India’s Best-Selling EV? Testing the MG Windsor After 10 Days of Real Use


MG Windsor EV

MG Motor’s Windsor EV has quickly become India’s best-selling EV with over 20,000 units sold. The reasons? Plenty—from its competitive pricing to the innovative Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model that cuts down the upfront cost. Launched as MG’s third EV (after the ZS EV and the tiny Comet), the Windsor EV is more of a crossover-MPV blend focused on practicality and comfort which is honestly refreshing in a market full of compact SUVs.

To test the waters, I drove the MG Windsor EV for over 10 days, and let’s just say I have a few strong opinions to share. In this review, I’m covering everything from performance and range to design, tech features, and how it stacks up against rivals like the Tata Nexon EV, BYD e6, and Hyundai Creta EV.

Performance and Driving Experience

Image credit: Anubha Pandey

Behind the wheel, the Windsor EV delivers a smooth, easy, and surprisingly powerful driving experience. The motor puts out 134 bhp and 200 Nm of instant torque which is more than enough for effortless city commutes and even quick overtakes on highways. And once you switch into the most powerful driving mode, you really feel the punch. That’s the fun part.

MG gives you four drive modes: Eco+, Eco, Normal, and Sport. Sport makes the Windsor feel eager, with noticeably sharper acceleration. But for most people, Normal mode is the sweet spot you get peppy response without killing your battery. Eco mode dials things down to maximize range, but feels too sluggish in city traffic. Eco+ should be used only when you’re low on battery and trying to reach a charger.

There are also three regen levels—Light, Medium, and Heavy. They help feed energy back to the battery when you slow down, but here’s the catch: adjusting them means diving into the touchscreen menus. Not ideal when you’re navigating through traffic. A dedicated button or paddle would’ve been so much better. That said, once you find your rhythm (Medium regen is the go-to for most).

The ride and handling is comfort-focused, but not perfect. It’s a born EV, so it feels well-balanced and planted on highways. The suspension is on the firmer side and it doesn’t soak up all the road imperfections, especially sharp potholes. But overall, both front and rear passengers stay comfortable, even on not-so-great roads. Also, because the motor is dead silent, you’ll notice road and wind noise more at higher speeds. Some added insulation would’ve helped. Still, as a daily driver, the Windsor EV is effortless to live with.

Battery and Range

MG Windsor EV comes with a 38 kWh usable battery with a claimed range of 332 km. In real-world use, I got around 245 km with mostly Normal mode driving—and that’s not bad at all. Considering how many EVs used to exaggerate range by 30–40%, this feels honest.

Pricing and Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS)

Now let’s talk about MG’s pricing strategy, which I think is one of the smartest things about the Windsor. You get two options. The first is Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), where the car starts at ₹9.99 lakh (ex-showroom), and you rent the battery separately. Rental plans typically cost around ₹3.5 per kilometre for a 1,500 km monthly package, which is about ₹5,250 per month.

There are different plans depending on your usage and credit profile, and some even allow you to skip monthly payments if the car hasn’t been driven. It’s a flexible model kind of like a prepaid SIM plan for your battery.

The second option is the traditional route: buy the car along with the battery, starting around ₹13.5 lakh and going up to ₹18 lakh for the top-spec variant with the larger battery. This is more suited to people who prefer full ownership and don’t want to keep track of monthly usage. MG even offers dealership-level consultation to help you figure out which plan works best for your driving habits. And you can switch from BaaS to full ownership later, or transfer the subscription to a new owner if you sell the car.

Technology and Features

Image credit: Anubha Pandey

Step inside the Windsor, and it looks and feels like a premium lounge on wheels. The dashboard’s minimalist, the materials feel good, and the cabin looks more expensive than the price suggests.

Now let’s talk about that 15.6-inch touchscreen—the biggest in its class. I’m gonna be honest: I’m not a fan. It looks slick at first, and yes, it runs MG’s i-SMART OS with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. But there are occasional lags, and putting basic stuff like drive modes and headlight controls inside the screen? Not ideal. Especially while driving.

Thankfully, climate controls still get physical buttons, which is a relief in Indian summers.

But screen aside, the Windsor is loaded—even the base variant gets stuff you’d expect only in mid-to-top trims of other cars:

  • Digital instrument cluster
  • Cruise control
  • Power-folding mirrors
  • Tilt & telescopic steering
  • LED lighting
  • Auto climate control
  • Rear AC vents

Higher variants add even more:

  • Panoramic fixed glass roof
  • Ambient lighting
  • Infinity audio system
  • Wireless phone charging
  • Ventilated seats

The panoramic roof and ambient lights give it a really luxe, night-time vibe. Overall, it’s a smart, feature-rich cabin, just let down slightly by that over-reliant screen.

Safety

MG hasn’t cut corners here. The Windsor is built on a global EV platform (the MG4, which got a 5-star Euro NCAP rating). It gets, 6 airbags (standard), ABS with EBD, ESC, hill hold assist, 360-degree camera on higher variants, high-strength steel body shell and Liquid-cooled, well-shielded battery

It checks all the right boxes, especially for a family car. No complaints here.

Design and Cabin Comfort

Image Credit: Anubha Pandey

Let’s just say this that the Windsor doesn’t look like anything else on Indian roads right now. It’s sleek, modern, and a bit quirky. You’ll either love it or find it too “futuristic.” But hey, at least it’s not trying to look like every other SUV out there.

The front has a full-width LED light bar, split headlamps, and clean lines. From the side, it’s got a smooth, MPV-like profile. Flush door handles pop out when unlocked. The rear continues the LED strip theme and looks clean.

Step inside, and the space will blow you away. Because of the long 2700 mm wheelbase and EV-specific platform, there’s tons of legroom. Even two 6-footers can sit one behind the other without complaint. Rear seats recline up to 135°, which is rare in this price segment. The boot? Massive—584 to 604 litres, depending on the variant. Enough for a family trip with ease.

Cabin materials feel plush, soft-touch in the right places, and the copper accents on some trims add a nice touch. It’s just a really well-executed interior—simple but premium.

MG Windsor EV vs the Competition

In the ₹15–20 lakh EV space, the Windsor’s main rivals are:

  • Tata Nexon EV: Better acceleration, more rugged looks. But Windsor beats it on cabin space, comfort, and premium features.
  • BYD e6: Longer range (~520 km), but double the price and way fewer features. Windsor offers similar comfort and usability at half the cost.
  • Hyundai Creta EV (2025): Promising option with brand trust and SUV styling. But MG is already delivering on space, features, and value plus it undercuts Creta EV on price.

    If you’re a family buyer, fleet operator, or just someone looking for a high-value electric upgrade, the Windsor EV ticks a lot of boxes.

Verdict and Recommendation

The MG Windsor EV is probably one of the most thoughtfully designed EVs for India right now. It’s not just tech-loaded it’s practical, comfy, and easy to live with. Yes, the ~250 km range on the base variant isn’t mind-blowing. And yes, the over-dependence on the touchscreen for controls is a bit much. But beyond that? This EV gets the formula right.

Compared to the competition, it offers more car for the money more features than the Nexon, better price-to-value than the Creta EV, and a far richer experience than the overpriced BYD e6.If your usage is mostly urban with occasional highway drives, and you want a no-nonsense, tech-forward EV that doesn’t break the bank the Windsor EV deserves a serious look.

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