The MG Hector has been a trendsetter of sorts in the compact and mid-size SUV segment. Loaded to the gills with all-the latest tech and modern creature comforts, the Hector literally shook things up. So much so, that the rivals had to follow-suit. And now the 2023 MG Hector has been recently launched in India and is a significant step-up over the old hector. The new MG Hector gets a new design featuring a comprehensively updated front-end, while the rear design too has been revised. The cabin of the new-gen MG Hector too sees a big upgrade and is updated with quite a few segment-best features, while both petrol engine and diesel engine remain unchanged.

2023 MG Hector Exterior

Since the beginning, the Hector has been quite the looker. The design has been one of the top preferences for SUV buyers and we were pleasantly surprised when we first saw the car in the flesh. The grille is argyle inspired and covers a huge area of the face and is surrounded by bold fringes. It also gets substantial Chrome bling on the grille and on the bash plate, continues with the split headlight setup, so daytime running lights (DRLs) on the top and the headlight below on the bumper. Character lines on the face are quite pronounced giving it a very dynamic and in your face look.

The updates made to the front end very evidently brings out the freshness in the Hector’s design, but the same can’t be said for the profile. The quintessential SUV silhouette is retained without any change to the character lines and detailing. Even the 18-inch alloys are a carryover.

That said, the rear of the all-new MG Hector does look different featuring new connected taillights with sleek chrome line running the width. The rear bumper too looks muscular and a tad sharper with just the right amount of chrome. The wide pattern ‘Hector’ lettering too is inevitable. So Yes! On the design front, it’s pretty much on track retaining that likeable SUV stance.

2023 MG Hector Interiors

The cabin of the new-gen MG Hector sees a substantial progress. On the inside, MG has truly upped the ante. The cabin feels a notch plusher featuring soft-touch upholstery on the dashboard and on the door pads here. The layout too is new, so yes, the dashboard looks very fresh. There's a very balanced use of colour treatment, beige on the upholstery and all-black dashboard, new silver inserts and piano black finish, And different design for the central console. There is a flap to cover the cup holders and the the gear shifter feels very jet plane like. In fact, the entire central console is new and now features toggle switch knobs. So even for ventilated seats, the operation has moved on the central console which ergonomically feels better as it’s within close proximity for your hands. Earlier, they were positioned on the side of the central console which was bit of a stretch.

There is enough kneeroom at the rear and the sense of space is accentuated. Courtesy a big panoramic sunroof and generous glasshouse area. And speaking of the sunroof, it’s now also operable through the screen. So you can set the exact closure of the roof, the only thing we miss having are sun blinds for rear windows

Same goes even for the Hector Plus, the six-seater version of the Hector. But the sense of airiness here is a bit compromised with the use of darker brown and black interior theme and the third-row is best suited for kids. That said, the second-row is slightly more comfortable featuring captain seats.

2023 MG Hector Features

So yes! The feel-good factor has been upped, but MG has just hit it out of the park when it comes to tech. The highlight is the new 14-inch touchscreen system giving you a very tesla like vibe. The graphics are very crisp and it has bold fonts so very easy to read and it doesn't distract you as well. The screen also offers a full view of the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay which is a segment-first feature in the new-gen Hector. And the screen has evolved and how. It’s also loaded with Apps, and not to mention, you do get the Park+ App on the new-gen Hector as well. So you can use all our services like parking solution, valet reservation and fastag recharge on the go.

The Galaxy layout for the homescreen looks quite fancy as well. You can scroll through locations and cities across the globe supported by the onboard Mappls and MapMYIndia powered navigation. The climate control system too is only accessed through the screen and voice command. The cabin is features abound and there is no compromising on creature comforts as well. The list includes features like wireless charging, 2.5 particulate matter air purifier and ionizer, 3D and 2D 360-degree camera view park assist, power adjustment for both driver and co-driver seats, auto-dimming rear view mirror, powered boot gate, over 75 connected-tech features and voice command in five languages including English, Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi and Tamil.

It also gets a new digital-instrument cluster which doubles-up as a multi-information-display or MID which shows ADAS alerts, navigation direction, tyre pressure monitoring and more information than you actually need on the fly. Then, users can also give access of the car to their trusted acquaintances through Bluetooth car key sharing feature on the MG app. Quite convenient for chauffer driven owners.

The new-gen MG Hector also remains at the top-of-its-game when it comes to ambience featuring 8 ambient lighting colour options on the new generation Hector. And it has one of the nicest layouts in its segment. It’s aesthetically appointed across the cabin and looks dapper when lit, good enough to set the tone for your evening jaunts and clubbing vibe.

The new MG Hector also offers the Advanced Driver Assistance System or ADAS which also is a segment-best feature. It’s the third model in MG’s line-up to get Level 2 autonomous features. The car can drive all by itself, it also has adaptive cruise control so it will adjust the speed according to the traffic, will slow down, will speed up and can also change lanes. Moreover, two very cool features on the new Hector. First up is the traffic jam assist for bumper-to-bumper traffic. The driver doesn’t need to drive the car, he can sit and relax and the car will do the job for you. You can even set the distance using buttons positioned on the steering wheel. Second cool feature is auto turn indicators. Basically, when you will be turning the steering wheel and if you miss putting on the indicator, the car will do it for you. A very good safety feature to have in our traffic conditions and driving behaviour.

So both same engine options on the new-generation MG Hector, the petrol and even the diesel one. The tried and tested 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol motor churns out 141 bhp at 5000 rpm and 250 Nm of peak torque at 1600 rpm – 3600 rpm. The engine is mated to an 8-step CVT automatic gearbox in the top-three variants while the Smart, Smart Pro and Sharp variants are also offered with the six-speed manual gearbox. The base Style variant is offered only with the manual gearbox.

Coming to the diesel powertrain, it’s the fiat-sourced 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that belts out 167 bhp at 3750 rpm and 350 Nm of torque between 1750 and 2500 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. It’s punchy and powerful in terms of performance but no automatic which is a big miss.

2023 MG Hector Ride & Handling

Ride quality has always been one of the strengths of the MG Hector courtesy softer suspension. But in the previous model it used to take a slight toll on the handling. We are happy to report that in the new-generation model MG has managed to strike a very good balance between ride and handling. The suspension doesn't feel overly stiff and you don't feel that pinch when you are taking potholes or when you are going over bumps. So yes, you can carry decent speed even on rough surfaces. And when it comes to handling, body rolls are more or less contained, so when you are changing lanes or when you're manoeuvring at a higher speed. The car remains more or less composed. Unlike before, there is less sideward movement now around sharp bends and corners but don’t mistake it for a corner carver or something very agile around the corner. So new MG Hector ride quality and new MG Hector handling have improved as well.

2023 MG Hector Prices

With prices beginning from Rs. 14.79 lakh for the base Style variant and going up to Rs. 21.73 lakh for the range-topping Savvy variant, the all-new MG Hector bridges the gap between compact SUVs like the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta, and mid-size SUVs like the Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Safari.

2023 MG Hector Verdict

The new Hector has gotten even better. It's packed to the brim with new features and tech, looks very modern and feels very premium on the inside. So if you're in the market to buy a compact SUV, the new MG Hector makes a very strong case.