The MG M9 Is A Revolution on Four Wheels

Some cars you test drive. Others, you experience. The MG M9 falls squarely in the latter category. The first time I slid into its second-row seat—a fully reclinable, massage-enabled, heat-and-ventilated cocoon—it became very clear that this wasn’t just a car, but a rolling lounge or a road-legal business class cabin.

I’ve seen luxury MPVs before—the Toyota Vellfire with its hybrid muscle and price tag upwards of a crore, or the diesel-driven overgrown Kia Carnival. But the M9? This is a vehicle built not just for the roads of India, but for the aspirations that increasingly drive them.

And the real surprise? I didn’t expect to like it this much.

An Exterior Vs. The Interior

Let’s get the aesthetics out of the way. From the outside, the MG M9 has all the typical cues of an MPV—it’s long (over 5.2 metres), boxy, and functional. In profile, it’s more command shuttle than show pony. It won’t turn heads the way a Mercedes GLS might, but it doesn’t need to.

The rear design, with its full-width taillamps and waterfall-inspired LED detailing, is perhaps the most expressive part of the exterior. But even that feels purposeful rather than performative. This isn’t a car trying to seduce you with curves. It’s built to impress you with space.

And once you’re inside, that space takes on a different meaning.

Business Class, On Ground Level

The rear cabin is, quite frankly, the reason this car exists. You don’t just sit in the second-row seats—you settle into them. Think first-class airline pod meets Scandinavian lounge chair. The upholstery is a mix of Cognac brown leather and suede, the surfaces are chamois-wrapped, and the ambient lighting is entirely customisable across 64 colours.

Each seat reclines fully—yes, fully—into a bed-like position. Not a “slightly back” airline lean. An actual lie-flat situation. There are eight massage modes, plus heating and cooling functions, and all of it is operated via a touchscreen built into the armrest. You can slide the front passenger seat forward for more room (a function delightfully called “Boss Mode”), tweak the lighting to lavender or crimson, and even adjust the AC airflow—all without moving more than a finger.

What struck me most was how complete it all felt. Nothing seemed like an afterthought. The three-zone climate control, the privacy blinds, the 13-speaker JBL sound system, the slidable third row—it was luxury in the philosophy of design itself. Every detail was considered for comfort, and I was truly impressed.

Behind the Wheel: A Pleasant Surprise

Of course, part of the job is to drive it too. And here’s where the M9 surprised me.

The M9 drives like a much smaller, lighter car. The electric motor puts out 245 PS and 350 Nm of torque—more than enough to make overtaking feel effortless, even on tight city roads. The steering is feather-light. The suspension, soft enough to glide over potholes without making a fuss. And crucially, there’s no disconnect between your input and the car’s response.

There’s a sense of calmness to the drive—no engine noise, no sudden jerks. Even with its mammoth size, the M9 is surprisingly manageable. Sure, you’ll want to avoid narrow gullies or U-turns in South Bombay, but on highways or open city roads, it’s an absolute joy to drive.

Real-world range hovered around 420–430 km during my test, which is decent but not road-trip worthy. This isn’t the car you take on impromptu hill drives to Himachal. But for daily commutes, airport runs, or luxury intercity hauls (Delhi to Jaipur with a charging stop, perhaps), it works beautifully.

Where It Lands in the Segment

To understand where the M9 fits, you need to understand what it isn’t trying to be. It’s not chasing the Vellfire’s legacy or mimicking the Carnival’s diesel brute force. It’s carving a new lane—electric, luxurious, and slightly subversive.

At ₹69.9 lakhs, it sits between the two. The Vellfire starts north of a crore, the Carnival just under ₹64 lakhs. But what the M9 manages to do is take the experience of the Vellfire—its backseat indulgence, its sense of detachment from the chaos outside—and deliver it at nearly half the price, with lower running costs and zero tailpipe emissions. That’s not just good business. It’s future-facing.

Yes, it lacks the long-range punch of a hybrid or diesel. No, you won’t be doing Delhi-to-Jodhpur without a charging stop. But for the metro buyer, the executive, the ultra-urban family—this isn’t a drawback. It’s irrelevant. Because where this car lives—city to airport, office to hotel, home to golf club—the real-world range more than suffices.

Should You Buy It?

The MG M9 doesn’t try to dazzle you with gimmicks. There’s no augmented reality dashboard. No overblown “hyper screen.”

And that’s what struck me most about my two days with the M9. Not just how comfortable it was, but how intentional it felt. In a market full of SUVs that look like spaceships and sedans that forget rear passengers exist, here is a vehicle that puts comfort at the centre of its design.

It knows its buyer. Will it make waves? Maybe. The MG M9 isn’t the most powerful car on the road. It’s not the most iconic, or the fastest, or the most beautiful. But it might be the smartest take yet on what the modern Indian luxury buyer actually wants.

It’s for the people who want the Vellfire experience without the Vellfire’s hefty price tag.

And honestly? I’m sold.