MG Astor launched at Rs 9.78 lakh

The MG Astor has been launched in India, with introductory prices starting from Rs 9.78 lakh and going up to Rs 16.78 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The company says these prices are valid for the 5,000 odd units it will deliver this year. It will announces prices for the ADAS pack at a later date.

The Astor is essentially a petrol-powered version of the ZS EV, albeit with multiple styling updates and a lot more features. It is positioned in the extremely competitive and ever-growing midsize SUV segment, taking competition to Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos' doorstep. Bookings for the MG Astor will officially begin on October 21.

• Astor gets a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol and a 1.5-litre petrol engine
• First SUV in segment to come with Level 2 ADAS features
• Gets a robot-like device that serves as a personal assistant 

Here is a look at the detailed price list of the MG Astor

MG Astor: powertrain options

Under the hood, the MG Astor gets two petrol engine options. The first is a 110hp, 144Nm, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine which comes mated to a five-speed manual or eight-step CVT automatic gearbox. The other engine option is a 140hp, 220Nm, 1.3-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that only gets a 6-speed torque converter automatic.

MG Astor: variant details

The MG Astor is available in four different trim levels – Style, Super, Smart, Sharp. The 1.5-litre petrol engine with a manual gearbox will be available in all trims, but the CVT automatic variant will not be offered on the base Style trim. The 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine will only be offered on the top two trims. 

MG Astor: exterior design

The India-spec MG Astor is based on the facelifted ZS SUV sold abroad, and while for the most part it looks similar to the ZS EV, it gets its own unique identity. The Astor comes with revised LED headlamps and tail-lamps that get new and more stylish LED light signatures. While most of the design is similar to the global-spec ZS SUV, the front and rear bumpers have been tweaked for a sportier look and the India-spec model exclusively gets a ‘Celestial grille’. The outwardly radiating pattern on the grille with chrome studs looks very eye-catching. The Astor gets two options for its 17-inch alloy wheels and – in typical MG fashion – there are plenty of badges all around.

MG Astor: interior and features

At first glance, the design of the dashboard looks similar to the ZS EV, but there are certain differences. The size of the touchscreen infotainment system has now gone up to 10.1-inches and even features a Jio e-SIM for connected car features. What is really impressive about the interior is that MG has put a lot of effort into making it premium and upmarket. There are plenty of soft-touch materials with brushed aluminum accents that contrast well with the interior shades. Speaking of which, the Astor is available in three interior colour schemes – dual tone Sangria Red, dual tone Iconic Ivory and Tuxedo Black.

However, the real highlight of the Astor’s cabin is the robot-like device that sits on the dashboard and serves as your in-car personal assistant. It follows your voice commands, responds to them with animated emoticons and answer queries from online sources. The system is powered by Wikipedia and has quite a few local apps built-in. It may appeal to some, while others might find it gimmicky. 

The Astor also comes equipped with Level 2 ADAS features that use a camera and radar for carrying out functions like Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist and so on. The ADAS features, however, are an optional extra, prices of which will be announced later. 

Other noteworthy features on top-spec trims include a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, leatherette upholstery, electric parking brake, tyre pressure monitor, 360-degree camera, heated wing mirrors, steering weight adjustment with driving modes (normal, urban, dynamic) and panoramic sunroof. Safety features on board include six airbags, ABS, EBD, brake assist, ESP, traction control, hill start and descent control and rear disc brakes – over and above the ADAS functions on higher-spec variants.

MG Astor: rivals in India

The Astor has been positioned below the Hector in MG’s SUV lineup. Measuring around 4.3 metres in length, it sits right in the heart of the midsize SUV segment where it rivals the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Nissan Kicks, Renault Duster, Skoda Kushaq and the Volkswagen Taigun. Here's a look at how the MG Astor's price compares with its rivals: