MG Astor review: Where intelligence meets class

MG’s latest entrant in the Indian market is a Hyundai Creta-rivaling, mid-size SUV named Astor. In short, the Astor is the petrol-equivalent to the MG ZS EV, which made its India debut in 2020. Not only does it look faster than the EV, but it is also offered with a variety of engines and transmissions – a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 5-speed manual or CVT automatic, and a 6-speed automatic 1.3-litre turbo-petrol – and it packs in some in-vogue features. But does MG’s latest midsize SUV have the right ingredients to woo buyers? We test-drive the spicy 1.3-litre turbo-petrol version and evaluate its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) to find the answers.

Positive first impressions are the refinement of the 1,349cc aluminum engine, which, for a three-cylinder unit, is fairly muted at idle and cruising speeds, and doesn’t get too articulate or thrashing when fast turning. On the subject of refinement, the passengers are well isolated from road and tire noise, which is well contained, except on really rough surfaces.

This turbo-petrol unit delivers performance in a linear manner, and if you want rapid strides, this motor is bound to deliver impressive acceleration. For reference, it accelerates to 100kph from a standstill in a respectable 10.23 seconds and tops out at 183kph (as measured by our GPS kit). So, while it’s quite fast, it doesn’t ‘feel’ fast due to the relaxed power delivery, and with max revs at 5,600rpm, it’s not quite as sporty either.

Complementing this motor is a 6-speed aisin-sourced torque converter transmission that feels comfortable on upshifts and is almost CVT-like, so you barely notice the transition between ratios. It’s nice and responsive when driving with a light foot, however, when you put your foot down for a quick overtake, you’ll catch the transmission by surprise, as the downshift takes some time to execute. On such occasions you miss the steering-mounted paddle shifters for manual intervention.

With a focus on comfort, the MG’s soft suspension set-up impresses with its bump absorption capability. It absorbs road shocks and smoothes out road imperfections like a more premium car. The Astor, on the other hand, doesn’t feel as settled on the highway as its competitors, as there is some vertical momentum. Because of its soft suspension, it rolls a bit around turns. To add a touch of sportiness, MG has equipped the Astor with a steering mode that shifts the weight of the electric power steering, and while there is a noticeable difference between the three modes in terms of weight, feel and amount of feedback. There has been no change in . Rather than gentle steering.

The Astor’s brake pedal feel is progressive and easy to get accustomed to, but even with discs on all four corners, under panic braking scenarios from 80-0kph, it stalls at 26.24m, which is par for the course.

One of the talking points of the Astor is its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which makes this MG the only car in its segment to be equipped with autonomous Level 2 features. Of the 14 features, we managed to test a few in real-world driving scenarios.

Adaptive cruise control is similar to cruise control, where you can set a speed and the car will maintain it, however, this feature goes a step further and takes care of acceleration and braking as well. It will automatically slow down or even stop while maintaining a predetermined distance with the vehicle ahead, and will automatically reach the set speed once the road is cleared. With a slow-moving vehicle (compared to what you set), you may find that the system remains ‘alert’, so as with any change in the pre-set speed, the slow-moving transmission tends to astor. Makes it difficult to maintain a constant distance from the vehicle ahead.

Another useful feature is the cross-traffic alert, where the car will alert you to an oncoming vehicle (from either side) and when reversing from a vertical parking spot. It displays a warning triangle on the touchscreen as it detects an oncoming vehicle. While the feature is handy, the camera-display quality leaves a lot to be desired.

It also receives blind-spot warnings in the form of tiny LEDs in the exterior mirrors that glow orange and alert drivers of anything that is not in their field of vision. Lane Keeping Assist works well on a well marked road surface, but on partially marked surfaces, it works erratically.

Frontal-collision warning alerts the driver or pedestrian of the vehicle too far ahead, and thanks to autonomous emergency braking, it shuts off the Aster completely if it detects an imminent collision.

The speed-assist system reads road signs, alerts you to speeding cameras and, in its ‘intelligent’ mode, it will automatically drop the speed to match the legal speed limit.

There’s also an intelligent high-beam control that, when driving on a high beam on a poorly lit road, will automatically dip the headlamp beam when it detects an oncoming vehicle.

MG’s ‘Celestial’ chrome grille with its exterior radiating pattern is certainly one of the most striking design features of the Astor. Its smart looking LED headlamps and 17-inch alloys also do their bit to spice up its design, while red brake calipers (front and rear) and fake dual-exhaust housings in the rear bumper add a touch of sportiness. Overall, despite being larger in dimensions than the Hyundai Creta, the Astor is more like a crossover in appearance and lacks the butch road presence that SUV buyers usually want.

With a genuine premium feel, the Astor’s cabin can overwhelm you. The quality of the material used is good and whatever comes in hand feels soft. The level of fit and finish is high, and you do find some design similarities with some Volkswagen-group models, such as the steering and rotary air vents. Complementing the premium section of the cabin is the tasteful ‘Sangria Red’ color theme with a spacious panoramic sunroof that illuminates the cabin.

The front seats are wide, and the cushioning is soft. Tall adults seated in the back will be quite comfortable, with ample head and legroom on offer. A low central hump and a dedicated adjustable head restraint for the middle passenger, along with a proper three-point seat belt, are welcome. However, the cabin’s narrow width creates a slight pressure of accommodating three adults at the rear.

MG has stuffed the Astor into the shape of a cute robot sitting atop the dashboard with segment-first features and some artificial intelligence (AI) kit. In addition to welcome and goodbye messages, the robot also performs some voice commands, such as adjusting the temperature of the cabin, answering questions with the help of Wikipedia, and even making you laugh. Some users may find this feature a bit gimmicky, but others, especially kids, are likely to like this little robot.

There are also some trendy features on offer like panoramic sunroof, digital dial and connected car features including pre-loaded apps, and remote vehicle controls. There’s also a 360-degree parking camera to talk about, and while the display quality could have been better, the 2D view will also show you whether your lights and indicators are on. Electrically adjustable driver seat, electric parking brake with auto hold, hill-descent control and automatic lights and wipers also make up the equipment list.

However, the Astor misses out on some of the kits that rivals offer, such as auto-dimming, wireless charging, cooled front seats and paddle shifters with inside mirrors, to name a few.

With a price tag of sub-₹10 lakh, the base 1.5-litre petrol-manual variant has phenomenal value for money for the equipment it packs. The premium for the 1.5-litre CVT (automatic) variant ranges over ₹ 1 lakh-1.50 lakh. The respective manual, and turbocharged automatic is ₹ 1.5 Lakh-1.70 Lakh pricier than the same CVT.

The MG Astor is a sophisticated and comfortable mid-size SUV with a calm and friendly personality. Buyers who want to drive comfortably will be attracted to this Creta rival, thanks to its light controls, likeable engine and smooth gearbox. The laid-back character of the Astor will not appeal to driving enthusiasts and the design, which is more of a crossover than an SUV, does not give the road presence that a typical SUV buyer would want.

The turbo-automatic is priced at ₹ 16.18 Lakh-17.73 Lakh on par with the rivals, but considering the segment-first ADAS features, and its top-of-the-line interior, it comes across as a value proposition; And these are the reasons why MG Astor deserves to be on your shortlist.