MG Motor has finally taken the wraps off the much anticipated Astor today. It is the fourth SUV from the British carmaker in the Indian market. Also, it is the petrol-powered version of the MG’s first fully electric SUV - ZS EV. Moving on, the new Astor will be the first vehicle in the country to come with an AI-powered personal assistant. Also, the brand has appointed Deepa Malik - Paralympic athlete and Khel Ratna awardee, as the voice of the personal AI assistant.
MG Astor: Dimensions and Design
In terms of dimensions, the SUV stands at 4323mm in length, 1650mm in height, and 1809mm in width. Having said this, Astor is longer, taller, and wider as compared to the mid-size SUV segment leaders in the Indian market. Design-wise, it will look similar to the existing ZS EV. However, it will get subtle cosmetic upgrades. The design bits include prominent signature Celestial front grille, Hawk-eye full LED headlamps, red brake calipers, aggressive-looking tail lamps, and many more. The uniquely designed machined 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. It gives a strong stance and higher ground clearance.
MG Astor: Interior Features
As we step inside the cabin of the 2021 Astor, it boasts of luxurious interiors. The SUV flaunts dual-tone leatherette layered dashboard. It comes with a choice of three interior color schemes - dual-tone sangria red, dual-tone iconic ivory, and tuxedo black. The feature highlights include a 6-way power seat for the driver, a 7-inch fully digital instrument cluster, a large panoramic sunroof, electric parking brake, heated ORVM, rain-sensing wiper, PM2.5 filter, rear AC vent, and front & rear armrest. The SUV further gets three power-assisted steering modes - normal, urban, and dynamic. You can personalize the steering wheel as per your convenience. Whether you want light speed for urban driving or a heavier feel for high speeds. Moving on, for a cinematic entertainment experience, MG has equipped the Astor with a large 10.1-inch HD infotainment unit. One of the unique features of the Astor is the digital key with Bluetooth technology that lets you unlock your car and even drive it without a physical key. The 2021 Astor is the first car from the automaker to employ the ‘Car-as-a-Platform’ concept. Basically, through this concept MG aims to offer a plethora of technology-driven services to its customers using the SUV as a platform.
MG Astor: Safety Features
Nowadays, safety in the car is of utmost importance. Having said this, Astor is built on a strong foundation of safety. MG has equipped the SUV with 27 standard safety features. These include 6 airbags, an electronic stability program(ESP), an auto-calibrated traction control system, hill descent control, and a 360-degree camera. Besides these, the British automaker has introduced segment-first autonomous level 2 technology for advanced safety. With this, you can access features like lane keep assist, rear-drive assist, intelligent headlamp control, automatic emergency brake, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, speed assist system, and red cross-traffic alert.
MG Astor: Engine Specifications and rivals
Performance-wise, the new Astor comes with two petrol engine options. A 1.3-litre Brit Dynamic 220turbo unit that churns out a top power of 138 bhp and a peak torque of 220 Nm while being mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated unit, on the other hand, generates 108 bhp power and 144 Nm peak torque. Transmission duty here is handled by an 8-speed CVT automatic gearbox. Once launched in the Indian market, the SUV will rival the likes of Hyundai Creta, Nissan Kicks, Renault Duster, Skoda Kushaq, and Kia Seltos.
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