MG Astor

The MG Astor compact SUV showcases a compelling design and solid features, and has been a good entry into a segment bursting with competition. - Shams Raza Naqvi
We immediately noticed the Astor leans into an elegant, mature presence instead of forced aggression. Seeing this crossover in the metal confirms MG prioritised a balanced urban aesthetic over a bulky silhouette. Everything just clicks to deliver a genuinely premium feel.
 

• The Celestial Grille 
  The front end gets a chrome petal-style pattern finished in electroplated tungsten steel. It easily looks upscale. The execution doesn't feel like it tries too hard to grab your attention.
• Distinctive LED Headlamps 
  These sharp lighting units pack a unique daytime running light signature. They give the SUV an unmistakable identity out on the tarmac.
• Balanced Proportions 
  It stands 1,650mm tall. That makes it dimensionally larger than rivals such as the Hyundai Creta, though it completely avoids looking bloated. The crossover shape stays wonderfully cohesive.
• Refined Alloy Wheels 
  You get 17-inch dual-tone alloys here. They anchor the vehicle with a grown-up stance rather than forcing a fake sporty vibe.
• Overall Stance 
  Nothing shouts at you. No single styling cue feels overdone, leaving us with a remarkably neat and well-proportioned visual package.

The MG Astor is a simple, well-proportioned SUV that isn’t shouty or in-your-face. It might have been launched four years ago, but it still has some elements that grab your attention and don’t look outdated.

Front Profile

• The grille's design is crisp, well-balanced, and not too aggressive. 
• The grenade-like grille pattern on the Celestial variant gives it a sense of personality without being gaudy. 
• The sharp LED headlights give off a sporty look while being very tasteful. 
• The gloss-black pieces around the front bumper and fog-lamp housing make the design much more elegant. 
• Overall, there is an elegant, very subtle, and mature presence.

Side Profile

• Properly proportioned, the vehicle has a solid profile rather than a bulky one.
• While classified as a compact SUV, it isn't an overpowering presence.
• Flared wheel arches add a gentle touch of muscle to the vehicle's presence.
• The window line rises gently towards the rear to keep an interesting profile.
• The 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels (black and silver) provide a sophisticated look instead of an overly sporty appearance.
• A clean, neat, and well-proportioned design where nothing feels like it has been overdone.

Rear Profile

• The rear design appears less complicated than the front one. 
• The large MG logo on the rear also serves as the boot release, offering a clever, useful feature. 
• The Astor badge, ZS name, and ADAS badge together show the vehicle's global family tree and its technology features. 
• The LED lights are detailed and give a bright light pattern at night. 
• The rear lacks the visual excitement of the front, but it maintains the overall design's continuity.

Dimension Table

The interior of the MG Astor reflects a clear philosophy of prioritising clarity and function. When we step inside, the cabin design feels luxurious without attempting to overwhelm us with unnecessary visual drama. Instead, it focuses on long-term comfort and a sense of structural solidity that feels built to last.

Cabin Layout and Quality

Step inside, and the material choices hit you immediately. They seriously elevate the whole cabin vibe. You'll find high-quality textures everywhere you reach, making the Astor feel genuinely premium from the driver's seat.

• Soft-Touch Finishes 
  MG didn't skimp on the touchpoints. The upper dashboard, centre console, armrest, and door pads all get a generous wrapping of soft-touch materials. It makes a huge difference on a long drive.
• Sangria Red Theme 
  The top-tier models rock a striking dual-tone Sangria Red and black layout. This bold scheme flows right into the leatherette seats, giving the interior a totally unique character.
• Ivory Elegance 
  Going for a lower trim doesn't mean you lose out on style. These versions switch to a dual-tone Ivory setup. It looks incredibly refined and brightens up the entire passenger area.

Front Seat

It is simple to access the Astor's front seats. All thanks to its wide-opening doors and an optimal seat height. So, you do not have to drop down or climb up awkwardly.

• Excellent Support: The seat shape and side bolstering provide excellent comfort for most typical-sized adults during long highway stints.
• Adjustable Driving Position: Finding a natural driving stance is easy with a 6-way powered driver seat and an adjustable-height steering wheel.
• Spacious Passenger Area: Taller drivers and front passengers have ample head and legroom, supplemented by a well-positioned centre armrest.

Rear Seat

Moving to the second row, the layout remains passenger-friendly with excellent headroom and knee room, though we noted a few compromises during our evaluation.

• Adequate Space: Even taller passengers will not feel constricted, thanks to the generous legroom and the good backrest angle.
• Seat Base Width: The base seat cushion is slightly short, which limits thigh support for taller passengers on longer distance journeys.
• Three-Passenger Setup: While practical, the rear bench is most comfortable when seating two adults or two adults and a child in the middle.

Storage and Practicality

The cabin layout integrates thoughtful storage solutions that make living with the Astor incredibly easy. Every compartment is positioned with practicality in mind.

• Front Storage: Up front, you get large door pockets, an ample glovebox, storage under the centre armrest, and a dedicated space for your phone.
• Rear Conveniences: Rear passengers benefit from one-litre bottle holders in each door, seatback pockets, and a fold-down armrest with two cupholders.

Charging Options

Keeping devices powered on long drives is essential, and the Astor provides a reasonable array of charging points throughout the cabin.

• USB Accessibility: The vehicle offers five USB Type-A ports, with two in the front and two dedicated to rear passengers.
• Wireless Charging: A wireless charging mat is available for compatible smartphones, along with a standard 12V outlet for front seat occupants.
• Modern Port Limitations: As we test this in 2026, the noticeable lack of a modern USB Type-C port is something potential buyers might view as an oversight.

Additional Features of MG Astor 

• Auto headlamp 
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Push-button start/stop 
• Panoramic sunroof
• Auto AC with rear AC vents  
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated and auto-folding 
• ORVMs 
• Six-way powered driver seat
• Connected car technology 
• Driver window auto up/down

Instead of creating confusion with overlapping costs, MG has positioned this compact SUV as a high-value, tech-forward proposition. The structure clearly separates buyers looking for accessible manual crossovers and those wanting a fully loaded automated driving experience. All figures reflect New Delhi OEM prices.

Every trim tier targets a specific kind of driver. The Sprint and Shine models serve buyers entering the premium crossover space. These variants give you core comfort and mechanical solidity without stretching your budget.
The Select trim steps up as the pragmatic choice in our view. It delivers essential automatic convenience for heavy city traffic, making it the most sensible pick for daily commuters who want to avoid the fatigue of constant gear changes.
If you want visual flair, the Sharp Pro introduces upscale cabin aesthetics and the panoramic sunroof.
At the absolute top, the Savvy Pro justifies its premium by acting as a technology showcase. We recommend this flagship exclusively for buyers who want the futuristic artificial intelligence assistant and the full Level 2 ADAS safety suite. 

It offers good fuel economy for a petrol SUV in the segment and is therefore a suitable option for both daily and weekly use.

Manual models typically have an ARAI fuel economy of 14-15 kmpl. The CVT automatic achieves around 14 kmpl depending on driving conditions. Actual fuel economy will vary.

MG Astor displays a good balance between performance and fuel efficiency. Its refined petrol engine, with smooth transmission options, delivers a tech-rich driving experience without excessive fuel consumption.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are used in the MG Astor, an SUV equipped with several Bosch-provided systems. There are 14 driver-assistance functions provided by six radar units and five cameras.

Key features include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control with automatic braking and accelerating,
• Forward Collision Warning,
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Detection
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Intelligent High-Beam Control

In addition to ADAS, the SUV has 27 standard safety features, including six airbags; Electronic Stability Program (ESP), traction control, Hill Descent Control, ISOFIX mounts, TPMS, and four disc brakes.

This model has not yet been rated by Global/Bharat NCAP. However, it does share the same platform as the MG ZS, which earned a five-star ASEAN NCAP rating.

The MG Astor sets a new benchmark in its segment by prioritising advanced digital integration. When we evaluate the cabin technology, it is obvious that MG aims to provide a deeply connected driving experience rather than just a basic infotainment setup.

• Artificial Intelligence Assistant: The dashboard houses a unique robotic companion voiced by Paralympian Deepa Malik. It understands 35 Hinglish commands to control climate settings or answer internet-based trivia.
• Digital Displays: A sharp 10.1-inch touchscreen anchors the dashboard with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paired seamlessly with a seven-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver.
• Connected Car Suite: The vehicle offers over 80 internet features enabled by an embedded Jio SIM, keeping you constantly connected on the move.
• Digital Key Technology: We found the MG iSmart application incredibly practical, allowing you to lock, unlock, and start the car using Bluetooth on your phone, even in basement parking lots without a cellular network.
• Premium Cabin Amenities: The tech experience extends to physical comfort with an air purifier, an electronic parking brake, a 360-degree parking camera, and a massive panoramic sunroof.

When loading up the MG Astor's boot, you will notice how narrower and shallower it is. This becomes clearer once you actually start putting luggage into it. Even placing a single large suitcase in the boot will take up most of the space left.

The layout of the boot doesn't have much flexibility once your primary luggage has been packed away. For example, if you were trying to pack a large suitcase, a medium suitcase, and a soft bag in the boot, you would have to remove the parcel shelf to gain extra vertical height.

The 60:40 split rear seats allow you to fold down a portion of the seatback to carry larger/bulkier items when required.

The dynamic character of the MG Astor focuses on delivering a highly comfortable and predictable experience. On structured test routes across varied terrain, it becomes clear that this crossover is tuned for everyday usability. There is an acceptable compromise between plush ride quality and confident handling.

• Urban Comfort: On city streets, we notice right away how comfortably the vehicle absorbs speed bumps. It feels well-balanced and planted.
• Highway Stability: Out on the open road, the chassis feels very reassuring. On the expressway, we feel stable at high speeds. You remain in full control of the vehicle at all times.
• Selectable Steering Modes: A standout feature is the ability to switch the steering feel between Normal, Urban, and Dynamic settings to suit your driving environment.
• Dynamic Engagement: In Dynamic mode, you can feel the added weight in the steering wheel, which instills confidence and allows you to enjoy driving the car on downhill twisty roads.
• Cabin Refinement: The interior remains impressively quiet over broken sections of road, which makes the entire travel experience feel much more refined despite some minor vertical movement.

The MG Astor lineup is logically divided across five core trim levels, including Sprint, Shine, Select, Sharp Pro, and Savvy Pro. Since all these specific models share the refined 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, your decision ultimately comes down to your gearbox preference and appetite for technology. 

• Sprint and Shine Trims: These models serve as the accessible entry point to the Astor family. Available exclusively with a five-speed manual transmission, the Sprint trim provides the core structural integrity and essential comfort features you expect from MG. Stepping up to the Shine trim adds just enough convenience upgrades to make daily urban driving more pleasant. 
• Select Trim: The Select trim sits perfectly in the middle of the lineup and represents the sweet spot for many buyers. It is the versatile choice that allows you to pick between the traditional manual gearbox or the incredibly smooth CVT automatic. In our view, the Select CVT is the most balanced all-rounder for the modern city commuter. It eliminates the fatigue of constant gear shifts in heavy traffic while offering tremendous value.
• Sharp Pro and Savvy Pro Trims: At the top end, the focus shifts entirely to maximum technology and premium interior appointments. The Sharp Pro adds high-end features like a panoramic sunroof and elevated cabin aesthetics. However, the flagship Savvy Pro is the model that truly defines the Astor identity. Available exclusively as an automatic, it justifies its higher price tag by adding the highly publicised Level 2 ADAS suite and the artificial intelligence assistant.