NEW DELHI: MG Motor India’s first bet was arguably an ace with the SAIC-backed company striking the chord with Hector. Launched in June 2019, Hector progressively went on to become a chart-buster, riding on a plethora of tech wizardry and an array of engine choices.
The Covid-induced lockdown, however, swept the automotive market with an irrevocable loss. As India walks back towards normalcy, MG Motor India is gearing up to bring in the Hector Plus - a potential Toyota Innova Crysta-challenger.
MG Motor India is wary of Toyota Kirloskar Motors’ unrivaled 15-year-long run with Innova. The success of Innova is nothing short of legendary, with over 36,000 units sold in the first year of launch. In 2016, Innova Crysta was introduced with greater aesthetics and practicality.
Much like the Hector, MG Motor India plans to cash in on creature comforts to lure the customers. Hector Plus, dimensionally, is identical to Hector, with the seating configuration expandable to up to seven passengers. The first sight of the MPV at the 2020 Auto Expo exuded MG’s commitment and Hector Plus’s promise to make a mark, much like its sibling.
If you go by the face of it, MG Motors’ iSmart 2.5 connectivity and the enormously large sunroof are the biggest feel-good factors inside the cabin. It is Toyota’s robustness versus MG’s technological prowess, with state-of-the-art features like a 360-degree virtual cockpit, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and round-the-body parking sensors in the latter, which offer a greater virtual safety insight to the driver.
MG Motors India has confirmed to drive in Hector Plus with the same engine combination as that in Hector - 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol, 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol with hybrid and 2-litre turbo-diesel - while mated to either 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT gearbox. On paper, Innova Crysta boasts a much bigger powertrain in the form of 2.7-litre petrol and 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel. However, in terms of performance, there is too little to differentiate.
Innova is a longstanding jewel in the MPV segment, with little signs of aging. On the other hand, MG Motor India would surely rely on in-car features and comfort factors of Hector Plus to alter the standings.
And if, in cases, it all comes down the price point - MG Motors India, in its short history, is known to keep things tight and aggressive. With Hector Plus launch date hovering around the first half of July, Hector Plus vs Toyota Innova Crysta may truly be an interesting battle of MPVs to watch out for.
The Covid-induced lockdown, however, swept the automotive market with an irrevocable loss. As India walks back towards normalcy, MG Motor India is gearing up to bring in the Hector Plus - a potential Toyota Innova Crysta-challenger.
MG Motor India is wary of Toyota Kirloskar Motors’ unrivaled 15-year-long run with Innova. The success of Innova is nothing short of legendary, with over 36,000 units sold in the first year of launch. In 2016, Innova Crysta was introduced with greater aesthetics and practicality.
Much like the Hector, MG Motor India plans to cash in on creature comforts to lure the customers. Hector Plus, dimensionally, is identical to Hector, with the seating configuration expandable to up to seven passengers. The first sight of the MPV at the 2020 Auto Expo exuded MG’s commitment and Hector Plus’s promise to make a mark, much like its sibling.
MG Hector Plus Infotainment
If you go by the face of it, MG Motors’ iSmart 2.5 connectivity and the enormously large sunroof are the biggest feel-good factors inside the cabin. It is Toyota’s robustness versus MG’s technological prowess, with state-of-the-art features like a 360-degree virtual cockpit, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and round-the-body parking sensors in the latter, which offer a greater virtual safety insight to the driver.
Toyota Innova Crysta interior
MG Motors India has confirmed to drive in Hector Plus with the same engine combination as that in Hector - 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol, 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol with hybrid and 2-litre turbo-diesel - while mated to either 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT gearbox. On paper, Innova Crysta boasts a much bigger powertrain in the form of 2.7-litre petrol and 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel. However, in terms of performance, there is too little to differentiate.
| Power | Torque | Transmission | |
| 1.5l Turbocharged Petrol Hybrid | 143 PS @ 5,000 rpm | 250 Nm @ 1,600 - 3,600 rpm | 6 MT |
| 1.5l Turbocharged Petrol | 143 PS @ 5,000 rpm | 250 Nm @ 1,600 - 3,600 rpm | 6 MT, DCT |
| 2.0l Turbocharged Diesel | 170 PS @ 3,750 rpm | 350 Nm @ 1,750 - 2,500 rpm | 6 MT |
| Power | Torque | Transmission | |
| 2.7-litre petrol | 166 PS @ 5,200 rpm | 245 Nm @ 4,000 rpm | 5 MT, 6 AT |
| 2.4-litre turbo-diesel (manual) | 150 PS @ 3,400 rpm | 343 Nm @ 1,400-2,800 rpm | 5 MT |
| 2.4-litre turbo-diesel (automatic) | 150 PS @ 3,400 rpm | 360 Nm @ 1,400-2,600 rpm | 6 AT |
Innova is a longstanding jewel in the MPV segment, with little signs of aging. On the other hand, MG Motor India would surely rely on in-car features and comfort factors of Hector Plus to alter the standings.
And if, in cases, it all comes down the price point - MG Motors India, in its short history, is known to keep things tight and aggressive. With Hector Plus launch date hovering around the first half of July, Hector Plus vs Toyota Innova Crysta may truly be an interesting battle of MPVs to watch out for.
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