The MG M9 aims to shake things up in the luxury multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) space by offering opulence along with an alternative source of propulsion. We were in Goa to see how that translates into reality
Story : Gaurav Davare
Photography: Kalidas M
More often than not, people belonging to a higher social class prefer to flaunt their status. That applies to conveyance, too, for they prefer to be driven around, hence the term “chauffeur-driven”. That is where a luxury MPV enters the picture. In India, a luxury MPV normally evokes the Toyota Vellfire, Lexus LM or Kia Carnival, all of them having an internal combustion engine for propulsion or a hybrid set-up in the case of the Vellfire. That’s all set to be shaken up with the entry of the M9 by JSW MG Motor India..
First showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo earlier this year and part of the premium MG Select brand, the M9 aims to introduce a fine balance of luxury and alternative sustainable propulsion to the luxury MPV segment as this is an electric luxury MPV. Is it possible? Well, we got to spend some time behind its wheel on a wet day in Goa.
Luxury full-size MPVs haven’t really been my cup of tea in terms of design because many of them have a very familiar boxy theme. Yes, the MG M9 does have some of that boxy, luxury van appearance, but there are curves, especially up front, where the bonnet blends in nicely with the fascia and fender. Complementing this are the sleek LED daytime running lights (DRL) and the vertically stacked headlamps. Its 19-inch wheels look fairly proportionate with the rest of the car’s body which has an imposing presence, being 5,270 millimetres long and 2,000 mm wide. The wrap-around connected tail-lamps round off a design that will make people take a second look.
Time to get to the place where a majority of folk will spend their time in the MG M9: the second and third rows. Immediately you’re ushered into a premium experience. One can simply open the sliding doors with the touch of a button on the key fob or the chauffeur can open it from inside. There are two large Ottoman seats that give a sense of power to the individual. You can adjust the seat in 16 different ways, all electronically, be it the head-rest, thigh support, or seat angle. One can move the entire seat too. There’s even a powered “boss” mode to avoid disturbing the occupant in the front.
The seats feel soft yet supportive; you feel like you’re sitting in a first-class lounge. The palatial ambience inside is aided by the extremely large windows as well as a separate panoramic sunroof for the front occupants, one that extends to the third row. The party tricks don’t end there, for the Ottoman seats get heating, cooling, and a massage function with eight different settings. One can also use the touchscreen controller on the seats to control a-c functions, 64-colour ambient lighting, sunroof controls as well as the music. Capping things off for the second-row are individual touchscreen entertainment systems that can be considered as a dedicated tablet and can keep one entertained on long drives. That said, the audio isn’t synced with the 13-speaker JBL sound system, so the use of a headphone is recommended for an ideal audio experience.
Getting a decent third-row experience is rare, but the M9 is more than usable. It doesn’t feel cramped and there’s a recline function. On top of that, there are niceties such as individual a-c vents and dedicated Type-A USB ports. As for practicality, there are many clever storage spaces. In fact, pop open the arm-rests for the second-row seats and one gets another storage space as well as a dedicated Type-A and Type-C USB charging port. This decent practicality extends to the boot wherein space can be extended to 1,720 litres with the third row fully folded down and there’s a 55-litre “frunk”, enough to store a couple of backpacks. There are another two Type-A USB ports up front and a 220-volt power outlet in the second row to charge your laptop. Overall, it’s a palace on wheels without overly complicating things.
While the focus is on the front row, there are other things to appreciate. For example, premium cabin material, fit-and-finish as well as the Cognac Brown theme with suede upholstery. Both front seats get powered adjustment and, as in the second row, have a heating, cooling, and massage function, so there’s no compromise here. While the seven-inch digital driver’s display is fairly simple, the talking point is the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Apart from wireless smartphone connectivity, this digital screen allows a number of controls, right from seat ventilation, cooling and massage modes, sunroof functions, and lighting elements to drive modes. The 13-speaker JBL sound system does amp up the ambience with a crisp and clear sound that reverberates throughout the cabin.
Yes, it’ll be mostly chauffeurs who will be driving the MG M9 around, but for those who do want to pilot it, how’s the experience? Powered by a 245-hp electric motor paired with a 90-kWh NMC battery pack, the electric motor has adequate grunt to get this 5.2-metre-long behemoth going without a hitch. Then there are drive modes (Eco, Normal, and Sport), but they don’t really add to the driving experience. There’s no official range figure yet, but the odometer showed well over 400 kilometres on a full charge. Despite our limited time with this car, one can expect over 300 km on a single charge, enough for weekly city commuting.
Unfortunately, a specific downside is the ride quality which is not ideal, the damping being on the bouncy side, especially at low speed. Even while driving on the smooth highways around Goa, the M9 never really felt settled, which is surprising in a luxury MPV that is meant to keep its chauffeur-driven occupants in comfort.
As for safety, there are seven airbags, a 360-degree camera, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and Level 2 ADAS, which is where the second negative point crops up. The Level 2 ADAS is a little too sensitive; every safety alert is excessively audible even with the volume turned down to its lowest setting. Considering that a business-class lounge experience has peace and quiet as a key priority, such loud alerts can be annoying.
In the end, the MG M9 does tick many boxes by being a spacious, feature-loaded electric luxury MPV with comfortable seats. However, the ride quality is a downside. If one is willing to overlook this factor, the car can be worth a look if JSW MG Motor India price it right vis-à-vis its competition that includes the Kia Carnival, Toyota Vellfire, and Lexus LM.
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