September 2024 - MG Windsor EV Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Also Read: Exclusive: MG Windsor Battery Subscription Plans From Rs. 0/Month

What Are The Pros And Cons Of MG Windsor?

The pros or advantages of MG Windsor EV are:

• It’s easy to achieve the claimed range in Eco+ mode; but if you have only somewhat conservative driving style, then with Normal driving mode, you can expect 280km range (only ~15% deviation from the claimed figure)
• Unique aerodynamic styling is something unique in a sea of faux SUVs in the C-segment
• Huge dimensions and fantastic cabin space give it fantastic road presence (it’s as long as a Creta and as wide as an Innova Hycross)
• Best-in-class boot space of 604 litres is huge compared to even the Curvv’s 500 litre boot space figure
• Properly reclining rear seats with enormous 2nd row legroom and plush interiors make it a perfect car to chauffeur around
• Huge, crease-free glass roof with multi-colour ambient lighting elevate the Windsor’s cabin experience to a whole new level
• Loaded base variant comes across as a solid option for buyers who are interested in a big and affordable car with low running costs
• Shock pricing of Rs. 9.99 lakh with BaaS brings it within reach for buyers who wouldn’t not have considered it at full price and the math seems to make it cheaper to run than a comparable petrol car (if you have home charging)
• Free first year unlimited public charging on MG eHub app adds phenomenal value to the equation for buyers who are yet to figure out a domestic charging solution
• Unlimited KM lifetime battery warranty for first owners of the Windsor is unheard of at any price point in India and takes the load off the buyers for the warranty, reliability and longevity of the battery pack
• SUV-like 186mm ground clearance is good enough even for driving on bad roads
• Great all-around visibility with big windows and a high seating position makes it easy to drive in all conditions
• The Windsor has fantastic touchpoint quality and feels premium and well put together
• Being a product with Chinese R&D and having been on sale in certain international market means that the Windsor is not only the best out there but also one of the most reliable options for EV buyers as China has the best and most reliable EV technologies
• Physical controls for auto AC is an India-exclusive feature, which suggests that MG are listening to the Indian buyers and adapting their cars to match our preferences
• MG’s phenomenal service experience and accommodating nature of most employees makes it very easy to own and live with the an MG car as the staff often exceed the buyer expectations (this is coming from personal experience as I’m an MG car owner)

The MG Windsor EV has the following shortcomings or problems:

• Quirky styling looks like a blend of hatchback and MPV and will not appeal to most buyers (it’s different in appearance, propulsion systems and user interface)
• Lack of physical controls (power mirrors, roof curtain and headlamps) makes it difficult to get used to and has a fairly steep learning curve for anyone beginning to drive the Windsor (don’t worry; if you buy it, the sales staff will familiarise you with the controls)
• Surprisingly, the PM 2.5 cabin filter is only available with the top variant while their most affordable car, the Comet, gets it as standard equipment
• BaaS will require a lot of math (and head scratching) for buyers to understand if it makes sense for their usage or not; thus, this car can’t be an emotional/impulsive purchase for most buyers but a calculated, logical decision
• Big windows along with a huge glass roof will impact the cabin’s cooling, and therefore, the car’s range in regions with hot climate
• Huge 18-inch wheels will not only affect the comfort (due to smaller sidewall) but also add to the rotating mass, thus impacting its range; 16-inch wheels in base and 17-inch in higher variants would have been sufficient and efficient
• The big boot space figure may mislead a lot of buyers as the Windsor’s boot space estimation not only includes the space up to the roof but also includes the under-floor space created from the missing spare wheel
• Even with majority Indian stake in MG (51%), being a rebadged Chinese product may turn some people off who have been brainwashed with anti-China rhetoric and fail to see the big picture
• Missing features even in top variant, such as, rear window sunshades, rear parcel tray, and front parking sensors
• Mid variant gets non-breathable leather upholstery but doesn’t get ventilation, which could be a problem for buyers who live in warm regions
• The flat plate in the front bumper and a kink in the rear spoiler lead reminds buyers that they just got short changed and didn’t get the features, with which it was designed in the first place

What Is The Price Of MG Windsor EV Variants?

The MG Windsor EV is available in 3 main variants — Excite, Exclusive and Essence. The Excite and Exclusive are only capable of 3.3kW AC charging speeds and 7.4kW AC fast charging is optional. It’s standard with the Windsor top model. DC fast charging is standard with all variants.

Then, there’s the matter of BaaS. With the battery subscription, the Windsor Excite, Exclusive and Essence variants cost Rs. 9.99 lakh, Rs. 10.99 lakh and Rs. 11.99 lakh, respectively. The battery cost stays flat at Rs. 3.51 lakh. Thus, the outright ex-showroom price of the 3 variants starts from Rs. 13.50 lakh and goes up to Rs. 15.50 lakh. The price gap between variants is consistent at Rs. 1.0 lakh regardless of whether you choose BaaS or buy it at full price.

Note: Check your Car EMI with our - Car EMI Calculator

MG Windsor EV Excite - Base Model Standard Features

The Windsor EV base model (Excite) costs Rs. 9.99 lakh with the battery subscription and Rs. 13.50 lakh (ex-showroom) if you want to buy it outright. Pricing for the AC fast charging option is not available at the time of publishing this article.

The most notable features of the Windsor base model variant are:

In this variant, you may miss features like:

• Front parking sensors
• Rear camera
• Rear parcel tray
• Rear armrest
• Rear window sunshades
• TPMS

Otherwise, this variant is appropriately equipped considering the size and price range of even the petrol cars in this category. In this variant, both the infotainment and instrument cluster screens are smaller compared to the higher variants. However, if having a larger screen or features like telematics are deal breakers for you, then you can consider this variant.

Another reason to consider this variant is that you’re strict about your budget and don’t want to stretch it any further. For most buyers, it’s worth taking a look at one of the higher variants.

MG Windsor EV Excite vs Exclusive Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Exclusive variant of the Windsor costs Rs. 10.99 lakh with BaaS and its full price is Rs. 14.50 lakh (ex-showroom). These prices are Rs. 1.0 lakh higher than the lower Excite variant.

The Exclusive variant of the Windsor EV gets the following additional notable features over the base Excite variant:

In the mid variant, you may miss feature like:

• Rear parcel tray
• Rear window sunshades
• Front parking sensors
• Seat ventilation

In this variant, the non-breathable upholstery and the lack of ventilation may make you seriously miss this feature. Because of the high perceived value features like larger alloy wheels, a bigger touchscreen, and leather upholstery, this variant justifies almost twice the incremental asking price over the base variant. Even though it is a sensible option value-wise, we do not recommend this variant.

MG Windsor EV Exclusive vs Essence Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Essence top model of the MG Windsor EV also costs another Rs. 1.0 lakh over the mid variant. It costs Rs. 11.99 lakh with BaaS and Rs. 15.50 lakh if you want to pay for the battery upfront. With this variant, AC fast charging is standard.

The Windsor’s Essence variant gets the following notable additional features over the Excite trim:

In this variant, you may miss the following features:

• Rear window sunshades
• Rear parcel tray
• Front parking sensors

In this variant, you mostly get feel-good features like a fixed panoramic glass roof, a better sound system from Infinity and ambient lighting. The only important and high-value functional feature in this variant is the ventilated front seats. Considering the incremental cost of just Rs. 2.0 lakh over the base model, these feel-good features mostly help this variant deliver a value of about Rs. 3.70 lakh — that’s 85% more value for money compared to the incremental price over the base model.

Even though the top variant of Windsor may not have functionally more useful features, it will certainly enhance your ownership experience with the car. Moreover, by spending Rs. 2.0 lakh over the base Windsor, you get excellent value for money here. Therefore, this is our top recommended variant.

Which Variant Of The MG Windsor EV Should You Buy?

With only 3 variants, Windsor’s buying recommendation is quite simple. Its base variant is well-equipped for a C-segment car costing 13.50 lakh (ex-showroom). There could be 2 reasons to buy this. 1st: you're already stretching your budget to get the base variant. 2nd: like me, you consider the features of higher variants such as the non-ventilated artificial leather upholstery, larger alloy wheels, bigger touchscreen and telematics of the mid variant, or the glass roof of the top model to be deal breakers. Thus, the base variant seems like an obvious choice and a good option.

However, from a value perspective, if you spend just Rs. 1.0 lakh more, the mid variant gives you features worth almost Rs. 2.0 lakh. Still, we wouldn’t recommend it. This is because the top variant also provides features worth almost Rs. 2.0 lakh for an additional cost of just Rs. 1.0 lakh. So, when the top variant gives you superior value, it becomes and easy recommendation and the top recommended variant for Windsor buyers.

It’s possible that right now, you don’t need the features of the higher variant, but during ownership, 5-7 years down the line, you might feel the lack of these features when you experience these in others’ cars. At that point, selling your current car and buying a new one after absorbing the depreciation losses will turn out to be more expensive. That’s why you might have noticed that we usually recommend a higher variant if it offers good value for money upfront. They ensure much better ownership experience even after several years of ownership.

What Are The Engine Specifications Of The MG Windsor EV?

Considering the price overlap, the Windsor EV, despite being larger, is mainly quite relevant for buyers of the Nexon EV and Punch EV. Apart from this, the XUV400 is its most appropriate rival, as both the battery size and exterior dimensions of the XUV are comparable to the Windsor.

In this comparison, Windsor’s battery pack and power output are middle-of-the-road — not too big, not too small. In terms of outright power and torque, the XUV400 leads with 150 PS of power and 310 Nm of torque. Windsor’s 200Nm torque is more comparable to Tata’s EVs, which generally deliver torque in the range of 190 to 215Nm.

As for range, Windsor EV’s claimed range of 332km is quite low. Despite having a smaller battery, the Punch EV’s official range is just 25km less, and the Nexon EV’s is only 30km less than the Windsor. However, in realistic usage, Windsor gave us a range of 285 km during mixed driving, which is about 14% lower than the official figure. We drove the Windsor with ‘Normal’ regen mode and ‘Normal’ drive mode.

According to Tata, the realistic range for the Nexon EV and Punch EV is between 190 and 350km. So, there is a deviation of around 28 - 40% between Tata’s initial official claims and the recently revealed realistic range figures.

We currently have no idea about the realistic achievable range of the XUV400, but we believe that, like Tata’s EVs, you may see a significant deviation here as well.

*Realistic range for Tata EVs is based on Tata’s testing and claims

**Windsor realistic range is based on V3Cars testing under mixed (city + highway) conditions

In terms of charging speed, considering the battery capacity, AC charger output and some thermal inefficiencies, we’ve estimated their charging speeds. According to this reverse calculation, you can fully charge the Windsor with a 3.3kW charger in about 13 hours. The Nexon EV 45 has the largest battery here, and it would take about 16 hours to fully charge with a 3.3kW charger. You can cut their charging time in half by using a 7.2 or 7.4kW charger.

*Assumption

You can use our Fuel Cost Calculator to see how any petrol, diesel or CNG car will cost to run based on the latest fuel price in your city.

Fuel Cost Calculator in India

What Are The Dimensions Of The MG Windsor EV?

Being a C-segment electric car, the Windsor is naturally bigger than the Punch EV and Nexon EV. It's even larger than the XUV400 in terms of length, width, height and wheelbase. The boot capacity of the Windsor EV is also significantly greater than other cars in the segment. We believe that the boot space is measured up to the roof, with the rear seats set at a minimum recline angle.

Initially, when MG referred to the Windsor as a crossover in their teasers, we were quite sceptical about calling it an SUV or crossover due to its MPV and hatch-like design. Moreover, it needed at least 180mm or more ground clearance. Finally, on the day of the launch, MG confirmed that its ground clearance is 186mm, and with this figure, despite its oddball design, we can safely call it a crossover, if not an SUV. Even while driving it, the Windsor’s driving position feels like you’re driving an SUV.

Speaking of Windsor’s dimensions, I have one more thing to share. Some cars look big in photos but aren't that large in real life. The Punch is the perfect example of this. Tata did some magic by giving the Punch a proportionate SUV stance despite its compact dimensions. But when you see the Punch in person, you realise it's just as beautiful, but not as big as it looks in the photos.

With the Windsor, it's the opposite. Although we knew the dimensions, we hadn't seen the car in person. We expected it to look like a slightly larger i20. But it is as big as a Creta and feels just as large. In terms of width, it's almost as wide as the Innova Hycross. That was a pleasant surprise for us. So, like us, you shouldn’t judge the size of the Windsor by its design until you see it in person.

Find out how you can get the best mileage or fuel efficiency from your car:

10 Tips To Get Better Mileage From Your Petrol, Diesel Or CNG Car

What Are The Colour Options Of The MG Windsor EV?

The Windsor EV is available in the following 5 colour options:

• White
• Black
• Beige
• Grey + green

To find out the variant-wise colour option availability of the 2024 Windsor EV, you can visit the following link:

2024 MG Windsor EV – Variant-Wise Exterior Colour Options

Note: Here is a quick look at our length-based segmentation of cars to give you an idea of how we are classifying cars based on their size.

You can read more about vehicle segmentation at the following link:

Car Segments Explained - With Body Styles And Examples