
• Handsome, contemporary styling. Looks very sharp
• We find the Seltos to be well-priced for what it offers
• Nice, user-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality
• Loved the 1.4L turbo-petrol & 1.5L diesel. They are BS6 compliant too
• Both the automatics - Diesel AT & Petrol DCT - are simply fantastic!
• Mature on-road behavior, including at highway speeds. A+ brakes as well
• Unusually wide variant offering. Seems there is something for everyone
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, blind spot monitor, TPMS etc.
• Impressive kit (360 degree camera, HUD, front parking sensors, Bose sound system, cooled seats, cabin air purifier & loads more)

What you won't:

• Barely managed 3-stars in the GNCAP crash tests (full discussion)
• Firm suspension. Liveable, but bad roads will bother you (especially on 17" wheel variants)
• Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
• Niggles are being reported by owners (details here)
• Some misses (illuminated window buttons, thinner spare tyre on top trims, no dual-tone option on GTX+ / HTX+)
• Dual-clutch ATs (like the Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
• Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment.
• Extremely confusing & complicated variant spread. We still haven’t gotten the hang of it!
• Kia's after-sales service quality is an unknown. We await details in our ownership reports
• You get bigger SUVs & Crossovers for the same money (e.g. Hector, Harrier, XUV500)

Review Link

Jeep Compass

What you'll like:

• Handsome Cherokee-inspired styling & loads of character
• Solid build. Feels very robust, just as a Jeep should
• Powerful 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, fast on the open road
• 1.4L turbo-petrol makes 161 BHP! Offers fast performance.
• Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
• Capable AWD available (unlike some competitors)
• City-friendly: Compact size, higher seating, smooth gearshift, soft clutch & low NVH
• Topnotch safety: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags
• We think the Compass is well-priced for what it offers. The driving experience & overall package feel premium

What you won't: 

• Small size for the price! A sentiment echoed by most people who saw it in person
• Suitable for 4 adults, not 5. Boot is small too
• Tiny dealership network. Plus, after-sales quality & long-term reliability are unknown factors
• AWD's premium is over 2 lakh rupees on-the-road. Includes 4 extra airbags, but is still too much
• Turning radius of 5.65m is wide. Also, 17º approach angle is too low
• Missing goodies (blanks on the steering, lumbar adjustment, reclinable rear seats)

Review Link

Review Link - Petrol AT

Link to Report - The Trailhawk

Tata Harrier

What you'll like:

• Smooth & competent 6-speed automatic transmission
• Stunning looks & strong road presence. Solid build too
• Classy, spacious cabin with comfortable seats & a chilling air-con
• Fantastic 9-speaker audio system. Sound quality & bass are enjoyable
• The Harrier's 2.0L diesel now gets 30 BHP more & offers good performance
• 205 mm of ground clearance + terrain response system. Latter will make monsoon driving safer
• Topnotch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, break reminder, hill hold, brake disc wiping & more
• Features such as the panoramic sunroof, Eco & Sport modes, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control…

What you won't:

• Heavy steering gets cumbersome at parking / u-turn / crawling speeds (<5 km/h)
• Harrier AT’s focus is on smoothness & comfort; gearbox is not the most responsive
• Concerns over niggles & long-term reliability associated with Tata cars
• Service visit every 6 months / 7,500 km (12-months is the norm today)
• Diesel engine does get loud at 3,500 rpm & its engine note is quite sad too
• No petrol option (almost all competitors offer it). No AWD for enthusiasts either
• Although improved, the Harrier's steering @ 120 km/h is still a level too sensitive
• Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble

Review Link

Review Link - Diesel AT

MG Hector

What you'll like:

• Big size & lots of bling for the money! We find the Hector to be well-priced
• A spacious cabin that can easily seat 5 adults. Massive 587 litre boot too
• Fiat-sourced 2.0L diesel is simply fantastic
• Compliant ride quality. Suspension is tuned for comfort
• Lots of kit (panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric seats & tailgate etc.)
• ‘Connected’ Tablet ICE with an embedded SIM & lovely sound quality
• 5-year / unlimited km warranty with roadside assistance
• Top safety equipment includes 6 airbags, ESP, HSA, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS & more

What you won't:

• Awkward styling on the side & rear profiles. Looks weird from some angles
• Sloppy high-speed handling, noticeable body roll & easy understeer
• The petrol engine is “adequate” at best. Its guzzling Automatic variant is unimpressive
• No Diesel AT (Creta, Seltos, XUV500, Hexa offer this combination, which we love)
• Some annoyances like the ~6 meter turning radius, strange rpm meter…
• Small after-sales network. Service quality & long-term reliability are big unknowns
• Waiting period runs into a couple of months
• Don’t get blinded by the British branding. This is a Chinese car

Review Link

Mahindra XUV500

What you’ll like:

• A well-engineered, contemporary SUV with a value-for-money price tag
• More mature styling. Front end no longer looks garish
• Acres of space on the 1st & 2nd seat rows
• Competent engine delivers fantastic urban driveability, as well as fast highway performance
• Balanced ride & handling package
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP with rollover mitigation, ABS + EBD and all-wheel disc brakes
• Expansive feature list (sunroof, touchscreen ICE, powered driver's seat, cruise control etc.)

What you won’t:

• Absolutely no luggage capacity with all the seats in place
• Cramped 3rd seat row is best suited to children only. A sliding middle row is sorely missed
• Interior quality, although better, still has a lot of scope for improvement
• Clutch is lighter now, but has a long travel range & high resting point. Gets cumbersome in traffic
• Niggles & issues, as reported by existing XUV500 owners
• Mahindra's inconsistent sales & service experiences

Review Link

Review Link - Diesel AT

Volkswagen T-Roc

Launch Thread

Seahawk's Ownership Review

Click here to read BHPian comments

It has gone to the service centre 3 times for rectification, but the sound is still present.

BHPian Sm00 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I own an MG Hector petrol hybrid with roughly 6,900 km on the odo, purchased in November 2020.

Whenever the brake or accelerator is pressed, a creaking sound is heard, especially when the car nosedives (during braking) or the nose rises (during acceleration). It doesn't come at standstill, or while going over undulations, or while steering.

It has gone to the service centre 3 times for rectification, but the sound is still present. They say that they have tried everything from cleaning the brakes, to replacing the shock absorbers, retorquing the subframe mounts and greasing the necessary parts. Even the company people are in loop.

I have already faced a couple of problems since purchase, like within the first week, an LED DRL had to be replaced as it was faulty, a rattling noise from the rear had to be fixed, the handbrake cable of the left rear left wheel became loose and was hanging and had to be tightened. On the second day after purchase, it was discovered that the rear exhaust was rusted. This was reported and the service centre sprayed something to make it disappear. Since then, the car has been driven about 6,900 km and till now, the rust hasn't appeared. I can't understand how rust can appear within 1 month while the car was sitting idle at the dealership stockyard, and not appear after being driven for so many kilometres.

The plastics are really very creaky. They have been creaking on their own randomly (the dashboard, gear console, driver handle, sunroof, reading light control panel, etc.) since the very first month.

I don't think that these problems are desired / expected in a new car. I haven't discovered heard of these problems / issues from other MG Hector owners. Please advise as to what should I do as I have had to face so many problems in the vehicle continuously.

Now, I have completely lost trust in the vehicle as well as the brand and want a refund as problems are repeatedly coming up in my vehicle.

Here's what BHPian SS-Traveller had to say on the matter:

This seems to be a case of faulty front struts or strut mounting points. Ask the service centre to replace both struts, and check for cracks or corrosion at the upper mounting points. Fix this and check for noise again.

Here's what BHPian wheelguy had to say on the matter:

Better take it to some FNG or water-wash center with lift and checkout the underbody thoroughly by yourself before going to authorized service center, because the service guys might not easily budge on this point if this is the real cause, if they find it they might secretly repair but won't acknowledge it.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The top-spec Sharp MT Hybrid variant of the Hector has been discontinued.

MG has increased the prices of the Hector and Hector Plus SUVs by up to Rs. 43,000.

The base variant of the Hector (Style MT) is now priced at Rs. 13.18 lakh, which is Rs. 28,000 more than last month's price. Prices of the Smart CVT variants have gone up by Rs. 33,000. The top-spec Sharp MT Hybrid has been discontinued.

The base price of the Hector Diesel has been increased by Rs. 38,000. The top-spec diesel variant costs Rs. 18.86 lakh, up by Rs. 43,000 from Rs. 18.43 lakh.

MG has also hiked the prices of both, the 6 and 7-seater models of the Hector Plus. Prices of the petrol variants have been increased by Rs. 28,000, while those of the diesel variants have gone up by Rs. 38,000.