MG cars in India (9)

Considering you already own a Honda City, which is a large and spacious sedan, we would recommend the MG Windsor EV in the bigger battery Pro version. The Windsor is a ground up EV and offers one of the best senses of space for its price and size. It is well equipped and, with the larger 52.9 kWh battery, you can realistically expect a range of over 350 km, which is more than sufficient for your daily 80 km commute. It is also a comfortable car for four adults, and the boot is generously sized.
If you want something smaller, the Tata Punch EV is also worth considering, especially with the long range 35 kWh battery pack. This should deliver a real world range of around 230 km. The Punch is a pleasant car to drive, and if you are planning to buy one, this is also a good time as Tata is about to launch the facelifted version. Do note that deliveries may extend beyond your preferred 10 March timeline.

In our tests conducted in Eco mode, with the climate control set to 22 degrees in full automatic mode, the MG Windsor delivered an efficiency of 8.6km/kWh in the city and 7.6km/kWh on the highway, averaging 8.1km/kWh, which extrapolates to an average real-world range of 308 kilometres. In ‘Normal’ mode, however, under mixed conditions, its efficiency drops noticeably, but you can still expect approximately 230-250 kilometres on one charge.

Given your 52km daily usage, you will need to charge the 38kWh battery version twice a week, and even your highway drives of approximately 150km should be doable in a single charge, without any range anxiety. 

Overall, the Windsor is a practical and spacious car. Its touchscreen is slow to boot up, and all the functions (for mirrors, lights, etc) are embedded in it; however, with time, you will get used to it.

Since your priorities revolve around space - both for 5 passengers and in the boot - of these, you should choose the MG Hector. It might not be the most engaging to drive, but it absolutely aces the requirements of space and comfort. 

It is a big vehicle with a relatively short bonnet, which means the cabin size is very large, and this is utilised well both in the back seat and in the boot, which stands at a cavernous 587 litres! 

Moreover, the MG Hector is very comfortable over poor roads, and makes for a great chauffeur-driven vehicle. 

Do note, however, that if you choose the petrol engine, fuel economy is very poor; the diesel is much better in this respect. Though your usage is quite low, since you do occasional highway runs, we recommend you stick with an ICE SUV for the moment. 

The choice between the two really comes down to what you want from your car. If the rear seats are very important, the MG Hector is a good choice. The space in the second row is very good with ample head and legroom for even six-footers, and the seat is also wide enough to seat three abreast easily. 

The floor is also flat, so the middle passenger will be able to sit comfortably without having the centre tunnel (hump). However is almost every other area, in terms of engine performance and refinement, ride comfort, road holding and features, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is the better of the two.