MG Hector launched: What else can you buy?

Post much wait, MG Hector has been launched in the country in 11 trims and five-colour options. Interestingly, the company offers the “MG Shield” ownership package, a five-year comprehensive warranty for unlimited kilometres. This also includes round-the-clock roadside assistance (RSA) for a period of five years and no labour charges for the first five scheduled vehicle services. The entry-level Style trim in petrol is priced at Rs 12.18 lakhs, while the top-spec Sharp trim in diesel is priced at Rs 16.88 lakhs.

A diesel engine option with a manual transmission is available across all the trims, while the petrol manual is available in both Style and Super trims. The petrol hybrid in manual guise is available all variants except the base Style trim. The petrol automatic is available in both Smart and Sharp variants. Here below are the other options that you can consider for a similar price. 

Tata Hexa  

The Hexa from Tata Motors received a model year update earlier this year in May. The Tata Hexa facelift has received minor exterior updates, new alloy wheel design and a 7.0-inch Android Auto compatible Harman touchscreen system. There are seven variants and with one 2.2-litre diesel engine in two states of tune. In the XE and XM variants, it produces 148bhp/320Nm while in the XM+ and XT/XTA variants it produces 154bhp /400Nm. A six-speed manual is common across the range while a six-speed AT is available in the XMA/XTA variants.

Hyundai Creta  

Back in April, Hyundai updated the Creta line-up in the country. The E Plus variant is the new entry-level offering in the Creta lineup and the EX trim sits one level above the base variant. Moreover, Hyundai has now discontinued the Creta S 1.6-diesel automatic, which now means that the diesel automatic is only available in the top spec SX variant. The Hyundai SUV is available in both 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engine options in manual as well as automatic transmission. The Creta can also be had with a 1.4-litre diesel engine only in manual transmission.  

Mahindra Marazzo

Mahindra launched the Marazzo seven-seat vehicle in the country in four variants and six colour options. This was a first product to be developed through a collaboration between Mahindra Automotive North America, Pininfarina and Mahindra design centre in Chennai. All the variants will be powered by the 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel four-cylinder engine developing 121bhp of power and 300Nm of torque and they will be offered with a six-speed manual. 

Mahindra XUV500  

Mahindra introduced a new entry-level W3 variant in the country in May 2019. The new base variant of the XUV500 gets a modest set of features like fabric upholstery, power-adjustable ORVMs, projector headlamps and electrically operated dual HVAC. The base variant, however, misses out on the audio system. The XUV500 has a seven-seat/three-row configuration, and it also comes with AWD and automatic powertrain options. All this gives it an instant advantage over the Harrier. But the Harrier is nicely put together and borrows its bits from JLR SUV.

Honda BR-V  

Honda’s compact seven-seat compact SUV is available in both petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol variant gets a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder i-VTEC engine which puts out about 118bhp of power and 145Nm of torque, while the diesel, on the other hand, gets a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder engine which puts out 100bhp of power and 200Nm of torque. Both the engines come mated to a six-speed manual transmission, while CVT option is available only in petrol guise.

Renault Captur  

Renault launched the Captur in the country in November 2017. The Captur crossover shares its underpinnings with the Duster. The five-seat vehicle is based on Renault’s new design language and offers an additional set of features over the Duster in India. The Renault Captur is available in petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol variant is powered by a 1.5-litre engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission that generates 104bhp of power and 142Nm of torque. The diesel version, on the other hand, is powered by a 1.5-litre engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission which generates 108bhp of power and 240Nm of torque. Currently, both the engine options are limited to a manual transmission and does not offer AWD option for now.

Ford EcoSport

For the price of the entry-level MG Hector, you can consider the top spec EcoSport Titanium+ trim in petrol guise with a CVT transmission. On the other hand, you can also get the feature loaded S trim both 1.5-litre diesel and a 1.0-litre petrol engine option. Earlier this month Ford introduced the 2019 EcoSport in the country in six trims - Ambiente, Trend, Titanium, Titanium+, EcoSport S and the Thunder Edition. The updated EcoSport gets automatic HID headlamps, daytime running lights, electrochromic mirror, rain sensing wipers, push-button start and tyre pressure monitoring system. Except for the entry-level variant, all others variants get a touchscreen-based infotainment system with embedded navigation.     

Nissan Kicks

Nissan Kicks arrived in India early this year and is available in both petrol and diesel engine options. The XL, XV, XV Premium and XV Premium Plus available in diesel, while the XL and the XV are available in petrol engine option. All variants of the Nissan Kicks get dual front airbags, LED DRLs, power windows, height adjustable driver’s seat, electrically adjustable mirrors with integrated indicators and climate control with rear AC vents.  An 8.0-inch touchscreen system is standard from the XV variant onwards while the top spec XV Pre-Option variant also gets a segment first 360-degree surround camera.

Tata Harrier 

Tata launched the Harrier around the same period as the Nissan Kicks early this year. The Harrier is based on the OMEGA platform, it adopts the IMPACT 2.0 design philosophy. The SUV is available in four trims – XE, XM, XT and XZ. Mechanically, it gets a Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre four-cylinder Kryotec turbodiesel engine produces 140bhp and 350Nm. The transmission is a six-speed manual sending power to front-wheels only. Although there is no AWD version, the Harrier does come with a special ESP system with selectable modes for different conditions – normal, wet and rough.