With the India reveal of the MG Hector having taken place on May 15, pretty much everything there is to know about this new midsize SUV is out in the open. You’ve seen it in pictures, know of all the features it’ll have and also how it compares to its rivals on paper. There is, however, one key detail that was under wraps until now, and now, we can reveal that too – the MG Hector Hybrid’s mileage. Claimed to be nearly 12 percent more frugal than the standard Hector petrol, the MG Hector hybrid’s official fuel efficiency figure is 15.81kpl.
In comparison, the Hector petrol’s official fuel efficiency figure is 14.16kpl with the 6-speed manual, and 13.96kpl with the 6-speed dual-clutch automatic, which makes the mild-hybrid variant nearly 1.7kpl more economical than the standard petrol-MT version, and brings it closer to the Hector diesel’s figure of 17.41kpl. Do note that the MG Hector Hybrid can only be had with the 6-speed manual gearbox, and only in the top three trim levels – Super, Smart and Sharp.
The MG Hector Hybrid will use a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. Compared to a full-blown ‘strong’ hybrid, a mild-hybrid system has a far simpler (read cost-effective) setup, but still offers a number of benefits. Paired to the 1.5-litre, 143hp turbo-petrol engine, the 48V mild-hybrid system in the MG Hector will provide up to 20Nm of additional torque at low speeds that will help counter turbo lag and allow improved acceleration in stop-start city traffic. Additionally, the Hector Hybrid will also feature regenerative braking, which will use the vehicle’s kinetic energy to recharge the 48-volt battery, and an automatic engine stop-start system that’ll switch the engine off at idle speeds to save fuel.
With the cost of upgrading to BS-VI emission standards set to make diesels even more expensive, the petrol mild-hybrid Hector is expected to undercut the diesel model's price by a significant margin.
Additionally, the high efficiency afforded by the mild-hybrid system will help MG Motor meet tightening Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms. The lower emissions (reduced by 12 percent compared to the standard petrol variant) will also help the Hector counter the anti-diesel wave.
At present, there are no mass-market hybrids in the Indian market, and even the most-affordable 48V mild-hybrid vehicle on sale today, which is the Mercedes-Benz C-class, costs Rs 43.46 lakh (ex-showroom). And so, the MG Hector soon will become the most affordable 48-volt mild-hybrid vehicle in the country.
MG’s parent company SAIC Motor is betting big on electrified cars, or 'new energy vehicles', as they’re more commonly known in China. MG also wants to be known as a manufacturer of electric and hybrid vehicles, and has confirmed it will launch the all-electric eZS SUV in India later in 2019.
The MG Hector’s price is expected to be in the Rs 15-20 lakh range, with the SUV set to go on sale in the month of June.
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