Electric cars are becoming more popular because fuel is expensive. But many people worry about range, charging times, and where to find charging stations. What if there was an electric car that could handle both city commutes and long drives, all while being affordable?
Enter the MG Comet EV—a small yet mighty vehicle that challenges the notion that electric cars are only good for short trips. Whether you’re navigating busy city streets or planning a weekend getaway, the MG Comet EV promises to deliver. We decided to take it on a detailed test drive to see if it lives up to the hype.
Is It Just a City Car?
The MG Comet EV is known as a city car, but can it handle long drives? It’s the cheapest electric car in India and offers great value. But can it go the distance? We decided to test it out.
What’s Under the Hood?
The MG Comet EV is powered by a 17.3 kWh LFP (Lithium Ferro-Phosphate) type Lithium-Ion battery, which the company claims can provide a range of up to 230 km on a full charge. We decided to put this to the test with a 200 km journey on NH 66.
We had a simple plan one person, no luggage, a maximum speed of 55-60 km/h, and running the AC for 70% of the trip. We wanted to see how close the Comet could get to its claimed range under real-world conditions. Would the battery hold up? Would we get stranded? The anticipation was palpable!
How Does It Feel Inside?
Driving the MG Comet EV was a pleasant surprise! Despite its compact exterior, it feels surprisingly spacious inside. There’s plenty of room for passengers, and it’s a breeze to maneuver through traffic. The car feels nimble and responsive, making city driving a joy.
However, after about 50 km, we noticed the front seats could use some tweaks for better backrest and thigh support on longer trips. The absence of a central tunnel means more legroom but no place to rest your left foot due to the missing dead pedal. The rear seats provide ample space for passengers of average height, making it as comfortable as other small cars. Just like the front seats, the rear seats could also require tweaks from better thigh support. This need for improved seat support is because the car is designed mainly for city driving.
The Comet is practical for city driving. There’s ample space for luggage, only if you fold the rear seats. Running costs are low—just Rs 120 for 200 km if you charge it at home. The car takes about 7 hours to fully charge, so you can plug it in overnight and wake up to a full battery.
Can It Handle the Highway?
We decided to test the MG Comet EV on Kerala’s highways, known for their ups and downs and road work. We planned a journey covering 196 km to see how the Comet handles long-distance travel.
Despite heavy traffic and a 1-hour tea break, the Comet performed well. We arrived at our destination with 8% battery remaining after 7.5 hours on the road. The Comet proved to be reliable and efficient, handling the varied road conditions admirably. It’s not just a city car—it can handle longer trips too!
How About the Return Trip?
Curious how the Slow Charge variant MG Comet EV fared on the return trip? Here’s the scoop!
For the return journey, we packed two people and 40 kg of luggage, cruising between 70 to 95 km/h with the AC on. We tested the car’s battery efficiency by toggling between heavy and normal regeneration modes, and also between sports and normal drive modes.
We planned to charge our Comet when the battery fell below 70%. Fun fact: The Comet’s slow charge variant charges 5% more in an hour with a Type 2 AC fast charger compared to a normal 16 Amp socket. After driving 51 km, we noticed the battery level dropping quickly even before we hit 65%—probably due to our aggressive driving. So, we started charging when it was at 65%, and after one hour, it surged to 85%.
Because the battery dropped so fast earlier, we switched to a moderate driving style for the rest of the journey. This experiment gave us valuable insights into how the Comet performs under different conditions, showing that it’s versatile enough for both city driving and longer trips.
Was It Fun to Drive?
Absolutely! Driving the Comet without any restrictions was a thrilling experience. The car’s performance exceeded our expectations, making the journey enjoyable and exciting. On the highway, the Comet handled impressively, performing better than many tall-boy designed cars.
Despite spirited driving, we managed our battery well. After covering 180 km, we still had 26% battery remaining, indicating the Comet’s efficiency. With 26% battery left, the car’s meter showed 56 km remaining, but we assumed it could easily cover another 35 km. The responsive handling and steady performance made driving it a fun and engaging experience.
What Else Did We Learn?
Here’s a quick roundup of our findings:
- Comfort: The seats are fantastic for city driving but could use some tweaks for those long hauls. They’re comfortable enough for short trips, but a bit more back support and thigh support would be ideal for longer journeys.
- Space: The MG Comet EV shines here! There’s plenty of room for passengers, and if you fold down the rear seats, you’ve got tons of space for luggage. It’s a practical choice for city drives and weekend getaways.
- Charging: Charging is straightforward. At home, it takes about 7 hours to fully charge. But using a Type 2 AC fast charger can save you up to one or two hours of charging time compared to a normal 16 Amp socket. This is because the fast charger delivers a constant rate of 3.5 kW, compared to the varying 2.9-3.1 kW rate of a slow charger, allowing it to charge at maximum capacity.
- Economy: Running costs are impressively low. It costs just Rs 120 to drive 200 km, making it a wallet-friendly choice for daily commutes and longer trips.
- In summary, the MG Comet EV offers comfort and space for city driving and economical running costs. It’s an appealing choice if you’re looking for a practical, budget-friendly electric vehicle!
Final Thoughts
So, is the MG Comet EV good for long drives? Yes! Even though it’s designed for the city, it’s affordable, practical, and fun to drive. Plus, you’ll save a lot on fuel!
Ready to give it a try? Share this article with your friends and start planning your next road trip with the MG Comet EV!
