MG Hector Facelift Spotted At Dealership Ahead Of January 7 Launch

• Exterior changes include a revised grille, new alloy wheels, and a gloss black trim at the rear.

• Aside from a new black-beige cabin theme, features are expected to be largely similar to the current model.

• Likely to retain its 170PS 2.0-litre diesel and 143PS 1.5-litre petrol engine.

• It will rekindle its rivalry with the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier, and the upcoming 2021 Mahindra XUV500.

. It's now been spotted again at a dealership ahead of its January 7 launch. This is the first update for the Hector since its launch back in May 2019.

The cosmetic upgrades to the Hector are more in line with the Hector Plus, with chrome studs on the honeycomb mesh grille and a new set of 5-spoke alloy wheels (possibly 18-inch). It also sees the red plastic trim at the rear being replaced by a gloss black trim.

Heading inside, the facelifted Hector's cabin looks relatively unchanged other than a new dual-tone black-beige cabin. It feels a bit airier and premium compared to the all-black theme in the current model. As the Hector is already loaded with kit, expect the feature list to be quite similar with bits such as an 10.4-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Infinity sound system, automatic climate control, connected car tech, panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and powered driver's seat.

Under the hood, it's likely to retain the 170PS 2.0-litre diesel and 143PS 1.5-litre petrol engine options. Currently, both engines get a 6-speed manual transmission as standard, but the dual-clutch automatic option is exclusive to the petrol engine. There's also a 48v mild-hybrid option for the turbo-petrol manual powertrain.

The facelifted Hector SUV is expected to be priced at a slight premium over the outgoing model that retails from Rs 12.83 lakh (ex-showroom). There's also a more practical 7-seater version of the Hector Plus SUV that's slated to launch in the country around the same time. The facelifted Hector will go up against the likes of the .