The Hector Tomahawk EV (alongside the PHEV) is the first MG model based on the brand’s new ADAPT platform, and costs from Rs 19.49 lakh to Rs 22.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The MG Hector Tomahawk EV is priced more competitively than the Hyundai Creta Electric while also seating up to seven occupants. There’s also the Kia Clavis EV, which costs about the same as the Tomahawk, but that’s an MPV. All that said, let’s start with the positives of this MG SUV first.
Reasons to buy the MG Hector Tomahawk EV
Spacious and premium interiors
Three rows of seats and an accommodating boot make this a practical family hauler
The cushioning of the wide front seats of the Hector Tomahawk EV feels comfortable even on long journeys. These seats are ventilated for added comfort, while the driver’s seat also gets a memory function for added convenience. In-cabin storage comes in the form of large door pockets and plenty of cubbies in the centre console. The Hector Tomahawk’s long wheelbase means there’s more than enough legroom for second-row passengers – these seats also recline for added comfort.
The inclusion of a centre armrest with cupholders, sunblinds, AC vents, USB ports and adjustable headrests make this a nice place to be. Accessing the third row from here is easy and fairly straightforward, courtesy of the sliding second row with its ‘one-touch tumble’ function and a large walk-through gap in the middle. While not the roomiest, last-minute jaunts won’t be an issue as there’s plenty of headroom on offer, and this third row is not devoid of AC vents or LED roof lights.
Even with the third row up, the Hector Tomahawk EV’s boot stands at 192 litres. This is enough to accommodate a couple of carry-on bags without much fuss. If you’re serious about carrying cargo, folding down those last seats will liberate 528 litres worth of space. The two-tone beige-and-black interior’s minimalistic design gets a generous splattering of soft-touch materials, and the good fit-and-finish further extends the premium appeal of this cabin.
Brimming with modern features
This MG SUV offers more than enough equipment to keep everyone on-board entertained
Taking centre stage on the dashboard is a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, the user interface of which looks clean at first glance. The graphics are crisp and performance is snappy, too. MG has also added swipe-based gesture controls to make it easier to manipulate everyday functions such as adjusting the climate control system or the audio settings. The infotainment system comes with 6 mood-based ambient settings, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, AI-powered karaoke and multi-lingual voice commands.
Furthering the on-board experience is the well-integrated 256-colour ambient lighting system, a 10-speaker Infinity audio system (which sounds great), and crisp-looking 360-degree cameras. There’s also a ‘Custom’ mode for those who wish to tweak the power output and regen braking in 10-percent increments. The Level-2 ADAS suite of the MG Hector Tomahawk EV is comprehensive enough, while the regenerative braking system uses one of its sensors to automatically adjust regen levels in real-time based on traffic conditions.
Easy to drive
The large size of the Hector Tomahawk EV doesn’t make it a handful in the city
A commanding seating position, combined with the light steering and excellent all-around visibility, makes driving the MG Hector Tomahawk EV around town a manageable affair. Finding a suitable driving position is fairly easy too, thanks to the adjustable steering (for reach and rake) and the electrically adjustable driver’s seat. The Tomahawk EV also controls its body movements decently, feeling more mature than any MG EV before it. Finally, the brakes are good, too.
Reasons to not buy the MG Hector Tomahawk EV
Noisy suspension
The Tomahawk’s suspension can get audible over bad patches
While noises from the powertrain, tyres and wind are barely noticeable in this cabin, the same cannot be said about the Hector Tomahawk EV’s suspension. Going over bad roads, you will hear it working fairly easily, which takes away some of the premium feel of the cabin.
Non-linear power delivery
The Tomahawk EV’s powertrain lacks the linearity offered by rivals
The poor calibration of the electric powertrain of the MG Hector Tomahawk EV means that it may not be ideal for new drivers. ‘Standard’ drive mode dulls the response to prods from your right foot ever so slightly, with firmer throttle application resulting in torque steer due to a sudden surge in power reaching the front wheels. Trying to accelerate hard in ‘Sport’ mode will easily overwhelm the tyres up front – linearity in power delivery is missing.
Too much reliance on the touchscreen
Almost everything is routed through the massive infotainment screen
It might be sharp and responsive, but burying almost every major function and feature in the infotainment head unit gets distracting. The labyrinth of menus and sub-menus means that you will have to take your eyes off the road for using any of this SUV’s comprehensive feature set. Its sheer size also results in the touchscreen catching reflections, causing further distractions while driving.
As for the 8.8-inch digital driver’s display, its real-estate could have been used better. While sharpness isn’t a problem, but that positive is overshadowed by the small fonts used for information read-outs. This can make reading most details on this display difficult.
Uday Singh
Glenn Noronha
Dipan Sur
