Which MG Hector Petrol Variant To Buy? MG HECTOR - Variant Comparison - STYLE, SUPER, SMART, SHARP

The MG Hector created quite a buzz when it launched in the summer of 2019 So much so that MG halted the bookings for the Hector once the number touched 21,000. Bookings of the Hector resumed just ahead of the festive season with a price hike of Rs. 30,000 - Rs. 40,000. Now that the bookings are open again, let’s dig deeper to figure out which petrol variant you should book.

MG Hector Variant Price

The MG Hector’s prices start at Rs. 12.48 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the petrol STYLE variant and go up to Rs. 17.28 lakh for the diesel SHARP variant.

The STYLE variant with diesel engine is Rs. 1,00,000 more expensive than the non-hybrid petrol version. If you look at the SUPER variant, the gap increases to Rs. 1.2 lakh. For the SUPER variant, you also have the option of the petrol hybrid engine, which is Rs. 60,000 more expensive than the non-hybrid petrol version.

The SMART variant doesn’t get the non-hybrid petrol engine, but adds the option of a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The automatic is only Rs. 70,000 more expensive than the MG Hector SMART hybrid variant. If you opt for the diesel instead, then that’s Rs. 90,000 more expensive than the SMART hybrid petrol engine with a manual transmission.

In the SHARP variant, the petrol automatic comes with a premium of Rs. 90,000 over the hybrid manual transmission. Meanwhile, the diesel engine will cost you another Rs. 1,00,000 on top of what the Hector with a hybrid petrol engine and a manual transmission costs.

MG Hector Dimension Comparison with Competition

The MG Hector is the longest of the lot and has the longest wheelbase too. It is only a wee bit narrower than the Tata Harrier and slightly shorter than the Mahindra XUV500.

MG Hector Petrol Engine Specs

There are two petrol powertrain options in the MG Hector - a hybrid and a non-hybrid. Both get a 1.5-litre engine with a turbocharger and make the same peak power and torque. However, the hybrid variant also gets a small boost from an electric motor, which also helps in auto-start stop in traffic. Both are available with a 6-speed manual transmission.

The non-hybrid engine is also available with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The hybrid variant has a slight advantage of 1.65kmpl over the non-hybrid manual transmission in terms of fuel efficiency.

Now let’s look at each variant individually starting with the STYLE variant.

MG Hector STYLE Variant Features

Right from the base STYLE variant, the Hector gets a 4-speaker music system, LED DRLs, halogen projector headlamps, power-adjustable outside mirrors, rear AC vents, front  and rear armrests, hill-hold, ESP, traction control, rear defogger, rear washer and wiper, rear disc brakes, ABS and 2 airbags.

MG Hector SUPER Variant Features

The STYLE variant itself looks like a good value considering the standard features, the prices and size of the vehicle. However, adding another Rs. 80,000 gets you cruise control, front parking sensors, rear camera, 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, steering-mounted controls and alloy wheels. In our opinion, this upgrade is worth the price difference.

There’s also the option of a hybrid engine for an additional sum of Rs. 60,000. It takes the official fuel efficiency figure from 14.16kmpl to 15.81kmpl. That’s an improvement of 1.65kmpl, which we don’t think is worth. At the current petrol price (~Rs. 73), it’ll take you 1.1 lakh km just to recover the additional cost. That is IF you get advertised fuel efficiency in the real world, which you won’t.

MG Hector SMART Variant Features

The MG Hector SMART variant adds Rs. 1.7 lakh to the ex-showroom price as you don’t have the option of a non-hybrid engine. Against the hybrid SUPER variant, the price increase is Rs. 1.1 lakh.

For that increase in price, you get, a power-adjustable driver seat, telescopic steering, push-button start, keyless entry, power-folding outside mirrors, tyre pressure monitoring, premium 8-speaker Infinity sound system with subwoofer and amplifier, machined alloy wheels, remote car lock/unlock, voice command and app-based vehicle status check.

If you spend another Rs. 70,000, you can get the 7-speed dual- clutch automatic instead of the 6-speed manual transmission. While some features do carry tremendous value and add to the overall ownership experience, we think this is a tough sell. If you love a good music system, then you should consider this option. There are also other luxurious features in the SMART variant but not enough to warrant an upgrade.

MG Hector SHARP Variant Features

The MG Hector SHARP variant is Rs. 1.3 lakh more expensive, compared to the SMART variant with manual transmission. If you’re considering the automatic transmission, then the SHARP variant will add Rs. 1.5 lakh to the ex-showroom cost.

For that extra cost, you get, dual-pane electric sunroof with remote open/close, auto AC/climate control, heated outside mirrors, 360-degree camera, auto headlamps, auto wipers, 4-way power-adjustable front passenger seat and a power-operated tailgate. There are some nice features in this variant but the price you pay is also in proportion.

For instance, the auto AC, sunglass holder, auto wipers and headlamps are features we expect even in the lower variants of the MG Hector. However, the MG Hector is giving the power-adjustable front passenger seat, panoramic sunroof with remote open/close, power-operated tailgate and 360-degree camera at throwaway prices. So, the SHARP variant comes across as decent value for your hard-earned money.

MG Hector Petrol Variant - Verdict

Manual Transmission - SUPER - Non-hybrid (Rs. 13.28 lakh)

The SUPER variant is the one that offers the best value even if it misses out on certain features that we should expect at that price point. If not a dual-zone climate control, we should at least get a single-zone automatic air conditioning for this price. The absence of power-folding mirrors,sunglass holder and a safety feature like TPMS further hurt its case. Nevertheless,for what it offers, it’s still a great balance considering the price.

Automatic Transmission - SHARP - Non-hybrid (Rs. 17.18 lakh)

While we maintain that the SUPER variant is the best value, if you want an automatic, SHARP is the way to go. SMART and SHARP are both priced too high for what they add to the package. However,if you’ve come as far as SMART, we’d suggest you plonk in some extra cash and get SHARP variant instead. It certainly has the features to justify buying the MG Hector.

A word of caution - The automatic transmission doesn’t carry a huge premium compared to the equivalent variant with a hybrid engine and a manual transmission. However, we’d advise against buying the dual-clutch automatic unless you absolutely want the MG Hector and can’t live without an automatic transmission.

A dual-clutch is the slickest of all types of automatics - but also notorious for long-term reliability issues. It’s also coming from a manufacturer new to India. So, it’s difficult to comment about its long-term reliability given the harsh Indian driving conditions. Traditionally, owners of the dual-clutch automatics have found DCTs quite a bit expensive to maintain. If you intend to keep your MG Hector automatic with you for a long time (>7 years), then we’d suggest you consider other options.