The age of electric vehicles is slowly but surely coming upon us. While we have recently been inundated with larger-size electric vehicles that cater to the family guy and those among the hoi-polloi.
However, to date, there hasn’t been an EV that caters to the generation that will have to deal with the permanent shift towards full electrification. So what happens when a carmaker takes notice of the future and decides to come up with a quirky yet practical solution?
A visit to the capital saw us staring at the rather comically small (from the outside) MG Comet EV. A chance behind the wheel of the Comet EV on Delhi’s streets showed us just what MG has cooked up for the electric future of the nation…
MG Comet EV Design & Features – Quirky Yet Useful
The MG Comet EV is in a word quirky. There is something rather cheerful and funky about the two-door Comet EV that draws attention to it as does its rather tiny overall footprint.
The front section of the Comet EV slightly sticks out in front of the raked windscreen of the micro EV. Taking centre stage is an illuminated MG badge that also acts as a visual aid to identifying the door covering up the Comet’s charging port.
Above the illuminated badge sits a lightbar-style DRL that runs across the width of the Comet. This DRL design is extended further to the sides of the MG Comet EV by the chrome strips that run to the integrated turn indicators on the ORVMs.
Vertically stacked lights can be found on either side of the lower section of the MG Comet EV’s front end. These include twin headlights and a turn indicator on each side of a small air intake at the front.
The quirks and fun features are even more visible from the sides with the large single door that stretches across almost the entire distance between the wheels.
Immediately after this a vertical three-quarter window panel that increases the glasshouse area of the Comet EV. MG’s micro EV rides on tiny 12-inch steel wheels that sport stylish wheel covers for a bit more fun.
The rear section of the MG Comet EV is quite similar in design to the front end of the microcar. Sitting underneath the vertical rear windscreen is a full-width lightbar that also acts as a large brake light.
Below the brake lit sits the MG badge (not illuminated) and the LED taillights can be found in vertically stacked units that sit above the rear bumper of the all-new Comet EV.
Once you open the doors of the MG Comet EV, you’ll be greeted by a cabin that looks rather minimalistic and modern. The dash is dominated by twin 10.25-inch displays for the instrumentation and infotainment setups.
The infotainment screen is a touchscreen unit that supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wirelessly and comes connected to a twin-speaker audio system. The audio can be controlled by the controls mounted to the leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The MG Comet EV’s infotainment screen is also where you connect with the microcar’s connected car suite that includes 55+ features. The infotainment screen also acts as a display for the rear-view parking camera.
Below the infotainment screen is where you find a trio of knobs that help control the manual air-conditioning system. Putting the Comet EV into gear is done using the rotary knob between the front seats while the handbrake is a proper old-school manual lever.
The MG Comet EV’s seats follow the same dual-tone grey theme as the rest of the cabin. While the seats are slightly smaller in size compared to those in regular-sized cars, they are quite comfortable.
The MG Comet EV is a strict four-seater and access to the rear seats is quite easy. This is thanks to the one-touch tumble function for the front passenger seat and the long door that allows you to slip into the back row of seats.
For those wondering just how safe the new MG Comet EV is, there is good news. The Comet EV’s high-strength body is made with the help of 17 hot-stamped panels.
The Comet EV micro car from MG sports dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, TPMS, reversing camera and sensors, 3-point seatbelts and ISOFIX anchor points for child seats as part of its safety arsenal.
MG Comet EV Specs & Dimensions – Big In All The Small Ways
The MG Comet EV is the smallest car that has hit India’s roads in terms of its overall length coming in at a whopping 125mm shorter than the Tata Nano.
The MG Comet EV is 2,974mm long, 1,505mm wide and 1,640mm tall. The electric MG Comet has a 2,010mm long wheelbase and a turning circle of 4.2 metres.
The MG Comet EV is powered by a 17.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack that delivers an ARAI-certified range of 230 kilometres on a single charge. The Comet EV only supports AC charging and charging up the battery pack with a 3.3kW charging cable takes 7 hours (10-80% charge takes 5 hours).
The battery pack sends power to a single electric motor mounted to the rear axle of the Comet EV that pushes out 41.4bhp and 110Nm of peak torque.
MG Comet EV Price – India’s Most Affordable EV
The MG Comet EV is priced at Rs 7.98 lakhs (ex-showroom), which makes it the nation’s most affordable EV currently on sale today.
MG Comet EV Driving Impressions – Dinky Electric Shooting Star
The MG Comet EV’s starting procedure is as quirky as the rest of the car. Once in gear, you double-tap the brake pedal to get the Comet EV rolling.
The Comet EV’s powertrain is rather noise-free and the microcar accelerates in a linear fashion when you press down on the accelerator. Hitting speeds of around 110km/h is quite possible behind the wheel of the all-new Comet EV.
MG’s electric microcar offers three driving modes – Eco, Normal and Sport. We found Eco and Normal to be rather similar while Sport offered a definite extra bit of sharpness in terms of acceleration.
Speaking of the steering, the slightly small wheel only offers tilt adjustment. However, it feels quite light in the hand which is perfect for the city life the Comet EV is meant for.
A light steering wheel along with rear-wheel drive and a manual handbrake do call for a bit of fun. However, the steering doesn’t quite appreciate aggressive manoeuvring.
Speaking of fun, pushing the Comet EV into a corner isn’t any. This is due to the unique combination of the MG Comet EV’s tall-boy design, small wheelbase, tiny wheels and soft suspension setup which means that body roll is more than evident.
While the suspension is on the softer side, going over the bad roads that mar our cities, especially the ones in New Delhi can be an absolute pain. The tiny 12-inch wheels that are shod in 145/70 R12 rubber make any journey over sharp bumps and ruts harsh, to say the least.
Thankfully the brakes provide enough stopping power to help you stop before and evade most of the ruts and bumps. The Comet EV sports disc brakes up front and drums at the rear which is aided along by multiple levels of regen braking.
The brake pedal offers more than adequate travel and the brakes themselves offer good initial bite and good progression as you depress the pedal down further.
The Comet EV also sports multiple regen modes that help with the braking with the strong mode being the best of the bunch. However, one-pedal driving is not offered with the Comet EV, which we feel is a shame considering that this is an electric car for the city.
MG claims that the all-new Comet EV will provide 230km of range on a single charge. While we didn’t get enough time behind the wheel in Delhi to test this out, we wouldn’t rule out a real-world range of up to 170 kilometres.
Final Thoughts About The MG Comet EV – Small Package For GenZ Drivers Going Big On EVs
The MG Comet EV is a quirky little electric microcar aimed at a generation that is more than likely to go electric for their first car.
With its beguilingly cute looks, surprisingly sized interior aggressive price point and a drive that won’t bore you even in the jams, the Comet EV from MG may just be the perfect EV for the GenZ driver looking to beat the buddhas into the electric age despite its somewhat harsh ride.
Keyword: MG Comet EV Review - Small Size, Big Electric Package