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# MG Hector Plus Review - Six Seats & A Sharper Suit | First Drive | India.

MG HECTOR.

The mg hector was one of the big success stories of 2019 and now MG is looking to build on that success with another hector.  this one's called the hector plus and we're going to see it in a bit more detail to understand the additions that justify the plus in the name.  first things first the hector plus is not an XL sized hector the plus is as tall and as wide as the standard model and shares the millimeter wheelbase as well the 65 millimeter increase in overall length is merely down to the re-profile bumpers. now I'm going to jump straight to the second row and those new captains chairs.

Now if you've been in an mg hectare you already know-how roomy its second row is, that's something that's true about the MG hector plus as well and what adds to the comfort element is the switch to captain's chest for the second row. now on first glance, the seats look really premium. they're properly sculpted they're finished in fine leather upholstery and if you look close there's also this nice contrast stitching that adds to the premium look. on the first contact, the cushioning is also really well-judged but the more time you spend in the MG Hector pluses middle row you'll find that under-thigh support is a bit lacking and you also wish that the seat was slightly wider. however, you do get a huge range of movement you can take the seat forward and backward to maximize legroom and you can also adjust the backrest angle to your liking.

Sadly there are no sun shades for those large windows and if you happen to sit on the rear left seat in the petrol hybrid you'll find foot room limited by the lithium-ion battery that's positioned under the front seat. shifting focus to the big addition on the hector plus. the third row of seats yes mg has added in two seats at the back but given that the hector pluses body is no longer than the standard hectares. how roomy could it really be only one way to find out.

Now getting on to the MG hector plus his third row is a bit of a task and there we go now this second-row seat is set to accommodate an average-sized adult, it's not all the way back and you can tell I really don't have much space to be fair to MG they say that this seat is meant for teenagers so maybe someone in his early teens might be comfortable here. now apart from the space the backrest is also a bit upright so this is not a place you'd like to spend a lot of time in what does help matters to an extent is that you get dedicated air-con vents and there is also blower control right for the back seats.

As you'd have guessed the incorporation of the third row of seats has had a bearing on luggage capacity unique to the hector plus is a hands-free tailgate swiping under the bumper activates the system. the tailgate opens to reveal a fairly limited 155 liters of space with all seats up, however, the rear seats do split and fall flat when not needed to free up a very usable 530 liters, just for reference the 5 seat hectare has a 587-liter luggage capacity. what about differences up front.

The MG Hector pluses cabin at least up front is much of what we've seen already on the hectare. however there is a big point of distinction and that is the tan upholstery on the seats and also this nice bit on the dashboard. the upholstery looks good it really adds another level of premiumness to the cabin but if you do poke around a bit more as on the hectare. you will find a fair few hard plastics inside as well now talking of the other points of course you have to talk about the massive panoramic sunroof and the other talking point literally so has got to be the 10.4-inch touchscreen.

Now it's improved since the first hectare came out last year it's a lot smoother and mg has also done well to add in a chat feature in our lonely times of social distancing I'll try it out. hello MG how am I looking today?, beautiful as always darling thank you in this way. sure the system packs in loads of connected features but a few physical buttons for commonly used functions would be nice. especially given that functionality is still not iPad slick and it often gets tripped on voice commands as well. you'll also find spending more time than necessary looking at the instruments whose glass casing catches way too many reflections in daylight.

But you really can't fault the hector plus for features. top spec sharp trim versions like the one with us pack in a whole host of goodies in addition to the leather at upholstery, the 10.4-inch screen, panoramic sunroof and hands-free tailgate already mentioned. the hector plus features a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat eight-color ambient lighting an infinity audio system and a very handy 360-degree parking camera, safety kit includes six airbags, ESC, auto headlamps, and wipers a tire pressure monitoring system and front and rear parking sensors, that's that about the interior and features how do you tell a hectare plus apart from a standard hectare on the outside, the basic shape and profile are the same but there are a fair few differences.

For one the hector plus wears a subtler look the flash value has been dialed down and up front chrome has only been used to good effect to embellish the grill, the frameless the treatment makes the grill appear a touch larger and if you really look closely you'll notice a differentiating kink on the upper led drls.

The main led headlamp cluster lower down has also been redone and the bumper is neater in look too, around the back the reflector strip connecting the tail lights on the hectare has been done away with for the plus and the bumper has been tidied up too, but you won't need to poke with a stick to tell those exhausts are fake, the bigger spoiler is the 17-inch wheels that as on the hectare look a size or two too small for such a large SUV.

The new starry blue color is rather nice though. the hector plus is targeted at chauffeur-driven buyers so I'll start my rolling evaluation from the comfort of the back seat, sprawled out at the back you will have some observations about the hector plus his ride comfort. now like the hector plus is also set up on the softer side and that means low-speed ride is nice and blind and rather cushy.

It's just that when you or rather your chauffeur up the base you will notice this up and down movement creep into the experience and that movement just gets amplified the faster you go. what does help the experience in the hector plus is that refinement levels are quite good. like the hector plus is available with three engine options on offer is a 170 horsepower 2-liter diesel engine mated to a 6-speed manual. while the petrol range comprises a 143 horsepower 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine that can be had with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed dual. clutch gearbox there's also a 143 horsepower 1.5-liter turbo petrol with a mild hybrid system and a six-speed manual. it's this hector plus hybrid that we have with us today.

So what's the driving experience like. if you've driven the hectare you'll be immediately comfortable in the hectare plus. honestly, the only point of difference is the reflection of an added row of seats in the rearview mirror. now like the hectare plus is a large car but from behind the wheel, the light steering and pretty good maneuverability make it feel smaller than it is. 

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Performance levels are also unchanged a 143 horsepower 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine may seem inadequate for something as large and something as heavy as the hectare plus. remember the hectare plus tips the scales at over 1700 kilograms. now this engine is not the most enthusiastic it's not the most eager to rev and it isn't outright punchy either, but typical hector plus buyers will still find plenty to like about it it's got a linear delivery of power there is no shortage of power when you really need it, and the high level of refinement really adds charm to this package what's the hector plus with a full load and what's fuel efficiency like are things we'll only get to answer when we have more time with the MG. MG hector plus prices start at 13.4 lakh rupees and top off at 18.5 lakh rupees ex-showroom India. that means variant to variant the hectare plus is between 40 to 65 000 rupees pricier than the standard 5 seat hector. do note hector plus prices go up by 50 000 rupees post august 13^th. 

For the added outlay over the standard the hectare, you get a more premium middle row experience and the added flexibility of a third row of seats. all this over and above what we already like about the standard hectare. it doesn't pretend to be an enthusiast SUV but as a comfy SUV for the family, the hector plus works rather well, add in mg's service and ownership packages and you'll find your money buys you a whole lot of SUV. would you consider a hector plus over the standard hectare let us know in the comments section.