The compact SUV segment of vehicles larger than 4-metres has grown significantly and the demand for this segment is also strong in the market. While the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos are ruling the segment, the recently launched Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun have also grabbed the market. All these compact SUVs have more than one feature. However, MG Motors was planning something else with its compact SUV MG Astor to bring in the same segment, due to which it may overshadow them all in terms of features. In MG Astor, the company has given more than 80 connected features and autonomous level 2 which makes it stand apart from other vehicles in this segment. NBT’s auto journalist Ankit Dubey drove this vehicle at the Buddha International Circuit in Greater Noida and understood all its features in detail here. In this article, we will give you the detailed review of MG Astor and also tell you whether you should buy this vehicle or not.
Exterior
Looks and design are similar to MG Astor’s ZS EV. We have a black color variant which looks great on this vehicle. Looking at the front looks, the company has given a 9-point headlight with Eye-brow shaped LED DRL. A single grille is available which gives a very energetic look. The big logo of MG is found and the chrome finish on the grille can be seen all around. The fog lamp housing looks great and it uses piano black finishing. The skid plate is also giving a great look. On the front, where Astor is visible, there is a radar system under it, due to which this SUV goes up to the autonomous level 2.
Talking about the side profile, here too, the company has done chrome finishing on the door handles and window line. Here you can see the Brit Dynamic logo. 17-inch turbine shaped dual tone alloy wheels are available. The size of the ORVMs is also decent and they are heated. At the top you can see the roof rails.
Talking about the rear profile, it is seen that Astor and ZS are written here, which proves that this vehicle is based on ZS. However, the name of any variant was not written here so that you can find out which variant of the vehicle it is. The taillight is also quite good and gives it a fresh look and also the prominent badging can be seen on it. Apart from the front, both the side radars have been fitted inside the rear bumper.
The interior is completely hi-tech
You will get a completely premium feel as soon as you go into the interior of the MG Astor. The dual-tone sangria red theme looks stunning in the artificial leather interiors. The company has used maximum soft touch material on the dashboard. Every element gives you a premium feel. The seat structure looks great and the space in the front row is also decent. The size of the wind shield and window is also good. You get a great view by sitting in the driver’s seat. There is a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with HD+ quality. However, this infotainment system is slightly smaller than the 10.25 inches found on the Creta and Seltos. Artificial Intelligence has been used extensively in Astor and the small toy given on the dashboard i.e. Astor also talks to you. This feature is different in the segment. If you are traveling alone in the car, then it will keep talking to you as your friend the whole time. More than 80 connected features are available in it and for the connecting features, Astor has given Jio’s e-SIM which is integrated in its infotainment system and due to this SIM you can get internet access in the vehicle and the system present on- Board applications can also be used. Not only this, this e-SIM is also used for personal assistant. Now talking about AI-based personal assistant, Astor has added some system for intuitive experience in which this vehicle interacts with you. It is built using NLP and NLU technology to understand and respond to human behavior. Apart from this, it will tell you jokes, get the latest news for you and also you can use it for opening and closing the sunroof, adjust climate control and navigation. This feature is neither available to you in Kia Seltos nor Hyundai Creta.
Gave everything but didn’t give some features
The steering looks great and the controls are decent too. There is a 7-inch instrument cluster which is fully digital and you get all the necessary information in it. 6-way electrically adjustable driver seats are also available in the top variant. In MG Astor, the company has included Autonomous Level 2 regarding safety, in which 14 safety features are available and all arrangements have been made for safety in the vehicle as well. However, iRVM has missed a feature auto dimming. With Astor, the company has taken a step forward by providing heated ORVMs, but has also taken a step back by not giving auto dimming irvm. Apart from this, the MG Astor does not get the option of ventilated seats which you get in Creta and Seltos and this has also become necessary in vehicles as dark colored leather seats get very hot in summers and you can travel on long journeys. Back starts soaking with sweat. In such a situation, it is necessary to have this feature in Astor. Apart from this, the company has also not provided wireless charging facility here, which is available in other vehicles in the segment.
Autonomous Level – 2 K14 Safety Features
Autonomous Level-2 has been used in the Astor, due to which you get 14 safety features which are not available in other vehicles of this segment. You can control all these features through the infotainment system. Through this system, you get a variety of active safety programs like Lane Departure Warning, Lane-Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Headlamp Assist, Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Prevention and much more and is one of the best features offered by the company. It has a speed assist system. In Tier 1 cities like Delhi-Mumbai, there are many challans for over speeding, so it will be very beneficial for those people who forget what is the speed limit of the highway. This car will always keep you within the speed limit. Apart from all this, the company has also given 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, brake assist, ESP, traction control, hill start and descent control and rear disc brakes in the top variant.
Rear seat and storage space
Good storage space is available in MG Astor. On the front and rear doors, you can keep a 1-1 liter water bottle. Cooled glove box is available and also it looks quite big when it comes to boot space. Rear seats get decent space. Apart from the Creta, Seltos, the two siblings of the Volkswagen group also get better space than the Astor. Although the comfort in the seats is a bit low, there is no dearth of any kind in the leg-room, head-room and shoulder room. Three people can also sit comfortably on the rear seat, but the person sitting in the middle may have some problem. Apart from this, the company has given the largest sunroof in the segment in Astor, which covers 90 percent of the roof.
Engine options and performance
The company has given two petrol engines in MG Astor. No diesel engine option offered. In this, the company is offering 1.5 liter petrol and 1.3 liter turbo petrol engines. Manual and 8-speed CVT transmission will be available with the 1.5 liter petrol engine. At the same time, only torque converter automatic transmission is being given with 1.3 liter turbo petrol. We run a turbo petrol engine that generates 140 PS of power and 220 Nm of torque. At the same time, the 1.5 liter petrol engine generates 110 PS of power along with 144 Nm of torque. With the turbo-petrol engine, the Astor looks very powerful and its performance on the race track has been tremendous. The engine responds quite quietly, but it keeps you completely happy even if you have fun-to-drive. The company has not given any driving modes in it, but it does have steering modes. MG is offering three steering modes in the Astor, Urban, Normal and Dynamic. The steering response is lightest in the Urban, decent in normal and the steering response in the dynamic gets sporty, meaning it gets a bit heavy to drive at high speeds.
Talking about the ride quality, it is also good. The suspension is a bit stiff, hence giving you strong jerks even on the big breakers. Astor has not been road tested yet, when you do a road test according to the roads of the cities, then you will be able to understand its ride quality very well. However, during cornering at high speeds on the track, the suspension maintained the stability of the vehicle. The automatic transmission also works pretty well and doesn’t offer any problem in gear shifting, but the turbo-petrol variant of the MG Astor doesn’t have paddle shifters. Whereas, paddle shifters are available in the turbo petrol engines of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. For those who want fun to drive, this can be a big miss. Well, the Hector and the globally available ZST also don’t get paddle shifters. Braking is also tremendous and disc brakes are available on all four wheels, so you do not give much problem.
our decision
The MG Astor can prove to be a great SUV for those who want a high-tech car, who want to experience autonomous level-2. All the features are available in this vehicle, the driving dynamics are also very good, but in terms of engine, transmission and power, it can disappoint you a bit in terms of numbers. Where dual-clutch transmission is available in other vehicles of the segment. There, still in the Astor, the company is offering torque converter transmission without paddle shifters. The features are plentiful, safety has been taken care of and the vehicle looks absolutely premium from the inside too. Its estimated price can go from Rs 9.50 lakh to Rs 16 lakh.
