The MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV has arrived in India, and it brings something rather different to the mainstream SUV segment. Priced at Rs 25.69 lakh (ex-showroom), the seven-seat SUV is being positioned as India’s first mass-market, mass-produced plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. It is also based on MG’s new ADAPT platform, which has been designed to support multiple new-energy powertrains.
The Hector Tomahawk PHEV combines a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with a 20.5 kWh battery pack and an electric motor. The petrol engine develops 102 bhp and 125 Nm, while the electric motor makes 201 bhp and 237 Nm. MG hasn’t simply added an electric motor to a conventional petrol SUV; the system uses a dedicated hybrid transmission to manage the two power sources.
The battery allows the Tomahawk to operate as an EV for daily driving, with an electric-only range of around 115 km. That is potentially enough for most city commutes without the petrol engine firing up. Once the battery is depleted, however, the petrol engine provides the backup that an EV simply cannot offer. MG claims a combined driving range of more than 1,100km, which is where this SUV starts making a particularly strong case against a conventional diesel.
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A diesel SUV has traditionally been the choice for buyers who want strong highway efficiency and the ability to cover long distances without worrying about charging. The Tomahawk tries to offer the best of both worlds, electric driving for shorter journeys and petrol-powered range for longer ones. Of course, unlike a self-charging hybrid, you actually need to plug this one in to make the most of its EV capability.
The Tomahawk is also a fairly substantial SUV. It measures 4,745 mm long, 2,130 mm wide and 1,770 mm tall, with a 2,810 mm wheelbase and 230 mm of ground clearance at the battery. It is available exclusively with seven seats, making it a more direct alternative to conventional three-row SUVs rather than a premium five-seat EV.
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Equipment is another part of the package. Depending on the version, the Hector Tomahawk gets a 15.6-inch touchscreen, connected-car technology, GenAI voice assistance, a 10-speaker Infinity audio system, 360-degree camera, six airbags and Level 2 ADAS. The broader ADAPT platform also enables features such as Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) on the electric version, although the feature mix varies between the EV and PHEV.
So, do diesel SUVs have to worry? Well, they should, at least a little. The PHEV formula addresses the two biggest arguments in favour of diesel: long-distance range and refuelling convenience, while adding genuine EV driving for everyday use. The catch is that the buyer needs access to charging and must be willing to pay the premium for the technology. But as a concept, the Hector Tomahawk PHEV is probably one of the more convincing alternatives to the traditional diesel three-row SUV we’ve seen yet.
