MG Hector seven-seater SUV unveiled in Indonesia
SAIC, MG Motor India parent company, has unveiled the seven-seater version of the Wuling Almaz in Indonesia. The Almaz is a rebadged MG Hector sold there under the Wuling Motors brand. The SUV is more-or-less identical to the Hector except for a different grille, a CVT transmission option and different equipment packaging.
The Indonesian market only gets the 1.5-litre petrol motor with 143PS and 250Nm. This is paired with a CVT and comes in two trims Exclusive and Smart Enjoy. Both get a seven-seater option, which makes us think that MG India will follow a similar, top-down strategy for the seven-seater Hector. The seven-seater has the same exterior dimensions as the five-seater, so expect a big chunk of the Hector's 587-litre boot to be used up by the seats. Dimensionally, the Hector is 4,655mm long, 1,835mm wide and 1,760mm tall. Wheelbase is 2,750mm.
Prices of the seven-seater Wuling Almaz start at Rp 275,800,000, which is Rs 13,62,431. We expect the Indian car to duck below the Rs 13 lakh mark. We also think the diesel MG Hector will also be available in this configuration.
The Hector in India gets three engines, two petrols and a diesel. The petrol is a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit with 143PS and 250Nm while the other version adds a 48V mild hybrid system to the mix. This will allow for it to feature a start-stop system, regenerative braking and add torque fill functionality. The diesel engine is the 2.0-litre FCA Multijet unit as seen on the Jeep Compass and Tata Harrier. The Hector will get it in the 173PS and 350Nm guise. Gearbox options are expected to be a six-speed manual and DCT (only on the petrol).
The Hector seven-seater is set to be launched here by 2020. Its main competitor will be the seven-seater Tata Harrier. See what happened when we pitted the five-seater versions of these cars against it other here.
Also see: First Look: MG Motor Hector SUV - Features, Specifications, Launch date and Price Video
Also see: MG Hector vs Tata Harrier