The luxury MPV segment in India is quite sparsely populated, with the Kia Carnival and Toyota Vellfire being the prominent contenders. MG now wants a piece of the pie with the newly launched M9, which is notably the only all-electric luxury MPV in the Indian market. We compare the three – on paper – to see how MG's newcomer fares against its established rivals.
MG M9 vs Carnival vs Vellfire: dimensions
| M9 vs Carnival vs Vellfire dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| M9 | Carnival | Vellfire | |
| Length (mm) | 5200 | 5155 | 5005 |
| Width (mm) | 2000 | 1995 | 1850 |
| Height (mm) | 1840 | 1775 | 1950 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 3200 | 3090 | 3000 |
| Wheel size | 19in | 18in | 19in |
The M9 easily outsizes the Carnival and Vellfire on most fronts. MG’s offering is 195mm longer and 150mm wider than the Vellfire and has a 200mm longer wheelbase. The Kia Carnival comfortably takes second place here with a 150mm advantage over the Vellfire in terms of length and width, as well as a 90mm longer wheelbase.
However, the Toyota MPV has an advantage in the height department, measuring 110mm and 175mm taller than the M9 and Carnival, respectively. As for wheels, the Vellfire and M9 have 19-inch alloys as standard, whereas the Carnival sports smaller 18 inchers.
MG M9 vs Carnival vs Vellfire: powertrains
| M9 vs Carnival vs Vellfire powertrains, mileage | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| M9 | Carnival | Vellfire | |
| Engine/power source | 90kWh lithium-ion battery, single front motor | 4 cyl, 2151cc, turbo-diesel | 4 cyl, 2487cc, petrol-hybrid |
| Fuel type | Electric | Diesel | Hybrid |
| Power (hp) | 245 | 193 | 193 |
| Torque (Nm) | 350 | 441 | 240 |
| Transmission | Single-speed auto | 8-speed torque converter | 7-step CVT |
| ARAI mileage (kpl) | - | 14.85 | 19.28 |
| Range (km) | 548 (MIDC) | - | - |
| Drive layout | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
These MPVs’ powertrains aren’t directly comparable as they all have completely different fuel types, but the M9 emerges on top when power output is in question. The Carnival and Vellfire are matched in this regard, both following the M9 with 52hp deficits. However, in terms of torque, the Carnival’s diesel engine outperforms the M9 and Vellfire by 91Nm and 201Nm, respectively.
Coming to ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency, the Vellfire’s hybrid setup allows it to eke out a 4.43kpl advantage over the Carnival, and it is also the only one here to offer an all-wheel-drive layout. Fuel-efficiency figures don’t apply to the M9 as it is a full-blown EV, but the MG MPV claims an MIDC-certified range of 548km on a single charge.
MG M9 vs Carnival vs Vellfire: features
Being luxury MPVs, all three come equipped with a host of goodies, can seat up to 7 people, and offer second row captain's seats. The M9's features list notably includes powered front and rear seats with heating, ventilation and massage functions, a Level 2 ADAS suite, a 12.23-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch digital driver's display, two sunroofs (single-pane in the front, dual-pane at the rear), second row captain's chairs with deployable ottomans, 64-colour ambient lighting, a 13-speaker JBL sound system, and rear entertainment screens.
The Carnival and Vellfire have smaller sunroofs than the M9. They get powered front and rear seats (no massage feature in Carnival), ADAS functionality, ambient lighting, tri-zone climate control, air purifiers, ottoman seats, rear entertainment screens, powered rear-sliding doors, and more.
MG M9 vs Carnival vs Vellfire: price
| M9 vs Carnival vs Vellfire price | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| M9 | Carnival | Vellfire | |
| Price (Rs, ex-showroom) | 69.9 lakh | 63.9 lakh | 1.22 crore-1.32 crore |
The Toyota Vellfire is the most expensive in this comparison, with its starting price nearly double that of the Carnival. The M9 price is a bit higher than that of the Carnival, but the MG MPV undercuts the Vellfire by a gargantuan margin of about Rs 52 lakh.
