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-   -   MG India's first SUV named Hector. Edit: Launched @ 12.18L (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/205468-mg-indias-first-suv-named-hector-edit-launched-12-18l-70.html)

Bye bye Jeep! Bye bye Harrier!

MG has nailed it with the Hector's pricing although I'm very unhappy with the variant nomenclature. What if they were to introduce a new stripped-down base variant or an optional variant based on Smart sometime? Will these will be called Hector Stupid and Hector Oversmart respectively?

Jokes aside, MG Hector is a desirable product for the masses; more so than the Harrier I would say. It's brimmed with features, has generous dimensions, solid built and oodles of space. However, our market is very unpredictable. Earlier this year, there was similar excitement around the Harrier which didn't take more than a few months to fade off.

In the current situation, it makes absolute sense to hold on and observe the market response for atleast an year. MG is an unknown brand in India with a solid question mark when it comes to long term reliability, service network, price and availability of spares, service experience, resale value and so on. Moreover, 15-20 lakhs is no small amount to play with. If the brand doesn't click, you'll be stuck with the car for years to come.

But all said and done, the build-up of pages on this thread is impressive! lol:

Well, That was expected that MG with it's Chinese heritage would try to disrupt the market with a better offering and boy, they have done it. With bookings piling up, Tata and Jeep especially must be in a state of shock. We Indians only wanted a feature laden car at an attractive price and MG has delivered on that front. I would be keen to see the final offtake of Hector in June final nos. Interesting times ahead with Kia also ready to pile on the pressure.:Shockked:

They seem to have announced the Annual Maintenance Package Options as well. More info below:

MG Motor India Introduces Annual Maintenance Package For The Hector
Car & Bike: URL

MG Hector comes with MG Shield after-sales package
Carwale Link: URL

The Hector comes with three years/sixty per cent buy-back option. (if customers are willing to upgrade to a new model)

Just spoke to my dealer and understand that the deliveries of the non-auto starts from Monday.

The dealers are still struggling with getting the final OTR pricing owing to the decision on dealer margin products such as insurance and various goodies packages.

They also have very limited knowledge on the differentiation of various packages and even the service schedule, etc.

I had a test drive of the Auto version :

TBH : Its not super fast territory but its very adequate for the quic pounces and runs on the highway, the suspension and body roll are well covered even though it has a huge body. The feel of driving is very premium, NVH is very well covered and the head turns are just too many.

One question: I cannot stand black interiors at all, even though this car has a lot of space and doesn't feel/look cramped, black interiors are a put off for me.

In the image above, would it be possible to change these leather inserts of the dash to something more likable color. (I checked if that can be done at the Manufacturer/dealer level, but they cant: so after market is it possible?)

:thumbs up SAIC will double up on India as we're the easiest Top 5 worldwide market to crack. The others (USA, Germany etc.) are waaaaaaay more mature. To put it simply, India is the easiest big market for any Chinese company with global aspirations.

I hope SAIC remembers the Cruze (from the time it was a partner in GM India). Like the Hector, the Cruze also offered lots of bang for the buck and created enormous buzz when it was launched. But the key is to sustain volumes - something Maruti & Hyundai are masters at. With time, the Cruze got too expensive and wasn't updated fast enough to keep up with competition. That shouldn't happen with the Hector.

I am fairly certain these areas can covered with leather covers/inserts of you choice. That along with some lighter color on the door armrests will elevate the interiors. I also think a little bit of lighter colors can enhance the interiors of any car.

As on 25 June, Hector had crossed 200 bookings in Kochi and over 400 in Kerala. Shared by someone from the Kerala dealerships who is an FB friend.

I think people have accepted the brilliant pricing. I have been seeing the car doing rounds near my house (surprising since the showroom is around 15kms away and they allow only short TDs. Of course they take the car to potential customers).

Saw one again today and liked the way how they managed to attract the crowd. Parked the car in a good spot and the dude started to click pics. In around 5 mins, atleast 4 cars stopped to check the car.

I have an airport run tomorrow so might drop in to the check the car (ie if the showroom isn't crowded).

2019 MG HECTOR SUV GARNERS 10,000 BOOKINGS IN LESS THAN A MONTH - URL

Same was the case with the Jeep. The Compass came with a bang, people loved it and sales skyrocketed, waiting times increased and slowly but steadily dropped month on month. Jeep just put all its eggs in the Compass basket. Should have ridden the momentum wave and launched various other products to secure itself in the market.
But MG seem to have a proper roadmap in place and are here for the long-haul. It seems they will definitely make an impact on the sector.

They even took the car to a potential customer at Kottayam which is some 70 kms from the showroom and met with an accident too.

Nothing major but I think the front bumper will be replaced.

The engine bay of the diesel should be the last place to check this since it is directly sourced from FCA. The petrol hood should give a better picture.

With the arrival of the Hector and Harrier, the Compass is now overpriced and in a no-man's land.

I wouldn't actually go that far ahead.

It is the only one out of the three that gets a 170 BHP engine, and it is the best handling SUV out there, something that the enthusiasts wouldnt mind spending extra on.

So, it is in its own niche, definitely not in a no man's land.
Of course, such buyers are going to be miniscule.