Where my Venue SUV would have consumed 2 litres of petrol, the Comet consumed just 6% of battery.
BHPian mukeshannamalai recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Allow me to share my first experience commuting to and from the office and delve into why I chose a Comet as my preferred EV.
After owning several cars over the past 20 years, I currently drive a Venue DCT. One fine morning, as I embarked on my journey to the office, I encountered an unexpected delay. It took me a staggering 2.5 hours to cover a mere distance of 13 kilometres. This incident sparked a thought in my mind: the realization that I had burned fuel for such an extended period, resulting in a fuel efficiency of merely 4-5 kilometres per litre. It was a random thought that lingered throughout the day, and by evening, I made a decision—I resolved to switch to an electric vehicle (EV) for my city drives.
This decision wasn’t solely motivated by potential monetary savings but rather driven by a personal desire to reduce my reliance on burning copious amounts of fuel.
Subsequently, I became certain that I required an electric vehicle (EV) solely for city driving, as approximately 95% of my commute takes place within the city limits. I intended to retain my Venue for long drives or consider replacing Venue with another vehicle for such occasions.
For EV, I was not willing to spend more than 10+. Initially, I considered the Tata Tiago as an option. However, due to my experience with Tata Safari and its after-sales service, I wasn’t convinced. While Citroën is renowned for producing quality cars, it personally did not appeal to me. Eventually, I turned my attention to the MG Comet. I extensively researched reviews, watched videos, and even went for a test drive. I was particularly drawn to its design, spacious front area, and overall fit and finish. Although the ride quality was satisfactory and not exceptionally luxurious, considering my daily drive is less than 25 kilometres in total, this EV seemed perfectly suitable for my everyday commuting needs.
Despite explicitly requesting the dealer to fully charge the car before delivery, I was disappointed to find that it was only charged 70%. This lack of attention to my request left me unimpressed with their commitment. It would be beneficial for MG to ensure that their dealers prioritize charging the car to 100% during delivery, considering that installing a charger can be a time-consuming process.
My initial drive to the office unfolded as follows:
Upon taking delivery of the MG Comet on Saturday, it had a 70% charge. By Tuesday, the battery level had dropped to 55%(did some local drives), offering a remaining range of 110 kilometres. I have the option to take two different routes to the office, with a distance of 13 kilometres while commuting to the office and 11 kilometres when returning home, each via separate routes.
For my office commute, I usually take the old airport road to Koramangala from my home, covering a distance of 13 kilometres. The drive started with a battery level of 55% and an odometer reading of 52 kilometres. Upon reaching the office, the remaining battery was 49% with a range of 98 kilometres, and the odometer showed 65 kilometres.
Essentially, I travelled 13 kilometres and utilized only 6% of the battery. The morning traffic was consistently heavy, and it took me over 1 hour and 10 minutes to cover the 13-kilometre distance. Some friends had expressed the belief that the MG Comet would significantly reduce my commute time, but I realized that despite the vehicle change, the roads and traffic conditions remained the same. Thus, the driving time did not experience any notable changes.
During this 1 hour and 10 minutes on the 13-kilometre HAL-old airport-Koramangala route, my previous car, Venue DCT, would have consumed approximately 2 litres of petrol, costing around 220 rupees. However, with the MG Comet, I only utilized 6% of the battery, even with the air conditioning running for roughly 50% of the time. Additionally, the pleasant weather allowed me to switch off the AC intermittently along the way. Based on this observation, I estimate that a single charge (100%) of the MG Comet can suffice for my daily office commute for around 6-7 days. Consequently, I anticipate a monthly charging expense of not more than 1000 rupees.
Furthermore, during peak traffic moments when the vehicle comes to a halt for around 10 minutes or so due to traffic jams, the EV relieves the stress of running the engine, I found myself in a calm and relaxed mood during these traffic pauses, and I’m confident that other EV owners can attest to this experience.
When it comes to ride quality, I have some differing opinions compared to what I’ve read in reviews. While many reviews praised the ride quality, I found it to be bumpy on rough roads. However, on smooth roads, there were no issues, and the ride felt relatively smooth. Considering the small tires, I understand that we can’t expect much better ride quality.
As for the entertainment system and speaker quality, there isn’t much to discuss. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest sound quality, I would rate it a 6. The sound quality is acceptable for me, and the large screen provides ample information regarding range, odometer, etc.
In terms of NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), there is a noticeable humming noise while driving. I’m not certain if this is an artificial sound generated for pedestrian safety. However, with the windows closed, a significant amount of road noise is filtered out. The cabin is not completely silent, but overall, I would rate the NVH as good, although not excellent.
One major concern for me is the absence of a creep function. As a city car, the lack of a creep function is a significant oversight from MG. Transitioning from my Venue DCT, which had a creep function, I find it challenging to drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic since I need to constantly operate both the accelerator and brake pedals, unlike the single-pedal operation in my Venue DCT. I hope MG addresses this by introducing an update to include the creep function. However, I understand that not everyone may find this feature as crucial as I do.
Regarding the front driver and passenger seats, they lack optimal under-thigh support, particularly for someone of my height (5’10”). I expected better under-thigh support for improved seating comfort. my better half found the seats good for her, I will need to evaluate this further when I install seat covers.
Another drawback is the absence of height adjustment in the driver’s seat, making it challenging to find the right seating position for my height. The seating position feels a bit awkward, as I end up sitting away from the steering wheel to achieve a more comfortable leg position for the accelerator. However, this leads to cramped leg space and difficulty in reaching the accelerator and brake pedals. The accelerator and brake pedals are positioned higher from the floor, and to find a more comfortable seating position, I have to push the seat back as far as possible.
Regarding suitability for senior citizens, my mother, who is nearly 80 years old, struggled to get into the front passenger seat.
Overall, I have mixed feelings about the MG Comet. Since my daily commute is only 12-13 kilometres one way, I can manage the ride quality by driving slowly over broken patches and potholes. The car has a good AC, and it is cost-effective to run (excluding the cost of the car). I hope that with time, I will become more comfortable without the creep function and the higher A&B pedal position. Additionally, the pickup of the vehicle feels similar to that of a small car, which is more than sufficient for daily city driving.
In terms of battery performance, I noticed that the charge went down from 97% in the evening (I had charged it to 97% at home) to 93% the next morning, even without any lights being left on. I’m unsure if this will be a daily occurrence, so I will continue to monitor it and report to MG if the issue persists.
I would not recommend taking the MG Comet on highways unless it’s an emergency and limited to a 30-40 kilometre one-way distance. It is not a comfortable EV for long drives. However, during the test drive, my better half liked it, as she also drives a Venue. She mentioned that the seating and driving experience was comfortable, and she wasn’t too concerned about the lack of a creep function. This is why we decided to book the MG Comet.
My request to MG is to please provide a creep function, address the height of the A&B pedals, and offer improved under-thigh support for the front seats.
Thank You.
Keyword: Why I chose to buy the MG Comet EV for daily use: Ownership experience