MG Comet EV is a small but significant disruption in India's urban mobility landscape

Navigating India's congested and bustling urban spaces can be a harrowing experience, with traffic, pollution and parking woes making it a challenge even for the most seasoned drivers. Gridlock is a common sight across almost all cities, and the sheer number of vehicles on our roads makes navigating the urban jungle particularly frustrating.

According to a survey conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment in 2019, around 90% of cars in India are occupied only by the driver during peak hours. This high rate of single-occupancy vehicles is a major contributor to traffic congestion and air pollution. The need for a sustainable and efficient mobility solution to address these challenges has never been greater, and MG Motor has stepped out onto the streets to walk the talk. Literally. 

Rethinking urban mobility

The manufacturer's latest offering, the Comet EV, arrives with the ambition of disrupting the very essence of what we perceive as urban mobility. After spending some time with what has to be one of the most unique new cars to enter the Indian market in a long while, here are our first impressions.

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Design

With a sub-three-metre length and a modern interpretation of the cube-like tallboy design philosophy, the Comet EV looks unlike anything else on the Indian market. It's a two-door, four-seater, and a head-turner for sure. No matter where we took it, people stopped us at traffic signals and even in the middle of the road to enquire about it.

Walking up to the Comet EV, the first thing you'll notice is the full-width light bar that stretches across the front, wraps around the sides and flows into the ORVMs. The piano black inserts surrounding the light bar add a touch of elegance to an otherwise quirky design, while the low-mounted vertically stacked LED headlamps give the car a peculiar, yet refreshing front fascia that's hard to ignore.

The charging port, positioned beneath the light bar, is concealed behind an illuminated MG logo, while the indicator lamps housed lower down in the bumper complete a design language that's certain to evoke mixed reactions among purists.

The profile accentuates the boxy tallboy look with vertically oriented door handles, an aircraft-inspired rear quarter window and tiny 12" wheels that lend it an almost toy-like appearance. The dual-tone white and black paint scheme on our test car made the Comet EV resemble a panda, while the contrasting roof helps break the monotony of the side profile.

At the rear, styling is more restrained, with another full-width light bar dominating the design. The LED tail lamps mirror the front lighting signature, creating visual harmony, while the subtle roof-mounted spoiler adds a hint of sportiness.

For buyers looking to stand out, MG will offer an extensive range of decals, stickers and interior trim additions, allowing owners to personalise their Comet EV. The design is striking, youthful and refreshingly different. Whether you love it or not, it's impossible to ignore. Click here to watch a quick video

Interior

MG has done an impressive job with the cabin. Minimalism is the mantra, creating a sense of calm through the uncluttered dashboard, white-and-grey colour scheme and expansive windscreen and side windows that flood the cabin with natural light. The result is an interior that feels surprisingly airy and spacious.

Material quality is generally solid, although a few scratchy plastics remind you of the price point. We particularly liked the knurled metal finish on the rotary drive selector, while the manual parking brake feels slightly out of place in an otherwise modern cabin. The iPod-inspired steering wheel controls give the cockpit a gaming console-like feel rather than that of a conventional car, which actually suits the Comet EV's youthful character.

The interconnected dual 10.25" displays are undoubtedly the pièce de résistance of the cabin, with a design reminiscent of the systems found in several Mercedes-Benz models. Click here to watch a quick video

The brushed aluminium-finished air vents look premium, with rotary HVAC controls positioned neatly below. However, the central air vents are partially obscured by the steering wheel, slightly restricting airflow to the driver.

Both the infotainment system and digital instrument cluster offer crisp graphics and excellent visibility. The instrument cluster displays useful information including battery voltage, regeneration level, range and speed, although integrating navigation and media playback would have made it even better.

The infotainment system is intuitive to use and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other equipment includes a tyre pressure monitoring system, reversing camera, rear parking sensors, keyless entry and start. Interestingly, MG has eliminated the conventional start-stop button. Simply pressing the brake pedal twice turns the car on, while shifting into Neutral and unlocking the doors switches it off.

Features missing from the package include automatic climate control and wireless smartphone charging, both of which would have appealed to younger buyers. Thankfully, MG hasn't compromised on safety, with dual airbags, ABS and EBD offered as standard. 

Space & Practicality

For a micro EV, the Comet offers a surprisingly spacious cabin, thanks largely to its dedicated electric platform. The absence of a transmission tunnel frees up generous foot room for front occupants, although shoulder room can feel a little tight because of the car's narrow footprint.

The front seats are comfortable and supportive, although the absence of a centre armrest is noticeable on longer drives. Rear accommodation is best suited to short city commutes. Headroom is respectable and legroom is adequate for average-sized adults, but the shallow seat base limits under-thigh support. Children and smaller adults will be perfectly comfortable, while taller passengers may find longer journeys less accommodating.

Ingress and egress are helped by the extra-wide doors and a simple one-touch lever that slides the front seats forward. It takes a little getting used to, but once mastered, accessing the rear seats is surprisingly easy.

Despite its compact dimensions, the Comet never feels claustrophobic. Clever aircraft-style rear windows and the large windscreen flood the cabin with natural light, enhancing the sense of space.

Storage is understandably limited. There is no glovebox or conventional boot, but MG has incorporated a useful dashboard storage shelf, generous door pockets, cup holders, bag hooks and enough space behind the rear seats for a laptop bag and charging cables. Click here to watch a quick video

The only practical way to carry larger luggage is by folding the 50:50 split rear seats. With both seats folded, the Comet can comfortably accommodate light to medium luggage and even two golf bags, while still allowing one rear passenger if required. Click to watch video 

The only way to carry any amount of actual luggage in the Comet is by folding down the rear seats, which splits 50:50 and gives you flexibility to seat a single passenger at the rear along with some cargo. With both seats folded, the Comet has adequate space for some light-medium luggage and can actually carry two golf sets at a time.

Performance

When it comes to driving, the Comet EV delivers exactly what it promises. Click here to watch a quick video

MG has been clear from the outset about its target audience and the fact that the Comet is designed primarily as an intra-city mobility solution. As an electric city runabout, it truly shines.

Power comes from a 17.3 kWh battery pack driving the rear wheels, producing 40 bhp and 110 Nm of torque, with a claimed range of around 230 km on a single charge. The battery unfortunately misses out on DC fast charging, and MG claims a 0-100% charge time of around seven hours using a 3.3 kW charger, with 10-80% taking approximately five hours.

During our short drive of over 100 km, the Comet EV displayed a full-charge range of around 200 km, which is reasonably close to MG's claim. However, we'd need to spend more time with the car to fully evaluate its efficiency across different drive and regenerative braking modes. 

Driving impressions

The Comet EV isn't designed for enthusiastic driving, but around the city it is an absolute breeze. Initial acceleration feels brisk thanks to the low kerb weight before tapering off into a more relaxed pace at higher speeds. It tops out at around 100 km/h, which is more than adequate for most urban environments. While it begins to feel slightly nervous at higher speeds, everyday driving is handled with ease.

The steering is exceptionally light, light enough to operate with just a finger, and the car's manoeuvrability becomes apparent within minutes of getting behind the wheel. It slips effortlessly through traffic, fits into the tightest parking spaces and boasts an impressive 4.2-metre turning radius.

There are three drive modes — Normal, Eco and Sport — although the differences between them aren't particularly pronounced. Normal mode feels best suited to daily driving. Three levels of regenerative braking are also available. While each setting progressively increases regeneration, we would have liked the strongest mode to offer a little more deceleration when lifting off the accelerator. 

Ride Quality

During our drive, the only notable drawback was the firm suspension setup, partly due to the small tyres with limited sidewall compliance. While the ride is smooth and comfortable on well-surfaced roads and at moderate speeds, potholes and broken surfaces send noticeable reverberations through the cabin. Speed breakers, in particular, can be quite jolting, making it advisable to slow down considerably over larger road imperfections.

It is, however, a relatively minor compromise in what is otherwise a well-rounded urban mobility package.

Yay or Nay?

So, what's unique about the Comet EV? Well, just about everything.

That's precisely why it's difficult, and perhaps a little unfair, to judge this micro EV using the same yardstick as conventional cars. With the Comet EV, MG has attempted to "cut the crap" by delivering exactly what a select group of urban buyers genuinely need in a modern mobility solution.

It looks fresh and distinctive, with a youthful, almost K-pop-inspired personality that's bright, cheerful and full of character. The cabin, compact as it may be, comfortably accommodates two adults and offers sufficient space for two more on shorter journeys. It's thoughtfully designed and well equipped, and while a few desirable features are missing, it includes almost everything most owners will use on a daily basis.

Add to that its effortless driving manners, commendably low running costs and a real-world range that's well suited to city life, and there's very little the Comet EV can't accomplish within its intended environment. MG estimates average monthly charging costs at just INR 519, making ownership remarkably affordable.

MG has announced an introductory starting price of INR 7.98 lacs (ex-showroom), with deliveries commencing in mid-May 2023. At this price, the Comet EV undercuts its closest rival, the Tata Tiago EV, by nearly INR 70,000 to become the country's most affordable passenger EV. Pricing this aggressive could persuade many early adopters to embrace the compact EV lifestyle. Those who do are likely to be rewarded with a practical, pro-planet urban companion designed around the realities of modern city living. If the initial purchase price feels premium to some buyers, the savings in day-to-day running costs should quickly make up the difference. 

Final Thoughts

The launch of the Comet EV marks a watershed moment for the Indian automotive industry. Small yet significant, it democratises electric mobility for urban India while addressing many of today's transportation and environmental challenges. It may be compact in size, but its impact on the future of city mobility could prove far greater than its dimensions suggest.

Click here for our first impression video