KOCHI: On a journey of about 110 kilometers from the beautiful and charming city of Kochi in Kerala, India, passing through various urban areas to reach Plantation Valley, I got the chance to experience MG’s new electric SUV, the Hector Tomahawk, up close.
This drive wasn’t limited to ordinary roads alone, it took me through busy city streets, open and wide highways, lush green stretches, a national park, and winding roads around the famous Cheeyappara Waterfalls.
The changing roads and traffic conditions gave me a real feel for the Tomahawk’s power, comfort, suspension, handling, and range.
The varied road conditions provided an opportunity to experience the Tomahawk’s performance, comfort, suspension, handling and real-world range.
Large size and aggressive design
The first impression of the Hector Tomahawk comes from its large size and strong road presence. It measures 4,745 mm in length, 1,850 mm in width and 1,770 mm in height. Its 2,810 mm wheelbase also creates a spacious cabin.
At the front, MG has given the familiar Hector design a more aggressive appearance. It gets a large grille, a wide front fascia and sporty design elements. Slim LED daytime running lights sit above the main headlamp units, giving the front a wide and modern look.
The LED light signature also adds a premium touch, especially at night.
The side profile clearly reflects its large SUV character. It features a long bonnet, large glass area, prominent wheel arches and large wheels. The high ground clearance further adds to its muscular appearance.
The rear continues the wide and strong design theme. It gets LED tail lamps, a wide tailgate and a substantial bumper. The electric tailgate was also convenient to operate during the drive.
230 mm ground clearance
The Tomahawk offers 230 mm of ground clearance. This could be particularly useful on Nepal’s roads. However, the high ground clearance and large body result in some body roll when taking corners at higher speeds. This does not make the SUV feel unstable. The suspension is tuned more towards comfort and does a good job of absorbing normal road imperfections.
On the drive from Kochi to Plantation Valley, the suspension handled different road surfaces and undulations well.
150 kW motor with 310 Nm torque
The Hector Tomahawk EV is powered by a 150 kW electric motor. It is a front-wheel-drive SUV. The power delivery feels more than adequate for everyday driving. There is enough power for overtaking and acceleration even in the standard driving mode. There is no need to switch to Sport mode for normal road use.
The motor produces 310 Nm of instant torque. This gives the SUV a quick response when the accelerator is pressed. The immediate torque is particularly useful on uphill roads and during overtaking.
Sport mode makes the accelerator response sharper. However, the standard mode feels sufficient for regular driving.
69.2 kWh battery and real-world range
The Tomahawk EV uses a 69.2 kWh LFP battery pack. During the 110-km drive in India, the SUV was driven through different roads, traffic and driving conditions. The real-world range experience was positive.
Based on the drive, the Tomahawk could deliver more than 450 km of real-world range under Indian road conditions. The actual range in Nepal could vary depending on traffic, road conditions and driving habits.
A real-world range of more than 400 km can therefore be expected in Nepal. However, factors such as weather, speed, road conditions, air-conditioning use and driving style will affect the actual range.
Comfortable cabin
The benefit of the 2,810 mm wheelbase is evident inside the cabin. Both front and rear passengers get adequate legroom and headroom.
The seats are comfortable and provide good support for longer journeys. The ventilated seats were particularly useful in Kochi’s hot weather.
The dashboard design and finish also give the cabin a premium feel. The materials, screens and control layout create a modern interior.
The dual-zone air-conditioning system allows the driver and front passenger to set their preferred temperatures separately. The combination of air-conditioning and ventilated seats was useful during the long drive in Kochi.
Available in 5- and 7-seat versions
The Hector Tomahawk is available in both five- and seven-seat configurations. The five-seat version offers 610 liters of boot space. Folding the rear seats increases the capacity to 1,053 liters.
The seven-seat version offers 192 liters of boot space with all seats in use. Folding the rear seats increases the capacity to 528 liters.
This gives buyers the option to choose the configuration according to their passenger and luggage requirements. The boot also houses a spare wheel.
Color options
The test-drive vehicles were available in green and black. Both colors complement the SUV’s large and muscular design in different ways.
According to the company, the Tomahawk will also be available in silver, blue and white colors.
Why the name ‘Tomahawk’?
The name ‘Tomahawk’ carries a strong identity. The word is commonly associated with strength, sharpness and an aggressive character.
MG appears to have chosen the name to highlight the SUV’s strong and aggressive personality. After the 110-km drive in Kochi, its large size, 230 mm ground clearance, 150 kW motor, 310 Nm torque and 69.2 kWh battery give some connection to that image.
The Tomahawk’s large dimensions, strong road presence and power delivery support the aggressive character suggested by its name.
Its eventual impact in the Nepali market will depend on the price and the company’s plans for introducing the model in Nepal.
