Sometimes, the most valuable feature a vehicle can offer is its ability to successfully isolate you from urban chaos. Escaping the concrete expanse of Noida, we took to the Dehradun Expressway for a classic mountain loop to Chamba and the colossal Tehri Dam, using the MG Hector turbo-petrol CVT as our highway tool.
Our journey included a quick nostalgic stop at the MG Dehradun dealership. Seeing a row of all the avatars of the Hector sold in India over the last six years provided a clear visual timeline of the SUV that originally normalized the “connected car” experience in the Indian market.
Navigating the Incline
As the tarmac snakes aggressively from Dehradun up toward Chamba, the Hector’s cabin comes into its own. The turbo-petrol engine mated to the CVT automatic transmission is distinctly tuned for a relaxed, linear surge rather than aggressive corner-carving. This predictable delivery matches the rhythmic flow of winding mountain roads perfectly.
Inside, the Hector’s massive vertical touchscreen proves to be an invaluable co-driver. Keeping a giant topographical navigation map directly in your peripheral vision feels like a literal cheat code for anticipating blind, serpentine hairpins before you nose into them. Paired with a crisp audio soundtrack, the steep climb feels entirely effortless.
Chamba welcomed us with valleys drowning in thick monsoon clouds. The real luxury, however, was waking up at 6:00 AM for a five-kilometer stroll through the hills under crisp air and absolutely zero cellular reception. That total digital disconnect made the drive worth it. Post-hike, we pointed the Hector toward Tehri Dam for the mandatory mountain rituals: landscape photographs, steaming Maggi, and sweet chai by the water.
Surviving a High-Speed Blowout
The return leg back to Delhi threw a dangerous curveball. At cruising speeds on the highway plains, a massive debris cut blew out one of the front tyres instantly.
A sudden blowout in a heavy, high-riding SUV is traditionally a recipe for immediate panic and dangerous weight transfers. However, the Hector’s chassis didn’t flinch. It held its directional line without any scary lateral movement or tank-slapping, allowing for a calm, drama-free pull-over to the shoulder. Crucially, because MG equips the vehicle with a properly sized spare wheel, our highway cruising pace wasn’t compromised for the remaining trek back to the capital.
As the plains flattened out, a lingering question remained: Did I miss the effortless, low-end grunt of the Hector diesel on those steep mountain inclines? Yes, absolutely. But given the fragile, shifting state of our mountain ecosystems, moving away from heavy oil is a necessary transition—and the refined, tech-laden petrol CVT makes that sacrifice remarkably easy to live with.
