MG has debuted the ‘next generation’ Hector and here’s everything to know about it
The Hector was the very first model that Morris Garages (MG ) launched in India, marking their entry into the domestic market. The manufacturer has now rolled out the 2023 Hector with a bunch of tasteful changes and additions, calling it the ‘next-gen’. While we have to wait till the Auto Expo for the detailed prices and variants, here is everything we know about it as a product yet. In essence, the new Hector feels more like a cosmetic/feature upgrade than a generation upgrade. It gets a slew of design changes and more equipment, with no mechanical revisions.
- MG Hector facelift gets design changes and more equipment
- Comes with a Massive 14-inch touchscreen
- Gets Level 2 ADAS
- No mechanical changes
- Prices and variant details to be out at the Auto Expo
Design changes
A few key design changes can be spotted on the 2023 Hector. The front fascia has the most number of tweaks and looks fresh and more handsome than before. There is a new Argyle-inspired Diamond mesh grille, alongside new headlamps. It looks good despite having a Chrome overdose. Also noticeable are the new skid plates at both ends, with tasteful touches of Chrome on them.
The side profile remains largely unchanged. The new Hector rides on 18 inch wheels which feel fairly proportionate to the overall vehicle dimensions and stance. The most important design revision at the rear would be the new full-width ‘ LED connected blade’ taillamps. The rear bumper too has been restyled. The ‘Hector’ badging is also revised and repositioned. Also replacing the previous ‘Internet Inside’ is a new ‘ADAS’ lettering.
2023 MG Hector Colours: The new MG Hector facelift is available in 7 different colorways, including a Black/ White dual tone. A new Dune Brown shade has debuted on the Hector. Other colour options include Havana Grey, Candy White, Starry Black, Glaze Red, and Aurora Silver. Read more about these here.
Interior And Features
The cabin design has been extensively revised on the new Hector. Material quality has improved. The upholstery feels plush and so does the design and materials used on the central console. The wide central tunnel gets brushed metal finish, and a bunch of switches and controls for various functions including the electronic parking brake. To improve the overall ergonomics, the seat ventilation controls have now moved to the central control. The slideable central armrest is wide enough for most body sizes.
Another major change to spot on the inside is the new touchscreen. When it was first launched in 2019, MG Hector had a massive 10.4-inch portrait screen that rose to instant fame. In its 2023 form, the Hector gets a full 14-inch HD portrait touchscreen, which as we speak, is India’s largest in-car infotainment screen. The touch response and overall UI seem to have improved. It also offers split-screen functionality for added convenience.
Key features include Discover app integration (powered by MapMyIndia), improved Park+, 7-inch digital instrument cluster, seat ventilation, wireless charger, and voice-operated ambient lighting. Mood lighting strips can be seen on the dashboard as well, unlike the previous SUV. Recognition and responses to voice commands have improved. Further, voice-assisted navigation now supports more languages. The quality of 360 camera has had a great leap up. The feed is now sharper and packs good amounts of detailing.
The Hector’s panoramic sunroof could earlier be operated via voice commands and a physical switch. On the new car, however, this can be operated through the touchscreen as well. This gives you more flexibility, as you get to choose the extent of opening, by how you slide through on the screen.
ADAS And More
ADAS is becoming a thing in the Indian market. MG being among the pioneers of this tech here, has introduced the same on facelifted Hector. The SUV now comes with Level 2 ADAS suite. The basic hardware- sourced from Bosch, comes from the MG Astor. On the Hector, more autonomous and ADAS functions have been added to this. 2023 MG Hector offers 11 ADAS features:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Bend Cruise Assistance (BCA)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
- Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)
- Intelligent Headlamp control (IHC)
- Safe Distance Warning (SDW)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Automatic Emergency braking (AEB)
- Intelligent Hydraulic Braking Assistance
- AEB Pedestrian
The IHC, essentially an automatic headlamp dipping mechanism, feels like a great thing to have on Indian roads. ADAS will be available on the automatic variants alone. Other than these, the vehicle also comes with automatic turn indicators and a Bluetooth-based key, where you can use your configured smartphone as the vehicle key.
Specifications- Engines, Transmissions And More
The facelift remains mechanically unchanged from the one it replaces. It comes with the same set of engines and gearboxes. We are told that the outputs will remain identical as well. This means that the new Hector will have a 1.5L petrol engine mated to either a 5 speed manual or a CVT automatic gearbox, and a Fiat-sourced 2.0L diesel- 6MT combo. The mild hybrid petrol and DCT transmissions that were discontinued previously, will not make it to the new Hector either.
While the diesel engine, which also does duties on the Jeep Compass and Tata Harrier, might seem legit with its 170 hp, the manual gearbox kills the chances of it getting any bit of the ADAS kit.
Booking, Price Announcement And Variants
Expect the variant details and prices to be out on January 11, at the Auto Expo. Upon launch, it will continue to rival the likes of Tata Harrier, Hyundai Creta, Seltos, Grand Vitara and Hyryder.
