MG Astor

MG Astor

The MG Astor has been a good entry into a segment which is bursting with competition. The compact SUV showcases a compelling design along with getting good features alongside. 

How is the design? 

The MG Astor comes with a specialized chrome celestial grille with an outward pattern for the radiating grille. This comes with sharp LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels while getting rear and front red colored brake calipers. There are fake dual-exhausts at the rear bumper for a sportier touch. In spite of being bigger than a rival like the Hyundai Creta, the MG Astor looks more like a well-proportioned crossover and does not get the commanding road presence that SUV buyers usually desire. 

How does it perform? 

The 1349 cc engine offers steady refinement along with a silent experience while cruising. It does not have an excessively vocal note when pushed hard. There is almost negligible tyre and road noise filtering into the cabin. The turbo petrol engine offers linear and impressive performance while also ensuring swift acceleration simultaneously. It can touch 100 kmph in around 10.23 seconds, while having a top speed of 183 kilometres per hour at the same time. However, the engine does not feel as sprightly with its rather relaxed delivery of power and also the maximum revving threshold at 5,600 RPM. There is a 6-speed Aisin torque converter that otherwise shifts smoothly, functioning in the mold of a CVT unit. It offers good responsiveness when you drive with a lighter foot. Downshifting, however, will take some time to be implemented. 

How’s the mileage?

Approximately 15-18.5 kmpl mileage is what the MG Astor offers. 

How’s the driving experience? 

The Astor has a certain oddity in its performance, i.e. lifting up from the accelerator has the car holding onto the fast feeling before decelerating steadily. This takes a little adjustment over time. The soft suspension system can readily take shocks and bumps on the road along with other imperfections as well. The Astor however does not have a settled highway ride at all. There is a lot of vertical movement that it has to contend with. The suspension system is also bouncy and rolls around corners. The Astor has steering modes and there are weight differences amongst them as well. However, the steering does not offer any visible feedback or responsiveness. The Urban setting is the lightest and most convenient to use at most times. The brake pedal inspires confidence as well. 

What’s the interior like?

The MG Astor offers a plush and luxurious cabin with top-notch materials. Fit and finish is excellent with several nice touches including the rotary air vents and the steering wheel being inspired by models from the Volkswagen Group, as it seems. The cabin also gets the lovely Sangria Red theme with a huge panoramic sunroof which contributes to its airy nature. There are wide front seats while cushioning is soft and comfortable. The rear has good headroom and legroom while middle passengers will like the adjustable head restraint and three-point seatbelt. The cabin is lower on width however and three adults can find it difficult to fit themselves into the last row. 

Tech and infotainment

The MG Astor comes with the ADAS (Advance Driver Assistance System) with some artificial intelligence-based features via a robot on the dashboard. It has welcome and goodbye messages, while covering voice commands for temperature adjustments, answering questions through Wikipedia, and more. There are digital dials and several connected car features including remote vehicle control, pre-loaded apps, and more. There is also the 360-degree parking camera, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, hill-descent control, automatic wipers and lights, and hill-descent control. Some features that it skips include paddle shifters, wireless charging, cooled front seats, and the auto-dimming interior mirror. The touch screen infotainment unit gets great connectivity features alongside. 

Safety equipment

The MG Astor comes with ADAS which is a segment-first. It has Autonomous level 2 safety features. There is also adaptive cruise control which also covers automatic braking and acceleration. There are cross-traffic alerts along with blind spot warnings and lane keeping assist. The MG Astor also comes with frontal collision warnings, speed assist, intelligent high-beam control, and more. All other basic safety features are also present. 

Which variant to buy? 

The MG Astor comes in the Style, Super, Smart, and Sharp trims. There are optional Level-2 ADAS features. The Style is priced competitively, coming with LED headlamps and DRLs, rear spoiler, rear fog lamp and defogger, 16-inch steel wheels, a 10.1 inch touch screen infotainment unit, steering mounted controls, 3.5 inch MID, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control with the PM 2.5 filter, electronic power steering with modes, rear AC, four speakers and tweeters, hill descent control, dual airbags, disc brakes for all the wheels, hill hold control, ESP and traction control. 

This makes it a high-value variant at its price. The Super variant is considerably costlier and gets additions like LED tail lights, 17-inch silver alloy wheels, the front fog lamp with cornering assist, reverse camera and electric parking brake with automatic hold. The Smart version is a step up with automatic headlamps, digital car key with Bluetooth, powered and heated folding wing mirrors, 7 inch digital instrument console, personalized AI assistant, connected car technologies with more than 80 features, cruise control, TPMS, and more. The Sharp is costlier at the top-end and gets the panoramic sunroof, six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, 17-inch dual tone alloy wheels, 360-degree camera, rain sensing wipers, blind spot detection, Level 2 ADAS features which are optional, dual-tone Sangria Red interiors, and more. 

Which cars compete in this segment? 

The MG Astor competes with rivals like the Nissan Kicks, Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, and others. The Astor is one of the longest in the category, surpassing the Seltos and Creta alike. It is also longer than the Taigun and Kushaq. It is also taller and wider than them. It still has the smallest wheelbase in the category. The Duster and Kicks are still the longest, widest, and tallest in the category. They also have the longest wheelbase figures. The Creta, Seltos, Kushaq and Taigun are the most powerful in the segment with the lowest power coming from the Duster and Kicks. The Duster and Kicks have the most powerful turbo petrol engines. The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos also come with diesel engines which are missing in the Astor and some other rivals. The pricing of the MG Astor is extremely attractive and more affordable than some of its rivals, surpassed only by the Nissan Kicks and the Renault Duster. 

Verdict (Value for Money) 

The MG Astor comes with plush interiors and Level 2 ADAS safety features although it does not offer a sporty and responsive driving experience and the design is more like a crossover than an SUV. The Astor still offers a compelling price tag with great interiors, excellent features, great safety equipment, and a premium vibe that is a big draw for buyers. From connected car technologies to safety to the panoramic sunroof, the MG Astor offers more value for money to buyers in the category.