JSW MG Motor India has launched its new Hector Tomahawk, which is available in both electric and plug-in hybrid options? The plug-in hybrid starts at a price of ₹21.79 lakh (showroom), while the EV version of the car starts at ₹13.99 lakh with battery as a service (BaaS) and ₹19.49 lakh and ₹25.69 without BaaS, respectively. Now, the MG Hector Tomahawk is not interesting because of the fact that it comes with multiple powertrain options, but because of the fact that it is the first car that MG has made on its brand-new platform called the MG Adapt. The MG Adapt platform is an architecture that can support different kinds of powertrains, like electric, plug-in hybrid, a strong hybrid, and more.
But the MG Hector Tomahawk is not all about the platform. It’s also about what it offers and MG’s big bet on new energy vehicles. In this article, I will talk about what I think about the MG Hector Tomahawk: how it looks, what it feels like to be inside the car, and finally, if it offers any worthy competition to other EVs in the segment, like the Tata Harrier EV or the Kia Caren’s Clavis EV. Without much further ado, let’s begin.
MG Hector Tomahawk Design and Styling – Has Got the Bulk, But The Styling Isn’t Exciting
In terms of how it looks, the MG Hector Tomahawk is a rebadged version of the Wuling Starlight 560, which is a popular vehicle in China. It looks pretty typical for a modern SUV. There is nothing too fancy or too extravagant about the design. It’s got a nice and broad stance, the bulky SUV shoulders, and a modern, slightly busy front fascia. Overall, the MG Hector Tomahawk has got the heft and stance that a modern-day SUV should. My favourite part of the design is the rear profile, where the Hector Tomahawk looks the most serious. I see a little bit of BMW X5 and a little bit of Citroen mix in the rear, which is not a bad thing. The design of everything on the back side is very proportionate. The tail lamps fit in well into the whole shape and there are no frills at the rear. The front is a bit too busy for my liking, but it definitely looks distinctive and will have more than a few takers.
The profile of the MG Hector Tomahawk is that of a typical SUV, with a high ground clearance and large wheel arches, but I feel that the wheel size that MG has given is slightly smaller and the gap is a bit big on the wheel arches. Does not look very proportionate to the overall size and heft of the MG Hector Tomahawk. I feel that this is the only design bit that looks odd and out of place. So overall, design is probably the most subjective part of any car or product. This, I feel fits well into the whole modern SUV design profile, despite what I think about it. Will I grow into liking it? Maybe. Is this the best-looking car in its segment? Not really. It has the bulk and heft that I like to see in these mid-segment SUVs, but the styling didn’t excite me as much as it did the first time I saw the standard MG Hector (back in 2019).
MG Hector Tomahawk Powertain: EV and PHEV Options, Thanks to MG Adapt
Now, coming to the powertrain options, this is the most exciting thing about the MG Hector Tomahawk. Here we get two powertrain options to pick from:
- A pure electric with a 69.2 kWh battery that offers a range of 517 km on a single charge.
- A plugin hybrid with a 1.5 L petrol engine and a 20.5kWh electric battery, which can be charged. The hybrid version goes around 110 km on pure electric, and it gives a range of more than 1,100 km on a single tank of fuel.
Both these options, for the practicality- or efficiency-focused buyer, are outstanding. Regardless of how overpriced or how expensive the car may seem in the larger scheme of things, the cost of ownership and the cost of driving the car will always make sense.
It’s also sufficiently powerful, as MG tells us. Now we have not driven the car yet, so we can’t have any opinions about how it is to drive. The 69.2 kWh battery on the MG Hector Tomahawk produces about 200 bhp of power and 310 Nm of torque, propelling the car from 0-100 in just 8.7 seconds. For the hybrid option, we get a 1.5 L naturally aspirated petrol engine supported with a 20.5 kWh battery, which creates a combined power output of 201 PS (for the petrol engine) + 102 PS (for the electric battery) of power and 237Nm + 125 Nm of torque. This hybrid version goes from 0 to 100 kmph in just 9 seconds.
The plug-in hybrid option is where MG will have a clear advantage over any other car in this segment. This is, in fact, the first mass-market plug-in hybrid that we are getting in India so the 7-seater option will also appeal to those who opt for the Innova Hycross because of the workhorse it is. The EV is just another option in the category, the plug-in hybrid is what will set the MG Hector Tomahawk apart in not just the segment, but the overall Indian car market.
MG Hector Tomahawk Features and Comfort – Everything You Could Ask For
And now, on what the MG Hector Tomahawk is like from the inside. Here also, we are getting two options – a 5-seater SUV and a 7-seater SUV. In terms of the features and the creature comforts you get inside the cars, it’s all the same. We are getting a plethora of features and tech with the MG Hector Tomahawk:
- 15.6-inch infotainment display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Fully digital instrument cluster
- Panoramic sunroof
- Leather upholstery
- ADAS Level 2
- 360-degree camera
- Ambient lighting
- Seat ventilation
- Electronically adjustable front seats
- Ambient lighting
- Wireless charging
- Powered tailgate
- Minimal interiors
Sitting inside the car was quite a premium experience. I felt that the cabin was quite good looking and comfortable. The choice of colours and materials give it a plush and roomy feel. The fit and finish of things also seemed to be fine, making this one of the best looking cabins in this segment. However, I found a few crucial car controls to be in the display, with no physical buttons or dials for them. That takes away a little bit from the overall experience of being inside the cabin. But in terms of the look and feel, this is as good as it gets in this segment of cars. Rest, we will have a better opinion once we experience the car for longer.
MG Hector Tomahawk First Impressions – Gives MG an Edge
So finally, the MG Hector Tomahawk is the first car that MG has launched on its new Adapt platform. It is also the first mass-market plug-in hybrid that we are getting in India, and that gives MG a big advantage in this segment.
The EV, I feel, is a familiar recipe. It’s something that just adds to the number of options that we have in this ₹20 to ₹25 lakh range of SUVs. The plug-in hybrid, I feel, is the more exciting one. It is the one that actually puts MG in an advantageous position in the market and the one that actually is unique from its very core. How well it will sell, only the market and people’s response can tell, but I think that the plug-in hybrid is the one to look out for. The 7-seater plug-in hybrid in fact even gives the Toyota Innova Hycross buyer another option to look at so MG has definitely played the right cards here.
Another thing I feel about the whole positioning of the Hector Tomahawk. This is a completely new product from MG and has nothing to do with the previous Hector cars so we are confused as to what the strategy behind it is, but we will save this for an upcoming interview with the brand’s leadership.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
