MG Astor: All You Need To Know

MG Motor India has finally launched the new Astor SUV in the Indian market. Prices for the compact SUV starts from Rs. 9.78 for the base Style variant, and going all the way up to Rs. 16.78 lakh for the top-of-the-line Sharp variant (ex-showroom, India). Do note, these prices are introductory and valid for deliveries in 2021. It is one of the most tech-laden SUVs from the Chinese-owned British automaker which comes with a personal AI assistant and Level 2 autonomous tech with ADAS features. Here's everything you need to know about MG's latest SUV.

Also Read: MG Astor Compact SUV Launched In India; Prices Start At ₹ 9.78 Lakh​

1. Bookings for the Astor will begin on October 21, 2021. However, interested customers can per-reserve a booking slot today by visiting the official website. The carmaker expects to commence batch deliveries in November and December 2021. Moreover, MG also aims to deliver around 5000 units in India.
    
2. MG offers the Astor in a total of eight variants across four trims - Style, Super, Smart, and Sharp. It comes in five colour options - Glaze Red, Spiced Orange, Aurora Silver, Starry Black and Candy White. Dimensionally, the SUV is 4323 mm long, 1809 mm wide and 1650 mm high, and has a wheelbase of 2585 mm.
    
3. The new Astor is essential the petrol ICE or Internal Combustion Engine version of the MG ZS EV, which is already on sale in the country. It comes with a bold celestial pattern grille, full LED hawkeye projector headlamps with boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights, 17-inch turbine-inspired machined alloy wheels, heated ORVMs, roof rails, LED taillamps and a new rear bumper with chrome accentuated dual exhaust design.
   
   Also Read: MG Astor Review: Compact SUV Big On Tech​
    
   

   The MG Astor looks gets three interior theme options to choose from - Tuxedo Black, Iconic Ivory and Sangria Red.

4. On the inside, the MG Astor gets three interior theme options - Tuxedo Black, Iconic Ivory and Sangria Red. It comes loaded with features like a 10.1-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch instrument cluster, a multi-functional steering wheel with chrome inserts, power-adjustable front seats, auto climate control, 360-degree camera view, air-purifier, electric parking brake and a panoramic sunroof.
    
5. The SUV also gets a customised AI assistant, which understands natural language and supports up to 35 Hinglish voice commands. The new system offers over 80 internet features, including Wikipedia, jokes, news, festival GIFS, navigation, online music streaming, in-car control and critical in-car warning.
    
6. As for safety, the SUV gets 27 standard safety features, which goes up to 49 features depending upon variants opted. It includes 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, traction control, hill descent control, hill hold control, Emergency Stop Signal, ISOFIX mounts, TPMS, all-disc brakes, 360-degree around-view camera, front fog lamp with Cornering Assist, read fog lamp, and more.
   
   Also Read: MG Astor Bookings To Open On October 21, 2021; Deliveries Will Begin From November​
    
7. It is also the brand's first SUV to employ the 'Car-as-a-Platform' (CAAP) concept. Under this new concept, MG aims to offer a range of technology-driven services to its customer using the SUV itself as a platform. MG is offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard with the new Astor. Additionally, the SUV also gets an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered personal assistant as part of its i-Smart hub.
    
   

   The new MG Astor is a petrol-only SUV

8. The new MG Astor comes with a choice of two engine options. The first one is a new 1.5-litre naturally aspirated unit that makes 108 bhp at 6000 rpm with 144 Nm at 4400 rpm of peak torque. The motor comes mated to a manual gearbox and an 8-speed CVT gearbox. The second engine is a more powerful turbo petrol engine - a 1.4-litre turbocharged unit, which is tuned to produce 138 bhp at 5600 rpm and peak torque of 220 Nm at 3600 rpm. It is paired with a 6-speed automatic torque converter unit as standard.
    
9. The MG Astor SUV takes on the rivals like the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster, Nissan Kicks, Skoda Kushaq and the Volkswagen Taigun in the competitive compact SUV segment.