MG Motor India officially commenced accepting bookings for the Hector on June 4, 2019. On June 27, the SUV’s introductory price list was revealed. During the 23-day period, the company received more than 10,000 bookings for the Hector. Out of the lot, more than 50 per cent account for petrol-powered variants, out of which 70 per cent are for variants equipped with the dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).

What’s really surprising is that even though MG Motor is a newcomer in India, people have put trust in the brand. Apart from that, it’s the petrol-fed variants which are leading the numbers for the Hector. Generally, it is the diesel-powered variants of compact and mid-size SUVs which attract more customers. MG Hector’s hybrid variants, which are available in three out of the four trim levels but only with the 6-speed manual transmission, make-up 15 per cent of the bookings.

The Hector is available in four trim levels – Style Super, Smart and Sharp. MG Motor India says that 75 per cent of the total bookings have been received for the top two trims – Smart and Sharp. Both these trim levels boast a plethora of features including tyre pressure monitoring system, MG’s iSmart connected car tech, leather seat upholstery, 6-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, push-button start/stop, a 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system and 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. Features like a panoramic sunroof, a 7.0-inch coloured MID, 8-colour ambient lighting, automatic climate control and a powered tailgate are reserved for the range-topping Sharp trim level.

As far as powertrain options are concerned, the Hector is available with two engines – 1.5-litre petrol with 143PS/250Nm and a 2.0-litre diesel with 170PS/350Nm. While both are available with a 6-speed MT, only the petrol engine can be paired with a 6-speed DCT. The segment-first, 48-volt mild-hybrid system is also available with the petrol engine only.

In India, the Hector competes with the Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass and the Mahindra XUV500. In August this year, Kia Motors India will launch its first product in the form of Seltos. That, although a size smaller than the Hector, will further heat-up the SUV battle in the Rs 12-18 lakh range.