MG Windsor EV: Remember when buying a car was simple? You walked into a showroom, picked a color, negotiated a price, and drove home. Well, MG decided that was way too straightforward. Enter the Windsor EV – a car that costs ₹9.99 lakh but doesn’t actually come with its most important part: the battery. Welcome to 2025, folks, where even cars have gone subscription-based.
The “What Did They Just Say?” Pricing Model
Here’s where things get wonderfully weird. The MG Windsor EV is available at a starting ex-showroom price of Rs. 9.99 lakh under the “Battery As A Service (BAAS)” program, but you need to pay for the usage of the battery pack which stands at Rs 3.5 per km. It’s like buying a smartphone without the battery and then renting it monthly – except this smartphone weighs 1,600 kg and can drive you to work.
The math gets even more interesting. If your base usage is 1,500km per month, you will be paying Rs. 5,250/month to use the battery of the Windsor EV, making the annual battery rental expense Rs. 63,000. That’s more than what some people spend on rent, and you’re just renting a battery pack.
But here’s the plot twist – most buyers aren’t buying into this revolutionary concept. According to industry sources, barely 1 in 10 buyers are opting for the BaaS model. That means 90% of customers are looking at MG’s innovative subscription model and saying, “Thanks, but no thanks.” They’re just paying the full price upfront like it’s 2020 or something.
What You Actually Get for Your Money
Putting aside the battery rental drama, what exactly is the Windsor EV? The MG Windsor EV is available with a 38kWh or a 52.9 kWh battery pack that has a claimed range of 332km and 449km, respectively.(MG Windsor EV )The motor powers the front wheels and produces 134bhp and 200Nm torque, putting it on par with established players like the Nexon EV.
The car itself looks like someone told the designers, “Make it look like an MPV but call it a CUV.” It sports wide LED light bars at the front and rear, split headlamp clusters, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The charging port sits on the left front fender, because apparently, that’s where charging ports live now.
Inside, things get more interesting. The USP are the rear seats (dubbed aero-lounge seats) with a 135-degree recline function – basically, you can almost lie down while someone else drives. Perfect for those Monday morning commutes when you question all your life choices.
Features That Actually Matter
The Windsor EV gets features such as a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, 256-colour ambient lighting, panoramic glass roof, wireless phone charger and ventilated front seats. The MG Windsor PRO even features 12 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) functions, operating on 3 levels of sensitivity and warning.
For safety, you get six airbags, including dual front, side, and curtain airbags. The vehicle also features an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and an Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold. It’s like MG took a checklist of “things people want in an EV” and just checked every box.
The Real-World Reality Check
Here’s where the marketing meets the road – literally. MG Windsor EV range claimed by ARAI is 378.2 km, but real-world users report different experiences. One owner mentioned, “I have driven the car for more than 1500km in delhi and outside on long journeys also. But it has never gone over 210 km, not a good buy in terms of range.”
That’s the thing about claimed ranges – they’re like the “estimated delivery time” on food apps. Technically accurate under perfect conditions, but your mileage may vary. A lot.
The Subscription Confusion Continues
The financing gets even more complex. The BAAS program is backed by four specific third-party financiers including Bajaj Finance Limited and Hero FinCorp. If you stop paying the monthly battery rental, the financiers will repossess the vehicle and refund an amount that accounts for vehicle depreciation, minus any outstanding battery rental fees.
It’s like having a landlord for your car’s battery. Miss a payment, and suddenly your weekend road trip plans are in jeopardy.
Market Performance: Mixed Signals
Despite all the confusion, the Windsor EV has significantly boosted MG’s presence in the EV market, contributing to 49% of the brand’s total sales within just three months of its launch.(MG Windsor EV)That’s not terrible for a car that requires a mathematics degree to understand its pricing structure.
The Windsor EV is available in three variants – Excite, Exclusive, and Essence, with prices ranging from ₹14.00 to 18.31 lakh when you buy the whole car like a normal person. MG Motor India has even hiked the prices recently, because apparently, making things more expensive helps with clarity.
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The Bigger Picture: Innovation or Complication?
MG claims that if a customer finances both the car and the battery, he/she can save up to Rs 2.8 lakh over a compact ICE SUV over a 3-year-period. The math is probably correct, but it assumes you enjoy calculating battery rental costs while stuck in traffic.
The company has also thrown in free public charging for the first year through their eHUB app, which lists all public charging stations. So at least the first year’s charging won’t add to your subscription anxiety.
MG Windsor EV Final Verdict: The Future or a Detour?
The MG Windsor EV represents either the future of automotive ownership or the most complicated way to buy a car.(MG Windsor EV)It’s got legitimate features, decent performance, and enough technology to make your smartphone jealous. But the pricing model requires more mental energy than most people want to invest in their transportation choices.
Whether this subscription approach becomes the new normal or joins the hall of “seemed like a good idea at the time” innovations remains to be seen. For now, it’s definitely the most interesting conversation starter in any parking lot.