MG Gloster Black Storm Edition Review: Back In Black

Well, I am no member of the mafia, but if I were, and if I wanted a big, intimidating SUV to drive myself around, the MG Gloster Blackstorm has to be one of the options. It was always a big, burly SUV and now, in this full black colour theme, it looks downright deadly.

MG Gloster Blackstorm: Design

The full black colour theme looks good on the MG Gloster

To begin with, the entire SUV now dons a sinister shade of black. The grille up front along with cladding on the profile and the roof-rails, everything non-black is now black. Even the ‘Gloster’ lettering at the rear is now done in black. 

Splashes of red, with the overall black theme looks good and sporty

The one colour that goes best with black, is red! And that’s the play here as well. You see these red accents, on the front and rear bumper, plus on the rear view mirrors! And the brake callipers are now red and goes really well with the black alloy wheels. The LED headlights too get red accents while the taillights at the rear stay the same as before.

The model we tested had the twin-turbo diesel engine

MG Gloster Blackstorm: Engine Specifications

So, the model of the Gloster that we tested, it gets a 2.0-litre twin turbo diesel engine. Yes! There are two turbos in here. The motor makes about 215.5 bhp and a massive 478.5 Nm of peak torque. There is an 8-speed automatic transmission which is standard.

MG Gloster Blackstorm: Performance and Handling 

The car has good straight-line stability but doesn't quite like corners

So this time, we did not try out the off-road modes, but should you toggle between Auto, Eco, and Sport mode, it’s not like there’s massive difference in the modes. There’s a slight alteration in the driving characteristics of the car but. It is not like the suspension will firm up or the steering will stiffen up if you choose the Sport mode.

Loads of torque on offer, right from the word go! Comes in handy should you want to make an overtaking manouevre 

For a car that is comfortably over two tonnes in weight, the 2.0 litre twin turbo engine on the Gloster does a good job of offering good, solid pulling power right from 1,700 rpm. The SUV builds up speed nicely and the ratios on the 8-speed automatic gearbox are very well spaced out which means the car stays in the power band all throughout. 

The MG Gloster offers a refined driving experience

There is a hint of turbo lag, but it doesn't affect your driving experience. Overall, the Gloster offers a very refined driving feel. There is hardly any engine noise seeping into the cabin. As far as the steering and the feedback is concerned, the steering itself, feels good to hold, nice and chunky, but the feedback itself is not very encouraging, it feels dead and mechanical, which is fine for an SUV of this size. 

Direction changes are a little slow, but that is on account of how massive the SUV is

Also, the fact that this SUV is huge, the Gloster, direction changes take a bit of time, and of course, you do feel body roll because the SUV is just so massive. And if we were to talk about braking, the brakes are really good, the bite is quite nice, and the progression is decent. So if you need to shed speed in a jiffy, the brakes are up for it.

MG Gloster Blackstorm: Features and Ride Quality

All-black treatment inside the cabin. Although, we would have liked red bits inside too

Inside, the SUV continues to get the all-black treatment and dark-themed leatherette seat upholstery. But, on our test car, we would have liked a splash of red accents and maybe contrast red stitching on the seats. That would have added sportier, sexier appeal to the cabin. 

The dashboard stays the same as before, along with the 12.28-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system that gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Like the regular models, the Gloster Blackstorm is loaded with active and passive safety features. These also include a bunch of level-1 ADAS features. These include - Automatic Parking Assist, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Zone Detection (BSD), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Driver Fatigue Reminder System and others.

The huge panoramic sunroof makes for an excellent view outside and offers an increased sense of space

Other features also include - a dual panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver seat, ventilated seats, three-zone climate control, air-purifier, tyre pressure monitoring system, and 64-colour ambient lighting. 

With multiple terrain modes, the Gloster is able to tackle a variety of terrain

The Gloster continues to get multiple terrain modes such as snow, sand, mud, rock, sports, auto and eco! The low-ratio transfer case and the electro-mechnical differential lock is operational only in the rock mode. 

Plush ride quality and suspension is tuned well for Indian roads, but it takes some time to settle down after going over undulations

The Gloster has a plush ride quality and the suspension is tuned well for Indian roads. But the occupants in the third row might find the ride to be a little bouncy and the SUV takes a bit of a time to settle down after going over undulations at speed. In terms of seating, our test model had bench seats in the middle, which means it can seat seven people in total. The middle row seats are plush and keep the occupants in comfort, with decent headroom and knee-room. 

Prices for the MG Gloster Blackstorm start at Rs. 40.3 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

MG Gloster Blackstorm: Prices and Variants

Prices start at Rs. 40.3 lakh and go up to Rs. 43. 08 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The SUV is available in a 2WD trim as well. Features stay the same, but the off-road capability is reduced, unless you are one of the brave souls to go off-roading with a Rs. 50 lakh SUV.

The MG Gloster Blackstorm variant is worth a buy if you are looking for a full-size SUV

MG Gloster Blackstorm: Verdict

The Gloster has a lot to offer. It is big, is solidly built, offers a decent list of features and creature comfort. The driving experience is pleasurable too! And the Blackstorm edition stands out even more due to its sinister, dark look. Want a full size SUV that is feature loaded and comfy? Then the Gloster Blackstorm edition should be really high on your consideration list.