MG Tomahawk EV First Drive Review

“The Tomahawk EV feels easy to drive and surprisingly quick for a big family SUV. The motor makes a little over 200 bhp, MG claims 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds, and the certified range is over 500 km. It stays calm in traffic and enjoyable on twisty roads. We would have liked a softer ride over big bumps and paddle shifters for regen. Even so, it is a very convincing first drive.”

First Impressions Behind the Wheel

The first thing you notice is how big the car looks from outside and how simple it feels from inside. It is one of the longest and widest cars in its segment. Since our reviewer is almost 6 feet tall, it stands almost the same height. Once you sit in, that size mostly disappears.

• The steering is light and the controls are easy, so you do not feel nervous in traffic.
• You sit a bit high, so visibility is good.
• The front footwell has plenty of room for a 6-foot driver and still has 2 to 3 inches of headroom with the sunroof.
• The seats are comfortable, though the seat base ends a little early.
• Key buttons for the sunroof, sunshade, AC fan, temperature and hazard lights are physical, which makes daily driving less distracting. Most other things still need the big screen.

The best word we can use for this car in the city is “easy going”.

City Drive

Our drive started in Kochi on a Monday morning, with proper traffic. This is where an EV should feel at home and the Tomahawk EV does.

• The motor responds quickly and smoothly, with no jerks.
• The cabin stays quiet, and the ambient lights add to the calm feel.
• The car was kept in Eco mode to check efficiency and it still had enough punch for quick overtakes. Even in Eco, you can get a good shove when you press the pedal.
• Visibility and the light steering make tight gaps in traffic less stressful.
• The 360-degree camera makes tight parking simple.

One small thing to know is torque steer. If you press the pedal hard and are not paying attention, the steering can tug to one side because so much torque comes out at once. It is not scary, but it reminds you this SUV has real power.

Acceleration and Performance

Power and torque are not a problem here.

• The motor makes a little over 200 bhp with strong torque.
• MG claims 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds. That is not the fastest number among electric cars, but for an electric SUV of this size it is very respectable.
• Even in Eco mode, the front wheels spin on a hard launch. We saw wheel spin all the way up to 70 km/h on the winding road.
• You get four drive modes: Eco, Standard, Sport and Custom. In Custom, you can change power, response, regen, steering and brake settings on your own.
• Regen has four levels: Standard, Comfort, Strong and Intelligent.

If you think the power figure looks modest on paper, do not worry. On the road, it feels like there is more than enough.

Ride Quality on Uneven Roads

This is where the Tomahawk EV has a personality of its own, and it matters on Indian roads.

• The ride is comfortable, but not plush. MG clearly wanted a sporty feel.
• You feel a slight stiffness, mainly when going over big potholes and big speed breakers.
• On smooth roads and small bumps, it is fine and settled.
• A full load should help. With five people in the five-seater or seven in the seven-seater, the extra weight should smooth things out.
• This is different from the Hector, which felt soft with a full load. Here, there is a basic firmness that does not go away.

So if your daily roads are very broken, take it over a few big speed breakers during your test drive and see if the firmness suits you. If you mostly drive in the city and on highways, it should be fine.

We did not get ground clearance or suspension travel figures from this drive, so I cannot comment on how it handles really rough ground.

Handling on Winding Roads

After the city, we went to the plantation valley near Athirappilly Waterfalls. There was less traffic here, a few turns and even some wildlife.

• The firm suspension that felt slightly stiff in the city now works in the car’s favour.
• Body roll is limited, which is not common for a tall and heavy SUV. The batteries sit low, and that helps.
• Sport steering mode makes the steering heavier, and that adds to the confidence.
• Visibility is good, so you can see through corners and keep a steady pace.
• With the regen on Sport, the car slows down by itself when you lift off, which helps on the downhill turns.

MG calls this a sporty family SUV, and this part of the drive supports that claim. It is a family car that is surprisingly fun when the road gets interesting.

While climbing a road with an upward slope, we wanted to change the regen level to get a bit of braking. Unfortunately, it was not available, so had to set it to Sport before the climb and kept it there.

Range and Efficiency

This was the most curious part of our drive, so the trip meter was reset before starting the drive.

• The certified range is over 500 km.
• In the city with regen, we believe anyone can get up to 450 km.
• At the end of our mixed drive, the display showed 14.1 kWh per 100 km. With a battery of about 70 kWh, that works out to roughly 490 km.
• That number came with two people on board, the AC on, luggage in the boot, mixed traffic, a few hills and different driving styles.

Considering all of that, we would call 490 km a very good real-world figure. It means the Tomahawk EV can do long trips and daily office runs without much range worry.

Cabin Comfort on the Move

While this is a driver-focused review, the rear seat deserves a mention because many Indian buyers will be driven in this car.

• The 40:60 split rear seat reclines on each side, and the seat also slides forward and back as it reclines.
• With the front seat set for a 5.1 ft driver, I had 2 to 3 inches of free space at 6 feet tall.
• With the front seat fully forward, there is a lot of knee and foot room.
• Rear AC vents, a manual sunblind and two charging outlets make the back seat easy to live in.
• Cabin modes like Quiet, Nappy and Energizing make the car feel more relaxed on a tiring day.

Our Verdict

The Tomahawk EV is a good all-rounder, and it is much more fun than a big family SUV needs to be. The drive is smooth in the city, the power is strong and the range figures are convincing. Prices stay under Rs 23 lakh for the top-spec five-seater and under Rs 23.5 lakh for the seven-seater, which makes the package even better. The ride is a little stiff over big bumps, and you will miss paddle shifters if you like to play with regen. If those two points do not bother you, this EV deserves a place on your shortlist. From us at Car Junction, it is a thumbs up.

For another take on real-world efficiency, see our first drive of the Renault Duster Hybrid, where we tested a strong hybrid in mixed city conditions.