MG M9 review, first drive: An all-electric alternative to the Toyota Vellfire and Kia Carnival?

India Today

11-07-2025

I'm not afraid to admit that I love a good van. The politically correct word here would be an MPV, or multi-purpose vehicle. Interestingly, it's a market segment in India that appears to be on the rise, piping the sedans, which honestly, feels a little sad. However, I have more compassion towards MPVs than I do towards some of the 'SUVs' in our market. That's because there's an honesty in their approach towards a consumer. It's meant to be a people carrier for paved roads, a crusader for commuters.
MG's done a good job with the M9's front-end design.
advertisementBut, as is the case with most things, some MPVs are equal than others. I'd broadly fit the Kia Carnival, Toyota Vellfire and Lexus LM in said category. Now, there's a new player added to the mix, and if the Windsor is anything to go by, they know a thing or two about EVs. What's more, there are diesel, hybrid and now electric offerings, which means the spoilt are spoilt for choice. So, what's the M9 all about and what does it have to offer? Let's kick things off with the design language.Does it look good?There's no denying the fact that the M9 is a large vehicle. In terms of dimensions, it's 5,270mm long, 1,840mm tall and 2,000mm wide. The wheelbase measures in at 3,200mm, which, as I said before, makes it big, bold and beautiful. There's understatedness to the overall design language, with minimal chrome inserts around the front, sides and rear. Up front, there's a significant trapezoidal grille, along with the radar for the Level 2 of ADAS present on the M9. There are sleek DRLs as well with the headlamps mounted down below, which is almost the norm of sorts these days.
The M9 is a big car, big by even SUV standards, and its sleek design language is complementary.
However, it's at the rear where things feel most well-settled in terms of looks. The waterfall-inspired design for the rear LED tail lamps looks lovely, and so does the 'M9 EV' badge. Also, there's a decent amount of boot space with all three rows up, and there's a neat 55-litre frunk, which happens to be a segment first. It's from the side that the M9 makes its presence felt. Those large electrically-operated doors make ingress and egress easy, and there's a large grab handle to aid this process. Since we're on the topic, let's first talk about the third row of seats.Usable third row?Once again, it's easy to get into the third row, thanks to the healthy space between the second row of captain seats. Underthigh support isn't great, and this is strictly a two-seater at the back, since there isn't a headrest for the middle seat. On the plus side, there is some distance between the headrests and the rear windshield.
The third row of seats can swivel front and back with the help of a large handle.
In terms of amenities, there are Type-A charging points, cup holders and phone storage spaces on each side, along with speakers. I would've appreciated a sun blind here as well, maybe a hinge-operated opening for the window itself like the Toyota Innova, which is another stalwart of the MPV space in India. All in all, it is compromised, as most third-row seats are, but it isn't too bad at all.How are those ottoman seats?Time, though, for the real business end of the M9 - the second row. These are ottoman seats, which are 16-way adjustable, come with heated, cooled and massaging functions. There are eight different types of massage settings, which is great. What's not so great is the fact that the screen is rather tiny, and it, like a smartphone, has this swipe gesture to unlock, which gets cumbersome after the third or fourth time.
The overall quality of the screen felt like a bit of a letdown.
It also sits flat, making it difficult to use if the seats are reclined, and not very legible under direct sunlight. Also, the screen itself feels quite tiny, but one can always slide their armrest over it, which is a clever addition. That being said, there's plenty of control built into it, and that does make things better. In this case though, an arched system like the Vellfire works best.
The ottoman seats offer great support and comfort. There were a few hits and misses though.
advertisementThat neatly brings us along to the other issue, manual sunblinds, which honestly feels like a big miss for a big car like the M9. Its operation feels flimsy, and a discerning customer surely isn't expected to operate it themselves. That's pretty much it, though, everything else the M9 does with grace and panache. The brown leather feels upmarket, and the suede finish is a chef's kiss in my opinion. Small inserts in and around the cabin go a long way in enhancing the overarching feel significantly. There's also a foldable storage space for a wallet or a smaller phone in the armrest, along with Type-A and C charging points, too.
The front passenger seat gets controls for 'boss mode'.
advertisementThe M9 doesn't lack when it comes to storage spaces either. There's one under the 220V charging point, which will come in handy when storing magazines or other knick-knacks. Just like the third row, there are phone folders in the seat along with a fold-out cup holder, as well. The bottle holder on each of the doors felt it might not be able to hold a larger bottle. Apart from this, there's also an overhead console to control the sunshade and the fairly large dual-pane sunroof, along with the HVAC controls.
Overhead console can be a bit of a reach if the seats are reclined.
advertisementI also love the fact that there is a single-pane sunroof for the front passenger and driver as well. However, the 64-ambient lighting choice feels a bit gimmicky to me, and so does the panel on the roofliner. On the whole, the second-row experience is a luxurious one and won't disappoint most buyers looking for a comfortable, well-equipped MPV. There is one more aspect that needs attention, though. We're speaking about the experience from behind that pretty two-spoke steering wheel.What's it like to drive?Let's be honest for a moment, this isn't a driver's car, and the whole point is to be chauffeured around, but the seats are heated and cooled, and the driver's seat is 12-way adjustable, while the passenger here is 8-way adjustable. Both seats get a massage function as well, and there's loads of space here in the centre to store all kinds of things, and there's a wireless charger too, along with two Type-A ports. I also like the fact that there's a separate sunroof up in the front here, and the whole leather and suede treatment. What could've been larger is the 7-inch digital instrument console, but the 12.3-inch touchscreen is fine by me, although there are still some controls, like adjusting the drive modes or even regen. There's a 90kWh battery pack, which is a nickel-manganese-cobalt unit, meaning it should offer good energy density in a relatively small package. MG claims a range between 500-550km; there isn't an official figure yet, but what I've seen is that MG usually gets pretty close to what it claims. Power is sent to the front wheels via a motor mounted on the front axle capable of producing 245bhp and 350Nm of torque. Healthy numbers, especially considering that this weighs upwards of 2.5 tonnes. Still, though the push is good, especially in sport mode, and there are levels of regen and driving modes. Now, because this is electric, it elevates the premium quotient. Although this is a big thing to lug around, the turning radius is superb. It also feels stable and planted on the move, especially on the highway, but the ride at lower speeds does feel stiffer than I would've wanted in my luxury MPV. On the plus side, though, the fact that M9 is an electric only ups the premium quotient of the overall experience. Purely from a design standpoint, I love the minimalist and elegant layout for the dashboard, it's devoid and clutter and I appreciate that. Overall, I would give the driving experience a solid 8/10, which is pretty awesome for a large luxury van.VerdictBrass tacks first. MG hasn't launched the M9 in the country yet, but bookings are open for an amount of Rs 51,000. This luxury EV MPV will be sold through MG Select, which will be a more elevated and premium showroom experience from the regular MG dealerships. The other car MG will sell from this new showroom format will be the Cyberster, which is on the cards, as well. Since this will be a CKD model, I expect pricing to be closer to the Carnival than the Vellfire, which is a good thing. I feel it should be a no-brainer for high-end fleet and hotel cabs, as charging it and running it will be more cost-effective. But, again, price will be a major factor. It's a great start for MG Select, though, imagine having an M9 for the work weekdays and Cyberster for letting loose on the weekends.Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine- Ends