Last month, MG Motor revealed its first car for the Indian market, the Hector. This much-awaited SUV was unveiled on the 15th of May, 2019 in the city of Mumbai. The Hector will offer internet connectivity, with the next-gen iSMART technology which promises safe, connected, and fun experiences. The Hector will be competing against the likes of the newly launched Harrier and the well-established Compass. Let’s have a look at how the Hector goes up against the segment best-seller, the Tata Harrier:
Dimensions
The Hector is 1,835 mm wide and 1,760 mm tall. However, the Hector is 57 mm longer than the Harrier and also has a wheelbase of around 2,750 mm, which is 9 mm longer than the Harrier. The Hector also gets a 60-litre fuel tank, which is 10-litres more than the Harrier.
| MG Hector | Tata Harrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Length (mm) | 4655 | 4598 |
| Width (mm) | 1835 | 1894 |
| Height (mm) | 1760 | 1706 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2750 | 2741 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (litres) | 60 | 50 |
Chassis and Design
In terms of chassis and design, the Harrier and Hector, both get the unconventional LED DRL and low-headlight design, which not only improves the visibility but also enhances the premium and unique feel of the car. Both the cars get a set of R17 alloys in the higher variants, however, the Harrier gets a smaller set of 16-inch steel rims in the lower trims, while the Hector gets a set of 17-inch steel rims. The Hector also gets front and rear disc brakes, while the Harrier only gets front disc brakes and a couple of drum brakes at the rear. Unlike the Harrier, the Hector is also equipped with a panoramic sunroof, which makes the cabin much more spacious and airy.
| MG Hector | Tata Harrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Front Suspension | McPherson Strut With Stabilizer Bar | McPherson Strut With Coil Spring and Anti-Roll Bar |
| Rear Suspension | Semi-Independent Helical Spring Torsion Beam | Semi-Independent Twist Blade with Panhard Rod & Coil Spring |
| Front Brakes | Disc | Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc | Drum |
| Wheels (Top Variants) | 215/60 R17 Alloys | 235/65 R17 Alloys |
| Wheels (Lower Variants) | 215/60 R17 Steel | 235/70 R16 Steel |
Features
Talking about the features, the Hector is definitely a feature-loaded car when compared to the Tata Harrier. However, the Hector still misses out on driving modes and practical storage spaces, when compared to the Harrier. The Hector also gets a first-in-class voice-controlled infotainment system and many more features which make it one of the smartest cars in India.
| MG Hector | Tata Harrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 6-airbags | 6-airbags |
| 360 Camera View | Yes | No |
| Ambient Lighting System | Yes | No |
| Panoramic Sunroof | Yes | No |
| Powered Tailgate | Yes | No |
| Voice-controlled Infortainment | Yes | No |
| In-built Internet Connectivity | Yes | No |
Engine and Transmission
The Hector is available in 3 engine options: Petrol, Petrol-Hybrid and Diesel. The Petrol and Petrol-Hybrid, both get a 1.5-litre, intercooled engine, which produces 143 PS at about 5,000 rpm and 250 Nm of peak torque at 3,600 rpm. However, the Diesel variant gets a more powerful 2-litre engine which produces 170 PS at 3,750 rpm and 350 Nm of peak torque at 2,500 rpm. All the engine options are paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, but the petrol version is also available with the option of a 6-speed DCT gearbox. On the other hand, the Harrier is only available with a 2.0-litre diesel engine which is capable of producing 140 PS at 3,750 rpm and 350 Nm of peak torque at 2,500 rpm. Currently, the Harrier is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission.
| MG Hector | Tata Harrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Displacement – Petrol/Hybrid (cc) | 1451 | – |
| Type | Turbocharged | – |
| Power (PS @ rpm) | 143 @ 5000 | – |
| Torque (Nm @ rpm) | 250 @ 3600 | – |
| Gearbox | 6-speed Manual/Automatic | – |
| Engine Displacement – Diesel (cc) | 1956 | 1956 |
| Type | Turbocharged | Turbocharged |
| Power (PS @ rpm) | 170 @ 3750 | 140 @ 3750 |
| Torque (Nm @ rpm) | 350 @ 2500 | 350 @ 2500 |
| Gearbox | 6-speed Manual | 6-speed Manual |
Price
The prices for the MG Hector are expected to start from INR 13 lakhs, to compete with the Tata Harrier which is also priced at INR 12.99 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).
| MG Hector (expected) | Tata Harrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Model Price (ex-showroom, India) | INR 13,00,000 | INR 12,99,000 |
| Top Model Price (ex-showroom, India) | INR 19,00,000 | INR 16,55,755 |