MG Motor India has finally launched the eagerly anticipated Hector SUV in India. The MG Hector’s price has been a topic of much discussion in the weeks leading up to the official launch of the SUV. MG Motor India has introduced the Hector at a price of Rs 12.18 to 16.88 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Given the pricing of rival SUVs like the Tata Harrier, it’s more than safe to say that the MG Hector has been priced competitively. MG Motor India has taken it a step further by offering a vehicle ownership package called the “MG Shield”. As a part of this package, private owners of the MG Hector will get a free-of-charge 5-year comprehensive manufacturer warranty for unlimited kilometres. FYI, that’s the best factory warranty of any car sold in the country. The package also includes round-the-clock roadside assistance (RSA) for 5 years with no labour costs for the first 5 scheduled vehicles services.

The MG Hector gets four variants for potential customers to choose from – Style, Super, Smart and Sharp. There’s a mix of three petrol and diesel engines on offer. Interestingly, the MG Hector also gets a petrol hybrid avatar which uses a mild-hybrid architecture with a 48-volt lithium-ion battery to store energy and provide extra torque assistance of up to 20 Nm.

The petrol engine is 1.5-litre unit which produces 143 Ps of power and a peak torque of 250 Nm. The diesel, on the other hand, is a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine which will deliver 170 Ps and a peak torque of 350 Nm.

All in all, the MG Hector has 11 combinations when it comes to engines, gearboxes and variants. Also, the DCT automatic gearbox is only offered in the petrol variant.

MG Motor India is also offering prepaid maintenance plans starting from Rs 8,000 for the first three years. MG Motor also claims that the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the Hector is the lowest in its segment and starts at Rs 45 paise per kilometre for the petrol and Rs 49 paise per kilometre for the diesel.

The MG Hector has already received over 10,000 bookings since June 4, when the pre-booking commenced in India. Deliveries for the Hector are scheduled to start in the first week of July.