MG Comet: Long Term Report (1,500km Update)

The MG Comet is a great urban mobility solution, but not one without a few drawbacks

Comet. It’s not just a name that’s celestial and out of this world, but also the whole experience of the car itself. It truly is unlike any other car on the road in India. And while I’ve mostly been enjoying this ‘other worldly’ experience for just over three months now – for all my daily commutes and even a few short road trips – there are a few quibbles that I have with the Comet.

Small size, big doors

At a length of 2974 mm, the MG Comet is a city slicker second to none. I’ve discussed my experience of the Comet in the city in the first long term report and that observation still holds true, but there’s now a caveat attached to it.

If you’ve got a knack for design, you might have noticed that the Comet has huge doors. And that’s not just for a car its size. Given its compact dimensions, it’s only natural to steer it in spots that are tighter than usual. And while parking it isn’t an issue, getting in and out of it is.

In regular cars, you’d definitely struggle but ultimately manage to squeeze your way out (in most cases). This isn’t possible in the Comet. The huge doors cause the squeezable gap to narrow down even further, and even the seats are positioned a little ahead than usual. That combination makes it impossible to squeeze in and out of the Comet in a very tight space.

The solution? You either park it very close to one of the sides, leave no margin whatsoever, and get down from the opposite side. So even if you have to get down from the passenger side, it is actually pretty easy, thanks to the open central space between the driver and passenger. Or, you just find a spot that’s a tad bigger. There’s no other way around it. 

Practical… but not enough

For a car that’s intended to be a city runabout, the MG Comet falls a little short on practicality. You get door pockets which can be used for storing 1-litre bottles and other stuff like your cleaning cloth or sunglass cover. It’s even big enough to store a laptop sleeve, which is nice.

Your drinks are taken care of by two cup holders, but their positioning is right in front of the AC vents, which isn’t exactly ideal. It’s all well and good if you’re having a cold beverage, but if you’re having a hot chocolate or tea… let’s just say it won’t remain hot for too long.

Apart from that, there’s a long slab just below the dashboard, which can be used for keeping your devices, wallets and stuff. But they will move around as well, as there’s no friction material on the base. Keeping your phone or wallet on the door armrest is a better option. 

You get two hooks (0.5kg payload) for your loose bags, but they are hardly ever used. And even when they are, the bags tend to swing while driving and constantly hit your leg, which gets annoying after a point. A glovebox or a closed storage space is definitely a big miss for the Comet’s cabin and even the rear passengers will complain about not having any storage spot whatsoever.

In terms of charging, the Comet gets 3 USB type ports, one of them on the base of the IRVM (for dashcams) and a 12 V socket as well. However, there are no Type-C ports, in 2024!

Nitpicking

I love the Comet’s 10.25-inch infotainment system, but there’s just one simple thing that’s missing from making it perfect: a volume knob. While not a dealbreaker, it is definitely something that the passengers would appreciate. As it stands, the passenger has no control over the volume when Android Auto or Apple CarPlay is active.

Given that the Comet is likely to be used as a two-seater, it could’ve done a few things to make  life more comfortable for the front passengers. The seat base, for example, feels a little too short. As a result, underthigh support takes a hit, and fatigue kicks in on slightly longer journeys.

MG could’ve also offered a seat belt stopper for the passenger. Currently, they will have to stretch way too much just to access the seat belt, which is positioned a little too far for easy access. 

So, these were a few niggles that have surfaced with my time with the Comet. They definitely aren’t dealbreakers, but are things to keep in mind if you’re planning to bring one home. It still is a great urban mobility solution, despite these small irks, and you can read our 1000km update, which will give you insights on living with the Comet. In the next report, we’ll be summing up our experience with it, before MG comes and takes it back. See you then!

Positives: Size, Design, Features, Ease of use in city

Negatives: Limited practicality, Seat comfort could be better

Date When Received: January 2, 2024

Kilometres When Received: 30km

Kilometres Till Now: 1500km