MG Comet EV review - Is it the ideal city car? | First Drive

This is the mg Comet it measures just under three meters long it's got two doors and its mg solution to Urban congestion the big idea is to go small it's an idea.

The big idea

That mg Fields will resonate with people with most of their running within heavy traffic in City confines a small footprint and the ease of use it brings is one side of the equation the comet is fully electric too so there's also the layer of low running costs so could this be the right sized Urban model for you let's approach the comet with an open mind.

Size, design, and styling

In size and look the comet is unlike anything else out there it's tiny and at just over 2.9 meters long and 1.5 meters wide it's got a smaller footprint than a Tata Nano even at the same time the combat is compact SUV tall and rides on small 12-inch wheels so overall proportions are off then again it's not meant to be a thing of beauty the way I see it is as a transportation device to some it'll be cute to some quirky to some plain odd what I can tell you is that it's really well finished and there are some cool premium and distinctive touches to embellish the space efficient mono volume shape the LED headlights are nicely detailed the mg logo up front lights up and there's a full width light bar that flows towards the wing mirrors at the sides the window line uniquely dropped down at the rear quarter glass which benefits the feeling of space inside as we'll learn shortly the tail lights are again nicely detailed and there's an LED light bar at the back as well wiper though the comet can be had in.

Color options

Black silver and white solid colors or with a black roof in white or this cheerful shade of apple green there are also four styling packs on offer as well as a sticker and graphic combos to personalize your comments.

Getting in

Large doors and high-set seat seats make access to the comet's front row convenient and there's much more to like now this large door should give you.

Space

Access to a very tight and small cabin but when you're actually inside you'll be quite surprised by the space on offer what helps that feeling of edginess first and foremost is this large glass house great visibility outside and again you don't have a center tunnel because this is built on a burn electric platform it doesn't need it and that helps that feeling of room on the inside you are outside quite close to your co-passenger but first impressions are actually of a spacious little car.

Quality

The light colors help to this end but I'm not sure how easy it will be to keep the light Fabrics on the dashboard clean overall quality is impressive with good attention to detail.

Interior and features

In look 2 the interior is quite cool headlining that looks are these two 10.25-inch screens now I'll talk of the digital instruments first now if you look at the digital dials they're quite smart looking but the layout suggests that this car has it has a lot of the real estate on the screen is of a lane but this car actually doesn't have that feature you do get the basic information that you need such as range and state of charge but you can't really geek out on EV information the graphics are slick and detailing is good with the lights and indicators lighting up with the car as for the touchscreen it is quite nice to use.

I wouldn't call it the slickest in the business but it does pack in Wireless Android auto and apple carplay you can also customize the display with widgets so anything of importance that you want in clear site can be moved right to the page so I have got the battery indicator and climate control display right up front there's also a cool CO2 readout which basically shows a tree and over time this little seed will grow into a tree and it'll also show you the CO2 that you've saved quite a cool gamified version of making you feel good the touchscreen is also your go-to control for certain car settings like the regen levels aside from that it also packs in voice commands and you get mg's e-sim based connectivity Suite other features include a reverse camera their front power windows the buttons of which sit between the front seats near the rotary gear selector there's very iPod like audio and instrumentation buttons on the two spoke steering and airpod case like key gets you keyless entry and you can even use your phone to unlock the car via Bluetooth there's no Auto climate control but I did find cooling quite effective also if only for academic purposes you should know the comet is the only mg without the option of a sunroof a more relevant Miss is a glove.

 

Storage and practicality

Box with a lid in fact there's no covered storage inside which is an irritant this aside practicality is actually quite good now these large doors host a very large door pocket so you can fit in a bottle and quiet a bit else in here there's also a cup holder in front of the air convents at each end of the dashboard there's a compartment over here and you get you USB slots at the base of the center console as well as handy luggage hooks  Comfort wise most people sitting up.

Front seat comfort

The front won't have a problem either the seats aren't all that large but they get the job done even for fairly large-sized adults like me but one reason for complaint for someone of my height is that there's no seat height adjust so I find the seating position a bit too high for my comfort average size adults won't really have a problem with that the seat belts aren't height adjustable but there's a buckle for the one on the driver's side for easier reach.

Rear seat space and comfort

Comet works for two but what about those set at the back yup the Comet features a second row of seats the front seats light forward to help that journey in so getting into the second row of the Comet was much better than I'd expected as is space now I would call this uh probably better than the third row of many seven-seat SUVs which is a good starting point what helps the feeling of space is this large window and uh even for someone of my size.

I'm just under six feet tall the front seat is set to my driving position I have enough room uh there's enough room for me to tuck my feet under the front seat and yeah I am set very close to the front seat but I think on an intra City journey of 30 to 40 minutes I really will be okay before you ask the rear windows don't open and there's no space for a third passenger at the back now amenities at the back well there aren't any you get a seat belt and you get non-adjustable headrest which is a bit of a bother for someone who is of my height Whiplash protection could be an issue in an impact the other thing of concern rear windscreen is really really close.

Luggage space

The last bit also manifests in very limited luggage space there's only enough space for a laptop bag and the charging cables with all seats up the rear seat back split 50-50 and fold should you need more room the Bonnet if you can call it that opens but has no storage space up front as on.

Charging socket

The Zsev charging socket is located up front behind the mg badge.

Platform

Under the Skin the Comet is built on a dedicated EV platform from mg's parent company saic the platform will also serve as the base for an electric micro SUV that will go on sale in India in 2025. talking powertrain and specs of the comet.

Battery claimed range and charging time

Features a 17.3-kilowatt lithium-ion battery that sits under the floor interestingly the battery is packaged in India by Tata Auto Comp claimed Ray stands at 230 kilometers a zero to 100 charge from a 3.3 kilowatt AC charger takes 7 hours notably there's no DC charging option while the platform supports the functionality mg says typical owners primarily charge at home undoubtedly there'd also be cost implications finally the battery passes.

Motor and power

Rear mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor drives the rear wheels with power and torque of 42 horsepower and 110-newton meters respectively those are small numbers but then the comet also only weighs 817 kgs foreign comes to life in an unusual.

Power on/off

Manner there's no start button and it's actually a long press on the accelerator pedal that does the job also the car parts off when locked from a distance or you could use the backup power button hidden near the Bonnet release these are all quirks that seem forced in according to me.

Attention magnet

Anyway, what's the comment like when you get moving first things first it grabs a lot of attention I've been driving this car through Gurgaon and Delhi and I have to tell you that it is huge on curiosity value everyone wants to take a closer look at it they're curious about it they want to know more about the specs and features and that is true for people both walking on the side of the road and people in their luxury cars well so here’s what it’s like on the.

Performance and drive modes

Move with the power and torque figures that the Comet has you can't expect performance to be electrifying and it isn't then again this is the city car its job is to keep up with the flow of traffic and it does that job really well you have three modes to play with and even in eco mode you won't find yourself being left back behind the traffic normal mode adds in a bit more power and sport mode adds in that little bit extra but even so you won't be blowing by other cars what each Progressive mode actually does is makes overtakings a little bit easier the little mg comfortably gets up to speed and it expectedly fits right in in crawling traffic there's no creep mode but throttle modulation is easy overall refinement is also pretty good.

Refinement

Of course, helped by the electric motor running silently in the background.

Maneuverability

The other virtue is size the steering is light as you want it to be the Turning circle is really small and maneuverability is exceptional Utahns parking is just so so easy to pull off.

Ride comfort

But the comet also has its comfort zone outside of which the weaker points come to the fore the comet feels its best at average city speeds and on wealth paved surfaces because as soon as you go over a pothole an expansion joint or even a rumbler strip you will feel it in the cabin there is harshness with which the suspension functions and that judder comes right through your seat speed Breakers are a particular weakness for the comet it really bounces over them and that bounciness is most Amplified at the back you have to remember there's only so much cushioning those dinky sized tires can give you high-speed manners are also not.

High-speed manners

Confidence inspiring when you're going faster you'll also find that the steering is a bit more reactive than you'd expect it and given that the suspension is also soft the car tends to feel a bit roly-poly and that can get unnerving at the speeds that this car is capable of I saw an indicated 80kph and it could go faster still but it's not a car that you'd want to or is designed to be pushed there's another reason you'd hold back the comment works really well as an urban Runabout a car that you can drive around in the city with absolute ease but when you're going faster I have to admit when there are larger cars around you you do tend to feel a bit vulnerable something this small on the subject.

Safety and crash test

The Comet isn't a quadricycle as some might wrongly think it to be it's classified as a car and is governed by the same regulations as the larger of the kind it meets India's crash safety Norms but hasn't been crashing tested by global and cap as yet safety kit includes two airbags ABS low tire pressure alert three-point seat belts for all four seats and Isofix child seat mounts now on to the matter of range now we've not done a full and thorough.

Real-world range

Autocar EV range test but I'll go by the figures on display at the moment so 49 states of charge are showing 98 kilometers of the range which should equate to 200 kilometers on a full charge if the car can deliver on that number it's pretty impressive for the intended purpose users will buy it helping that range figure is a region.

Regen braking

Breaking there are three levels of regen that work well with the front disc and rear drum friction brake setup.

Price

On to the matter of price, mg has announced a starting price of 7.98 lakh rupees X showroom but prices for higher variants like the one featured here will be announced later suggesting a significant walk up the Comet is the most affordable electric car you can buy in India today but it still doesn't play the value card as we'd hoped it would and it won't disrupt the market on price alone on the plus side running and maintenance costs promise to be really really low.

Verdict

But let's zoom out to the question we want to answer is the mg Comet the car for you for the typical car buyer looking for an all-in-one package the answer is no the mg's absence of rear doors limited cabin space and compromised luggage room just won't cut it at a more basic level the tiny mg just won't be on the radar for anyone who equates car size with prestige a regular petrol hatchback or a Tata Tiago EV if electric is a must are the sort of models that this majority will find a match in the comet is for buyers who are very clear about their use case they want a convenient car for short hops in the city often with just a passenger or two more tight parking and jam-packed roads are ever-present hassles even for.

For this set of buyers the Comet is not an ideal only car as a second or third car though the Comet clicks Because unburdened by the need to be transported for the family the car for road trips or even for airport runs the Comet actually shines as a great tool for urban commuting and at its very core that's precisely what it is a tool for urban commuting.