What’s the one thing common to all automotive journalists besides their passion for automobiles? It’s the fact that we all end up spending so much time travelling for work, we’re left with very little time for our families. Over the years, I’ve thus learnt that it’s best to steal a few moments with my loved ones whenever possible. While being at home is a great way to do so, heading out with family, even if for a day trip, is even better. A place I like to frequent on such occasions is Mahabaleshwar, a hill station south of Pune. And with the daughter demanding an outing given that her final exams were over, there was little I could offer in terms of resistance.
My choice of wheels this time was India’s bestselling EV, the MG Windsor. The Windsor has been quick to become a preferred choice for buyers thanks to its excellent comfort, space, features and also the clever packaging and pricing. For me, these virtues were having the Windsor tick the right boxes for a family road trip. More so, since Mahabaleshwar is just about 130km away from Pune, and the Windsor’s all-electric powertrain offers 136PS and 200Nm along with a range of nearly 350km per charge. It’s comfort, especially on the highway, was adding to its likeable feel further, as the wife and my daughter were both impressed with the Windsor’s ability to soak up undulations without unsettling them. The second row seats add to its appeal further with their quilted finish and ample cushioning, making them great for spending long hours in.
My daughter also took a liking to the Windsor’s 15.6-inch touchscreen that takes centre stage on the dashboard. The screen is your gateway to the Windsor’s long list of features and its large size also lets you view lots of information easily. The ventilated front seats are a boon, besides which the Windsor’s air-conditioning system is so good, you’ll never experience the typical Indian summers as long as you’re inside! And these, are just some of the reasons that have also helped the Windsor become India’s highest selling EV. Another big reason behind its popularity is MG Motor’s industry-first, Battery As A Service initiative. It allows you to pay a monthly subscription for the Windsor’s battery pack as opposed to having to pay for it upfront, which has allowed MG to price the Windsor very attractively.
With Battery as a Service, you’re only paying for the distances you drive every month at Rs 3.90 per kilometre, which makes owning an EV as big, as comfortable and as feature-rich as the Windsor a lot more affordable than you might think. That’s because thanks to Battery as a Service the Windsor costs only as much as internal combustion engine powered compact SUVs that are smaller in size and have lesser features. Let’s also not forget, the Windsor also boasts zero tailpipe emissions! En route to Mahabaleshwar we took a pit stop next to a lake, where the soft morning light was adding to the pleasantness. And the joy of being outdoors, with my loved ones, is a feeling I was cherishing immensely, something my jet-setting lifestyle deprives me of.
Before we started off again, I decided to try MG Motor’s eHUB app, a one stop solution for EV charging needs, irrespective of whether your EV is an MG or not. The app even lets you search for chargers at specific locations, and I used it to check for charging stations at Mahabaleshwar pre-emptively. Turns out, the hill station does have a bunch of DC fast chargers! eHUB provides accurate information about charging stations including charging speeds, charges per kWh, whether a particular charger is in use currently or is available and even lets pay for charging directly. MG Motor has tied up with India’s leading charging companies for the purpose, and as a unified charging platform, eHUB adds to convenience immensely, besides eliminating the need to use multiple charging apps.
As we started ascending the hills leading to Mahabaleshwar, I realised this was the part of the drive that would consume more charge from the Windsor’s battery than I would like. The good news though was that on our way back, driving downhill would have its regenerative braking help me recharge the battery, thus extending its range. This is something no pure internal combustion engine powered vehicle will let you achieve! The Windsor was also impressing with its fine balance between ride and handling in the hills. Consequently, I was able to enjoy my time behind its wheel thanks to its confident handling, without having to worry about my family’s comfort.
A trip to Mahabaleshwar cannot begin without devouring some strawberries with cream though! Strawberries are a local produce, and a tall glass of the tangy-sweet fruit dunked in a mix of whipped cream and strawberry-flavoured ice -cream is the ultimate dessert, or snack. Once we were in Mahabaleshwar and ready to explore our surroundings, I decided to also use the time to top up the Windsor’s charge, using the eHUB app. It turned out to a quick affair – the app pointed me to the nearest charging station, which had a 60kW DC fast charger. A 20-minute session, while we enjoyed scenic views around, had me back to 85 percent charge, which was a lot more than needed to get back home.
Mahabaleshwar’s proximity to metros like Pune and Mumbai though means the hill station witnesses a lot of traffic, and consequently, crowded places. But I know a few spots around the hill station which are far away from the crowds and traffic. Getting to one such location had me navigate through a narrow village road and drive off tarmac, but the Windsor seemed to have no issues with my excursion. Its excellent ground clearance offered the confidence to drive off-road, and driving to the edge of the plateau also proved to be worth the effort given the excellent views. But the quietness of vacant spots like the one we were at, or enjoying strawberries with cream weren’t the only reasons I’d driven to Mahabaleshwar with my family. The hill station is also home to a village I wanted to have my daughter visit – a village that’s known as India’s first ‘Village of Books’, Bhilar. I wanted to introduce her to the concept of reading, an activity that’s losing popularity due to social media and the digital age in general, especially with the younger generations.
Bhilar is home to over 35,000 books, on various subjects. But what’s even more interesting is that these books are inside the houses of the village folk! Locals have opened up their homes to allow anyone to walk in, pick up a book and read, which is a very unique concept. Bhilar is thus a bookworm’s dream come true, and the concept of public libraries and access to as many books in multiple languages had my daughter in awe of it all. As we left from the village, it was time to enjoy some more solace before heading back home. I then found myself reflecting on the day and realised it had been a memorable one. The Windsor of course had a significant share in helping me enjoy the day out with family, thanks to its comfort, excellent road manners and not to forget, excellent range per charge. As we drove back home, I also got thinking about the Windsor’s immense popularity – my day out had sure helped me get a good understanding of the reasons behind this!
