MG dives head-first into a competitive SUV segment; one that signals a move from mass to premium. Can the Hector stay afloat?
Fish and chips. No one is sure where this dish originated from although there is a strong chance you may think – “aha, UK!”. There are many debates on whether it is British or from somewhere further west. Pretty much like this SUV which wears a quintessential British badge for braces but has its origins a lot more east. While that debate rages, for whatever consequence, we were given a chance to put this much-talked SUV through its paces around the outskirts of an equally automotive enthusiast city – Coimbatore.
This industrial hub, once known for its textile manufacturing capability, is also home to many a rally driver such as the likes of Narain Kathikeyan and former rally ace Naren Kumar. The reason for dropping these names is to showcase the natural automotive enthusiasm of this town. Which could be one of the reasons that this Hector made a lot of heads turn by its design and that massive MG badge.
On the design front, the Hector is quite likeable. Now, I am sure there will be a few detractors who find it ‘boxy’ and a bit too shiny, but this actually works when you put the vehicle on an Indian road. It stands out, and not necessarily in a bad way. The fact that it is a big SUV, allows it to get away with a bit of those straight lines. In fact it actually works well in its favour. There are oodles of chrome streaks throughout the car, but not in a grotesque manner. Okay, maybe if it was designed for Britain, it would have less chrome, but then this is also supposed to sell outside of Britain, a lot, so better to go with global sensibilities than that of a particular country.
This story is from the July 2019 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2019 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Porsche Ice Experience
It's a game best played on ice with the Porsche 911 Dakar
Mercedes-Benz EQS 580
WHY IT'S HERE To prove that Mercedes-Benz is the luxe king, irrespective of what's plonked under the hood or below the cabin.
F.A.T. CAMP
Take one Goodwood Festival of Speed, shrink it down, add skis and thermal underwear... you've got a recipe for an unforgettable day
ALL Stree DOWNHILL FROM HERE
The Challenger is dead, for now. Will the muscle car survive? We couldn't leave California without a 1,300bhp grudge match
A HIGHER POWER
They're the gnarliest, toughest Porsche 911s of modern times - and they're called Doris and Edith. Altitude does funny things to your brain...
VILLAGE OF THE DAMO
What do you get when you cross an R5 Turbo with a Suzuki Jimny? This is the company that decided to find out
CINQ OR SWIM?
The reborn Renault 5 concept promised much - does the full production version live up to the hype? Say bonjour to the EV supermini with proper Gallic flair
THE TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE FT. CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS
The Peppy 7-seater that Helped Me Break the Ice and Make New Friends
FUEL THRIFT
Experiments On The Atal Setu
BEYOND THE "BADGE
A Symphony of Engineering