The MG Hector was first launched in 2019, and the Morris Garage’s first offering in India has been fairly popular amongst buyers. It’s been four years since then, but the Hector continues to be largely unchanged on the outside, and to ensure that the SUV can continue to stay fresh against the likes of its rivals like the Hyundai Creta, the Kia Seltos, the Tata Harrier, the Skoda Kushaq / Volkswagen Taigun and now the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder along with its cousin, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, the MG Hector has now received a facelift, along with updates to the interior.
The biggest change to the MG Hector has to be the front grille, one that is argyle-inspired as opposed to the earlier ‘F35 fighter jet-inspired’ grille on the older model, and it lends a lot more aggression to the Hector’s design while also being more in your face. The Hector continues to get automatic LED headlamps, and they dip automatically when they sense an oncoming vehicle to avoid blitzing other motorists with the high beam. Over at the side, there is no change to silhouette, with the wheels continuing to be 18-inch alloys, the same size as before. The other notable changes to the styling however at the rear, with the Hector getting LED tail lamps that run end-to-end across the rear hatch, like the VW Taigun for instance, and the Internet inside badging is no more present, rather being replaced by the ADAS badge thanks to the Hector getting additional tech from its sibling, the MG Astor.
The interior layout of the MG Hector is identical to the earlier model, now receiving a refresh in the form of a dual-tone beige and black colour scheme. The Hector also gets a dashboard with soft touch materials, and a larger touchscreen for the infotainment, at 14-inches as opposed to the 10.4-inches earlier. The Hector also gets a digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, an air purifier, a panoramic sunroof that can be controlled from the touchscreen, ventilated front seats and voice command support in Hinglish, and the latter can also be used to control the Hector’s ambient lighting. Space on offer hasn’t changed as there is no change in dimensions but the materials used are plusher.
The Hector also gets Level 2 Autonomous capability with its host of ADAS features, borrowed from the Astor. You get adaptive cruise control with Bend Cruise Assistance, that controls the speed of the Hector in bends when cruise control is engaged. The usual lane keep and preventive collision braking features are also present, and in addition to that, the Hector also gets a feature called Traffic Jam Assist, which allows you to creep forward in bumper to bumper traffic situations without needing to constantly apply the accelerator or brakes.
The Hector continues to be powered by the same engine and transmission options as before, with the choice of two petrol engines and one diesel engine. You get a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 141bhp of power and 250Nm of torque, and this engine can be had with a 6-speed manual or a CVT. The same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol can also be had in the mild-hybrid guise producing the same amount of power and torque, but only with the 6-speed manual. The diesel engine on the other hand is a 2-litre turbocharged unit, producing 168bhp of power and 350Nm of torque. You can have with a 6-speed manual transmission, and the Hector still does not get the option of a diesel-automatic.
MG hasn’t revealed prices for the Hector facelift yet, but owing to the additional features and the styling changes, it will be priced at a slight premium over the existing model. Expect the prices to be announced at the upcoming Auto Expo, and for the MG Hector to have its work cut out against its long list of rivals.