4.3 m tall ester Basically, the ZS is the petrol-incarnation of the EV, which was introduced a year and a half ago. The Astor is, in fact, the rebadged ZS that the British brand sells in several global markets. The ZS emblem finds its prominent place on the tailgate.
As the shape suggests, Astor’s major rivals will be the Creta-Seltos and Taigun-Kushak siblings. Surprising as it may sound, the Astor’s powertrain is gasoline based. The 1.3-litre turbo-charged is paired with the 6-AT and the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol gets the option of MT or CVT.
No Diesel! How will Astor compete with the popular diesel variants of Creta and Seltos? MG’s product line-up has a Midas touch and the SAIC-backed company is shaping the Astor with features and functionalities unheard of in a C-SUV.
Astor is leading the segment as MG brings in Level-2 A-DAS (Advanced Driving Assistance System). It will unlock features like adaptive cruise control, lane assist, speed warning and much more. Artificial intelligence with A-DAS is expected to pamper the top trims.
‘Hello Aster!’ …and the AI bot is unique at reacting, and dishing out news, jokes, and many other key areas of interest. On the dashboard, the Astor will offer a 10-inch infotainment and a 7-inch fully digital driver display. While Android Auto, Apple Carplay, 80+ connected features are part of the deal, here’s the fun part. Unlike other SUVs in the segment, the Astor (automatic) allows on-screen video playback when the parking brake is engaged. In addition, the infotainment tile is customizable.
The steering wheel feels a lot like the ZS EV. Compact and broad, the MG offers three steering modes. Column rake movement is limited. The driver’s seat is electrically adjustable and I found no reason not to call it generically supportive.
Any inadequacy? No wireless charging, but 5 USB ports should compensate. Plus, no auto-dimming inside mirrors or seat ventilation. The central console appears otherwise appropriately ornate. Unlike the Hector, the Astor has physical buttons at the bottom of the infotainment panel to toggle between AC, fan speed and stereo controls.
Not once or twice but many times your friends would like to sit in the back seat. I’m already envisioning Astor’s media drives scheduled for this weekend. Resting comfortably in the back seat, I’d enjoy the view through the Sky Roof (the claimed largest in the segment), which has a glass area in front of my head.
Although for longer distances in Astor, I would prefer the front seats. In the second row, I found the seat wanting a bit for thigh support (Height: 5′ 7″). Things will be clear again after the drive, especially given the comfort of the seats and the space on offer.
Proving a safety point, the ZS made a 5-star claim in the ASEAN crash test. The Astor comes with 6 airbags in the top trim, and ESC is standard throughout. After Seltos, Astor becomes C-SUV with 360 degree camera.
Astor’s style will divide opinion. Boomerang LEDs are fast. The celestial treatment of the grille sets the Astor apart from the ZS EV. The SUV gets 17-inch alloy rides and the Brit Dynamic logo attached to the sides like the Gloster. The biggest downside is the visual drama or lack thereof. Does it command a bold stance? Well, I failed to find a good view.
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