MG Majestor Review - New 7-Seater SUV to Rival Fortuner

The MG Majestor is a full-sized body-on-frame SUV, rivalling monocoque SUVs such as Toyota Fortuner, Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron, and Jeep Meridian. The lineup comes in four variants – Sharp 4X2 (7-Seater), Savvy 4X2 (7-Seater), Savvy 4X2 (6-Seater) and Savvy 4X4 (7-Seater). The SUV instantly grabs attention with its massive road presence and rugged styling, while impressing with its off-road capabilities.

Design Review

The Majestor is essentially a rebadged version of the Maxus D90, carrying a muscular and upright stance along with high ground clearance. The front fascia looks aggressive with the ‘Mosaic Matrix’ grille, bumper integrated headlamps, horizontal and vertical LED DRLs, a flat bonnet and massive black cladding.

The newly-designed 19-inch alloy wheels with wider all-terrain tyres along with the black cladding around the wheel arches, and gloss black roof, mirror caps and window trim add more to its rugged appearance. The rear profile is enhanced by LED taillamps connected via a LED light bar, pronounced bumper with rectangular exhaust finishers.

Interior Review

Step inside, and the MG Majestor welcomes you with a dual-tone theme complemented by soft-touch materials and premium imitation leather upholstery with contrast stitching. The seats are electrically operated and come with heating, ventilation and massage functions for both the driver and front passenger. These are well-cushioned and feel comfortable.

Being a premium offering, the Majestor offers several advanced features such as a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, a 12-speaker JBL audio system, MG’s i-Smart 2.0 connected car features, a twin-pane panoramic sunroof, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Level 2 ADAS, electronic stability control, hill hold assist and hill descent control, six airbags and more.

Performance

MG’s flagship SUV delivers strong performance with a 2.0L twin turbo diesel engine, producing power worth 215bhp and 479Nm of torque. Considering its massive body-built and weight, the SUV’s acceleration is quite impressive, 0 to 100kmph in under 12 seconds.

The engine feels quick when pushed hard, especially on highways. However, there is a significant turbo lag at lower rpms. It feels sluggish below 2,000rpm. The power delivery becomes less linear when the turbo kicks in. While the gearshifts are smooth and refined, it responds slowly, especially during inclines and quick overtakes.

Ride & Handling

There is no issue with the ride and handling. The Majestor’s suspension setup has been tuned for offering utmost comfort. It absorbes bumps and patchy road effectively. It remains stable even at high speeds. Despite its large footprint, the SUV feels easy to drive. With high ground clearance and seating position, it offers good visibility.

The city rides are less engaging, due to its light steering. However, it gains weight with speeds and provides better confidence. When you push hard at corners, the body roll gets noticeable. With attributes such as a low-range transfer case, multiple terrain modes and locking differentials, the SUV enhance its off-road capabilities.

Verdict

Compared to the Gloster, the MG Majestor offers a more premium cabin experience, advanced technology and improved off-road capability. Its rugged styling and a spacious and feature-loaded cabin makes it a perfect choice for large families. It promises the best-in-class comfort, space and ride quality. However, the engine’s turbo lag and sluggish gearbox response remain its major drawbacks.