The compact SUV segment has been dominated by Koreans like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos for the past few years. There’s been some credible challenge recently from European cousins called the Skoda Kushak and Volkswagen Taigun. And now there’s a new Challenger that boasts of the same technology and features as any rival. The MG Astor is the petrol counterpart to the now popular ZS EV from the Sino-British venture. Usually we get electric versions of existing petrol powered cars but here the story is different.
design
The Astor gets a different grille and headlamps as compared to the ZS EV.
Enough changes have been made to the Astor from the outside so that you can differentiate it from its electric sibling. The celestial pattern on the grille with a tungsten steel electroplated finish is an inexpensive one. The pattern on the projector headlamps and DRLs is also different here. And the bumper has also been slightly redesigned. The taillights have been reworked to offer a unique LED signature. The crossover look is completed with wheel arches and cladding on the doors, roof rails and large 17-inch alloys where the pattern stands out. The wing mirrors are heated, which is a segment first.
Read also: MG Aster compact SUV unveiled in India
The Astor is taller, wider and taller than its main rivals the Creta, Seltos, Taigun and Kushaq.
The Astor badge on the back is a little in your face. And interestingly, the ZS naming continues as well. Beneath the dual exhaust design with chrome which is quite attractive. The car we drove was an attractive spicy orange colour. Altogether there are 5 shades to choose from which include Aurora Silver, Glaze Red, Candy White and Starry Black. The Astor is 4323 mm, 1809 mm wide and 1650 mm high making it taller, wider and taller than the Creta, Seltos, Taigun and Kushak. However, its wheelbase of 2585 mm is smaller than all those cars.
tech and interior
You can choose from 3 interior themes on the car including this dual tone sangria.
The first thing you notice on the front seat is the dual tone sangria interior which makes the look quite premium. This is one of 3 interior themes you can choose from on the car. Then there is the larger 10.1-inch touch screen infotainment system. It is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which is offered on the car which is standard. The list of features is long as the Astor gets ventilated and power-adjustable front seats, auto-climate control, 360-degree camera view, air-purifier, electric parking brake and a spacious panoramic sunroof. How many of these features come in the lower variants, we will have to wait and see. The 7-inch fully digital instrument cluster offers some useful information and sleek graphics as well. Again not sure whether the base variant will get this or the regular dial with an information screen at the centre.
Read also: MG Astor compact SUV: All you need to know
Astor is the first MG to get AI or Artificial Intelligence Personal Assistant.
MG started the trend of connected cars in India and the Astor takes the story forward in an even bigger way. It comes with over 80 internet features and ushered in the new concept of Car as a Platform – a flexible software platform that will allow multiple services and apps. These include Wikipedia, Jiosaavn, Park+ and MaymyIndia. The car gets Jio connectivity via an embedded SIM and a first of its kind blockchain-protected vehicle Digital Passport. This is the first car in the company’s global portfolio to get an AI or Artificial Intelligence personal assistant. The AI assistant speaks in the voice of renowned Paralympian-athlete and Padma Shri winner Deepa Malik. It can also understand 35 commands in Hinglish. Here is a short chat with the assistant of Siddharth Vinayak Patankar, Editor-in-Chief of CarBikes
SVP – Hello Astor
Aster – Hi. How can I help you?
SVP – How is the weather today?
Astor – The weather for 27 September 2021 is 26.7 to 33.9 °C. Partly sunny, with thunderstorms during the day, mostly clear at night.
SVP – Hello Aster.
Astor – I’m listening.
SVP – Please tell me a joke.
Astor – My Doctor Central refers to my nervous breakdown as an episode. To be honest, it looked like a season finale.
SVP – What’s India’s No.1 Automobile Show on TV.
Astor – Car and Bike Show Prime Edition. The show has been India’s number one, automobile based event for more than 10 years. Catch the latest products, industry news every Monday.
Read also: New MG Aster compact SUV: Engine specifications and technology explained
What you see is a little robot-like thing that actually looks at you, it also reacts to sound depending on where you are in the car, so if you are on the passenger side it will turn towards you. It also has many expressions and animations. If you think some of this is going to distract you. The good news is that you can turn off the screen, and turn off the AI assistant so that it doesn’t distract you when you’re driving at night, especially one that doesn’t, but for the most part, you know It’s like a companion.
The car gets another innovation by using a smartphone app. Well you can start many cars remotely using apps but Astor really goes a step further. You can actually drive this car without any physical keys. The digital key feature of the MG iSmart app is a great innovation that will come in handy in many situations. Also because it doesn’t require network connectivity, and will therefore work in basements. This is because it uses bluetooth to connect to the car.
The second row has center armrests and 3-point seat belts for all passengers.
On the second row you can control the infotainment system via the app again by sitting in the second row. Overall, the feel of the space isn’t bad here, but it’s not great either. This is enough when it comes to leg room and thigh support. Headroom and back angle is good. Use the center armrest and 2 people will feel more comfortable here. But if any third person is sitting here then he gets 3-point seat belt. Here you also get 2 USB charging points and AC vents. So when it comes to the Astor there may be talks about tech and interior, but it’s also a small matter of how it goes.
driving dynamics
The Astor gets 2 petrol engine options including a turbo motor.
Like the 2 recent additions to the segment from the VW Group family, the Astor also gets 2 petrol engine options. You get both manual and auto gearboxes. The range topper is a 1.4-litre turbo petrol that makes 138 bhp @ 5600 rpm and 220 Nm @ 3600 rpm. A 6-speed automatic comes as standard here. It also has a sport mode but what is missing here is the paddle shift. You can have a manual with another engine. The naturally 1.5L aspirated engine here makes 108 bhp @ 6000 rpm along with 144 Nm @ 4,400 rpm. It gets 5-speed manual or CVT transmission options. We drove east at the Buddha International Circuit.
Read also: MG Astor will be offered in eight variants
The turbo variant gets a 6-speed automatic gearbox as standard.
It is a smart strategy from MG to offer two different petrol engines so that they can play in different price points. The turbo engine itself is not the most electric, it is not very powerful, but it comes across as extremely sophisticated which has few buyers in this segment. It pairs really well with the gearbox which is extremely smooth and responsive at the same time. The car feels taut and that’s where its compact proportions help. The steering is reasonably precise, and so are the brakes. While the initial acceleration isn’t instant, the car’s cruising ability is great. Sound damping is also well done, so the cabin is quieter and feels more premium.
For better handling, the Astor gets three different modes on the steering wheel.
The handling of the car is quite good and it will be liked by many of you. The ride quality is also good for our road conditions and bumpy roads. The car sits down a bit, makes you feel that it is not tall like some rivals and it looks like a crossover from the outside. One of the highlights of the Astor is that you get three different modes on the steering wheel. You’ve got urban mode where things are nice and loose and relaxed. This is especially helpful in difficult parking or narrow street situations. Then you’ve got the normal setting that strikes a balance between being a little stiff and being too easy to win, and then you’ve got that harshly sporty feel on the dynamic setting, which is helpful when you’re driving at high speeds. Or do some sharp cornering.
the protection
The Astor uses six radars and five cameras, allowing it to manage 14 driver assistance functions.
MG Astor also comes with Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) with Level 2 Autonomous Technology. MG has partnered with Bosch for this, and the Astor uses six radars and five cameras, allowing it to manage 14 driver assistance functions. These features are well integrated into the infotainment system, so it is very easy to access and use them. For example, Lane Keep Assist works well at speeds in excess of 60 kmph and the system does everything possible to keep you safe in a lane. Then you have features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, all of which are very useful in Indian road conditions. The speed assist system and its intelligent mode reduce the speed of the car so that once the speed limit is signed, it can be kept within the legal limits.
The SUV comes with 27 standard safety features.
Not only this, you also get rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, blind spot detection and intelligent headlamp control. However, it is likely that the ADAS will be available only in the top variant of the Astor. The SUV comes with 27 standard safety features including ESP or Electronic Stability Program, Traction Control and Hill Descent Control. It gets additional safety features like 6 airbags, ISOFIX mount, TPMS and all 4 disc brakes.
Decision
There is now another worthy addition to the ultra-competitive compact SUV segment.
We expect the Astor to be priced between Rs 9 to 18 lakhs, ex-showroom. It is expected to go on sale in the market in the next few weeks, with a bang in the midst of the festive season. Moving forward will not be easy as some established rivals are vying for buyer’s attention and there is no diesel here. But MG is known to offer more for less and several segment-first features. With aggressive pricing and a long feature list, the Astor could make quite a dent in the ultra-competitive compact SUV segment.
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