MG M9

VELLFIRE VIBES WITHOUT THE VELLFIRE STICKER SHOCK

- ROHIT PARADKAR

When the powered door slides open, there's no diesel clatter. No gentle petrol thrum either. Just silence. The sort you'd associate with a luxury electric lounge, not a people mover. At first glance — and first sound — the MG M9 positions itself as something rather different. Electric MPVs aren't new globally, but in India, they're still rarer than functioning speed cameras. So this one makes an entrance.

MG's play here is simple. Take the Maxus Mifa 9, sprinkle on some premium finishes, slap on a familiar badge, and position it as an alternative to the Kia Carnival or even the Toyota Vellfire - but without the latter's seven-figure sticker shock. The M9 promises the comfort and presence of a luxury limo, with the conscience-cleansing calm of an EV.

The Business Class Row

This isn’t one of those cars where the second row is an afterthought. In fact, it’s the entire pitch. The M9's lounge chairs recline, massage, extend, and even slide sideways to make third-row ingress easier. And yes, they do feel genuinely luxurious. There’s no seatbelt-on-a-plywood-bench vibe here — the cushioning is plush, the movement fluid, and the massage feature does more than gently poke your vertebrae. If you're being chauffeured in traffic, this is genuinely a great way to forget the chaos outside.

There are dual sunroofs, more ambient lighting colours than the average Goan nightclub, and two screens to make your iPad feel underdressed. The airiness is helped by massive windows, though it’s a shame that the blinds are manually operated. A curious oversight when everything else seems motorised.