MG Commute EV Pros And Cons — What’s Good And What’s Bad About Using Windsor For Commercial Duty | V3Cars

Looks

• Positive: On the bright side, the Windsor isn’t downright ugly and in fact has a pleasing design, which grows on you with time. The bubbly design is not going to make most people hate it. Moreover, the Tata Punch and Sierra have proven that buyers are willing to pay a premium for good designs. With the Windsor, you’re clearly not paying for the design.
• Negative: On the other hand, it’s just not a pretty car to ogle at from the outside. Even the Dzire Tour’s design is better and more conventional than that of the dolphin-like silhouette of the Windsor/Commute.

Running Costs

• Positive: The good thing about EVs in general is that they are quite cheap to operate. With a fleet operator’s electricity or with domestic power connection, the MG Commute is going to cost no more than Rs. 2.0 per kilometre. Moreover, there’s minimal maintenance cost with an EV. The MG Commute mostly requires tyre changes, brake fluid change at every 30,000km, cabin filter change every 15,000km and reduction gear oil roughly every 40,000km.
• Negative: On the other hand, if you intend to operate the Commute strictly on public charging, then it’s not going to be as affordable to run. Considering the higher transmission losses with DC fast charging and electricity costs hovering around Rs. 25.0 per kWh, you can expect fuel costs as high as Rs. 5.0 per kilometre. Even with maintenance costs, the Hyryder hybrid could end up being cheaper than the MG Windsor Commute (petrol @ Rs. 95.0 in Delhi NCR). Dzire CNG or Tour S CNG will cost much less, with CNG prices being much less than petrol in several states. So, you’ll have to do the math before making the purchase.

Rear Seat Leg Space

• Positive: With the Windsor’s EV-spec skateboard platform and its wheels stretched outward, there’s more than enough knee room even for 6-footers behind a 6-footer. The Windsor indeed is very spacious.
• Negative: While the skateboard platform liberates a lot of leg space in the MG Commute, it also has a very high floor, which accommodates the battery pack. This makes it quite uncomfortable for taller occupants as there’s negligible under-thigh support on offer.

Rear Seat Functional Features

• Positive: In commercial operation, the MG Commute is going to be primarily used for rear-seat occupants, the inclusion of rear-seat recline feature across all variants of the Windsor makes it quite useful for the occupants.
• Negative: The reclining rear seats will, no doubt, make the occupants more comfortable. However, to improve the comfort aspect of the car, MG should have included rear centre armrest, at least on the Commute variant. This also means that there’s no space to park a coffee mug as there are no cup holders in the back seat. Usually, cars with rear armrests also have integrated cup holders. The rear armrest feature is also not available in the Excite base model of the MG Windsor.

Rear Seat Safety Features

• Positive: One good thing about MG Commute’s rear seat is that all 3 occupants get their own 3-point seat belt. Moreover, there are also 2 adjustable headrests. The inclusion of curtain airbags is also a notable feature.
• Negative: Unfortunately, the centre occupant not only doesn’t get an adjustable head rest, there isn’t even a fixed head rest to prevent whiplash injuries if the vehicle suffers a rear end collision.

Rear Seat Window

• Positive: The large window in the back with power up/down and 1-touch auto down function is quite a useful feature here. The otherwise dark upholstery doesn’t affect the feeling of roominess as the windows do let more than enough light into the cabin.
• Negative: The negative aspect of the windows is that the glass has barely any tint. So, on a bright and sunny afternoon, you’re going to get a little too much exposure to sun. While we can’t say for sure about the UV protection, but, as an owner of the MG Windsor, I can say for sure that sunlight directly hitting on the skin through the windows does give a burning sensation, which I haven’t experienced in any car north of Rs. 10.0 lakh (ex-showroom). To manage this situation, MG should have offered rear window curtains as standard with the Commute EV, since this car is mostly going to have rear seats occupied. In terms of UV protection, Maruti Nexa’s cars are the benchmark as their top models get heavily tinted side windows.

Boot Space & Features

• Positive: The huge boot space is going to be a boon for travellers booking the MG Commute. This is going to be a preferred option especially for passengers travelling to and from the airport or railway stations. The inclusion of a boot light also makes the cargo area much more usable in the dark.
• Negative: It is downright shameful that MG are not including the rear parcel tray with the car. The lack of a parcel tray leaves little room for privacy as your cargo remains fully visible to anyone peeking through the rear windshield. Moreover, the almost clear glass makes it even easier for thieves to look for valuables. So, the passengers in MG Commute will have to carefully pack their bags and make sure the valuables are hidden from prying eyes.

Also Read: MG Commute Taxi Launched At Rs. 13.49 Lakh For Commercial Buyers

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