MG Astor: What’s the Most Value for Money Variant?

The MG Astor is a subcompact crossover SUV developed by MG Motor, a British automotive brand now owned by the Chinese company SAIC Motor. The Astor was introduced in India in September 2021. Here’s a look at the Astor’s variants, and let us find out which of these offers the most value for money.

MG Astor: Top Competitors

The top competitors for MG Astor in India include the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, Renault Duster, Nissan Kicks, and the Volkswagen Taigun.

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MG Astor Variants

The MG Astor comes in 18 variants, which are listed below along with their prices (ex-showroom, Delhi):

Variant	Price
Astor Style EX	Rs 10.52 lakhs
Astor Style	Rs 10.82 lakhs
Astor Super EX	Rs 12.20 lakhs
Astor Super	Rs 12.52 lakhs
Astor Smart EX	Rs 13.82 lakhs
Astor Super CVT	Rs 13.94 lakhs
Astor Smart	Rs 14.21 lakhs
Astor Sharp EX	Rs 14.76 lakhs
Astor Sharp	Rs 15.15 lakhs
Astor Sharp Red	Rs 15.25 lakhs
Astor Smart CVT	Rs 15.50 lakhs
Astor Sharp CVT	Rs 16.14 lakhs
Astor Sharp CVT Red	Rs 16.24 lakhs
Astor Savvy CVT	Rs 17.00 lakhs
Astor Savvy CVT Red	Rs 17.10 lakhs
Astor Smart Turbo AT	Rs 17.11 lakhs
Astor Sharp Turbo AT	Rs 18.06 lakhs
Astor Savvy Turbo AT	Rs 18.69 lakhs

MG Astor: Quick Review

Design and features: The MG Astor has a sculpted profile, with smooth lines and well-defined creases. The front fascia of the Astor has MG’s signature grille with a prominent chrome surround and a mesh pattern. The grille is flanked by LED headlights.

Moving along the sides, the window line has an upward sweep towards the rear. The well-sculpted wheel arches house alloy wheels. There is black cladding around the wheel arches and lower body panels.

The rear of the Astor features LED taillights that blend into the tailgate. The rear bumper is sculpted and has integrated reflectors. The roof-mounted spoiler contributes to the SUV’s aerodynamic profile.

Among features, the Astor gets an AI-powered personal assistant, a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a panoramic sunroof, climate control, keyless entry, and multifunction steering wheels.

Engine and performance: The MG Astor has two petrol engines on offer – a 1.3L 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, and a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine. The 1.3L engine produces 138.08 BHP and 220 Nm of torque, while the 1.5L engine produces 108.49 BHP and 144 Nm of torque. The engines are mated to either a 5-speed manual gearbox, an 8-step CVT automatic, or a 6-speed torque convertor auto. The engine feels perky and competent, and is suited for relaxed cruising, or even sprinting.

Ride and handling: The MG Astor has a well-tuned suspension setup, which is neither too firm, nor too soft. While cornering, some body roll can be felt, but it is not too palpable.

The Astor has three selectable steering modes: Urban, Normal and Dynamic. Urban is suited for city traffic, while Normal mode is suitable for all-round city usage. Dynamic mode is ideally suited for highway driving.
The Astor has all-round disc brakes, which also perform well and without fuss.

Comfort and space: The MG Astor has a comfortable cabin with soft-touch materials, and quality switchgear. The seats are supportive, and the driver’s seat is adjustable. The rear seats also have ample legroom for taller passengers.
The Astor has climate control, with rear AC vents. Besides, there are enough storage compartments in the cabin. The Astor also has a boot capacity of 418 litres.

Safety: The MG Astor has a range of safety features, which include ADAS, multiple airbags, ABS, ESC, hill start assist, and rear parking sensors/camera.

Mileage: The overall mileage in the MG Astor ranges from 14.34 km/l to 15.43 km/l, depending upon the variant.

Concluding remarks: The MG Astor offers a blend of modern features and connectivity. With its AI Inside system, the Astor has an advanced AI-powered personal assistant. The infotainment system, safety features, and connected car technology contribute to the Astor’s appeal.

MG Astor: Most Value for Money Variant

The most value for money (VFM) variant of the MG Astor is the Astor Style, which is priced at Rs 10.82 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Most VFM Variant in Comparison with Base Variant

The base variant of the MG Astor is the Astor Style EX, which is priced at Rs 10.52 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The most VFM variant has some additional features over the base variant. These include ESC and traction control as safety features, and hill hold assist as a driver assistance feature. The rest of the features are the same in both variants.

Most VFM Variant in Comparison with Top-end Variant

The top-end variant of the MG Astor is the Astor Savvy Turbo AT, which is priced at Rs 18.69 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The top-end variant gets a few extra features over the most VFM variant. These include 6 airbags (the most VFM variant has 2 airbags) as a safety feature, and lane keeping assist, rear parking camera, 360-degree camera, cruise control, and fog lights as driver assistance features.

Among convenience features, the top-end variant has a panoramic sunroof, and push-button start. Besides, the top-end variant gets 17-inch alloy wheels (16-inch steel wheels in the VFM variant).

Key Take-outs from Comparative Analysis of Base, VFM, and Top-end Variants Above

The most VFM variant has some extra safety and driver assistance features over the base variant. The top-end variant has more features than the most VFM variant, but is priced quite high.

The Astor Style variant, therefore, can be considered offering the most value for money given its affordable pricing, and the features it has on offer.

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