The Majestor arrives as MG Motor India’s new ICE-powered flagship offering, rivalling the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Jeep Meridian, Volkswagen Tayron, and Skoda Kodiaq. It uses the same diesel powertrains as MG’s existing Gloster, but features a bevy of upgrades everywhere else. Now that we’ve reviewed the MG Majestor, here are 3 reasons why you should consider bringing one home, and 2 reasons why you may want to think twice.
Pros
Spacious and comfortable cabin
Among the roomiest in its segment
Not only can the Majestor accommodate up to seven passengers, it does so in great comfort. Up front, both occupants get powered, heated, ventilated, and massaging seats, that too with plush (but slightly firm) cushioning and a lofty position. The large panoramic sunroof lets in a lot of natural light as well.
Second-row occupants are treated to a healthy amount of space, a dedicated climate control zone, roof-mounted AC vents, a 220W outlet, etc. The Majestor can be had with either a bench or captain’s seats in the second row, the latter of which slide, recline, and get individual armrests.
Access to the third row is quite easy with the captain’s seats, as you can easily walk through them. As for roominess, the Majestor’s third row scores high, offering plenty of headroom and kneeroom (by pushing the second row forward slightly). While the seating position here is a bit knees-up, there’s enough space for adults to make it through even longer journeys. As for boot space, the Majestor is rated at 343 litres with all rows up – expandable to 1,350 litres by folding the third row.
Packed with features
Level 2 ADAS, dual 12.3-inch displays, 360-degree camera, JBL sound system, etc
The Majestor is one of the best-equipped SUVs in its class, packing goodies like a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, a 360-degree camera, a panoramic sunroof, connected car tech, a 12-speaker JBL sound system, 64-colour ambient lighting, two wireless charging pads, a cabin air filter, three drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport), 10 off-road mode configurations, a DPF alert and clearance system, Level 2 ADAS, six airbags, and more.
Excellent off-road ability
Gets low-range transfer case and mechanical rear locking diff
You’d expect a large ladder-frame SUV to put up a good performance off the beaten path, and the Majestor does exactly that. To aid off-road ability, the Majestor comes with 4WD, the aforementioned 10 off-road mode permutations, low-speed cruise control (works very smoothly), a low-range transfer case, and locking differentials for both axles.
Left to its own devices in Auto mode, the Majestor’s 4WD system detects slip and routes power across the axles quite effectively. Steeper inclines require the system to be in 4H to divvy up the power evenly, but for the most part, the Majestor handled almost everything we threw at it effortlessly. Compared to the Gloster, off-road ability has been greatly improved for the Majestor.
Cons
Sluggish engine response
Gearbox is a bit slow too
Under the bonnet, the Majestor carries forward the Gloster’s 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine, which funnels 215hp and 479Nm to all four wheels via an 8-speed torque converter automatic. While that output is on par with segment standards and makes for effortless mile-munching, low-speed drivability isn’t all that great.
There’s a fair bit of turbo lag you need to contend with below the 2,000-rpm mark, after which the Majestor’s diesel mill hits you with a big wave of torque. This makes driving the Majestor in urban conditions a bit tricky, and the 8-speed automatic doesn’t help matters either. While it shifts very smoothly, the gearbox is sluggish to respond to throttle inputs and keep the engine in its torque band, so you’re better off using the paddle shifters.
Over-reliance on touchscreen
Reduced physical controls compared to those of Gloster
The Majestor unfortunately adopts the trend of shedding physical controls in favour of relying on the 12.3-inch central touchscreen for many crucial in-car functions. While there’s a row of buttons and toggles on the centre console for HVAC temperature and fan speed, hazard lights, defoggers, and the like, key functions like headlight controls, seat ventilation, seat memory, etc are baked into the touchscreen.
It’s snappy to use and features an improved user interface, but having to sift through menus for basic functions can be distracting while on the move.
