MG Hector Tomahawk EV: First Impressions

We attended JSW MG Motor India’s launch event of the Hector Tomahawk EV and PHEV in Mumbai, and the electric version was the clear star of the evening.

MG has positioned this as its first model in the country built on the new ADAPT architecture. The Tomahawk EV arrives with a strong focus on range, space and features, and it is available in both five-seat and seven-seat layouts.

Here are my thoughts and initial impressions about this electric SUV.

Exterior Design

One glance at the EV and the PHEV standing side by side is all it took for me to pick the one I thought was the better looking Tomahawk.

Unlike the PHEV, which has a lot going on at the front with a busy bumper sporting a grille with horizontal chrome inserts, large black panels below the headlamps, and a beefy cladding finished in silver, the EV takes a much more minimalistic approach.

The Tomahawk EV has a clean and modern SUV look. It gets sharp, rectangular headlamps with LED projector units sitting between the LED daytime running lights, while the front grille piano black panel with small chrome inserts houses an illuminated MG logo.

The bumper has a closed-off design, typical of EVs, with subtle cuts and creases that enhances the SUV's road presence.

18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, roof rails and well proportioned black cladding around the wheel arches and lower body complete the side profile.

At the rear, the wraparound LED tail lamps feature heavy detailing, and the sculpted bumper with a dark grey skid plate gives it a distinctive premium finish.

The Tomahawk EV comes in Khaki Green, Aurora Silver, Starry Black, Celadon Blue and Pearl White colour options.

Also Read - MG Hector Tomahawk Launched in India from Rs 13.99 Lakh BaaS with a 517 km EV and a 1,100 km Plug-in Hybrid
 

Interior and Features

Inside, the cabin feels minimalist and modern with a tan-and-black theme throughout, adding a pleasant visual contrast.

Most of the cabin areas finished in the tan shade, including the dashboard panel, door pads, front centre armrest, and steering wheel get soft touch leatherette finishing. The top and bottom half of the dashboard, centre console, and the door trim panels make use of hard plastics, but still look premium.

The design for the AC vents look very unique and deserve a special mention.

Ambient lighting runs across the dashboard, alongside the sunroof, and is also embedded into the sleek silver finished strips splitting the tan and black panels on the door panels, adding to the premium appeal. Owners can choose between 256 colour options.

Most of the functions are handled through the large 15.6-inch touchscreen and gesture controls. This infotainment system gets its own internet connectivity, supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and multiple apps. An 8.8-inch digital driver’s display sits behind the steering wheel.

Physical buttons are few, but are fortunately given for crucial functions like AC temperature controls, blower speed and hazard lights.

The front seats are comfortable, featuring ventilation and electric adjustment with memory and auto-retract functions.

Visibility from here is impressive, thanks to the large windows, the flat dashboard, and an instrument cluster that does not limit the view ahead.

Rear seat space is good, with passengers getting roof-mounted AC vents, sun blinds, LED reading lamps, dual USB Type-C ports and a centre armrest with cup holders.

Other major highlights include a panoramic sunroof, a 10-speaker Infinity sound system, and special cabin modes such as Nap, Camp, Energise, Pro Pet, Valet and Quiet that enhance practicality and convenience.

The five-seat version offers a 610-litre boot, while the seven-seat variants provide 192 litres with all seats up and 528 litres with the third row folded.

Battery, Performance and Charging

The Tomahawk EV uses a 69.2 kWh battery paired with a front-mounted electric motor that produces 204 hp and 310 Nm of torque. MG claims a 517 km MIDC range and a 0-100 km/h time of 8.2 seconds.

Charging is handled through a CCS2 port. It supports DC fast charging of up to 90 kW, which can take the battery from 30 to 80 percent in around 35 minutes. A 7.4 kW AC charger needs about 12.5 hours for a 10 to 100 percent charge.

A portable charger that works with a regular 15A socket is also offered. The vehicle supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) functions, so it can power external devices or even charge another electric car.

Also Read - Why India's EV And Hybrid Future Cannot Happen Without China
 

Safety

Safety is solid, with six airbags come as standard across the range.

The Tomahawk EV also gets a 360-degree camera system with transparent chassis and wheel-view functions.

Level 2 ADAS includes 11 features such as lane-departure warning and prevention, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and high-beam assist.

Final Thoughts

The Hector Tomahawk EV feels like a well-rounded package for buyers looking for a spacious electric SUV with both five-seat and seven-seat configurations.

The claimed 517 km range, fast-charging support, strong feature list and the flexible Battery-as-a-Service option should help it stand out against rivals such as the Mahindra XEV 9S, Kia Carens Clavis EV, Tata Harrier EV and Mahindra XEV 9e.

Overall, the Tomahawk EV is a confident and feature-rich addition to MG’s growing electric line-up.