I did a test drive of the new MG Astor 1.3AT and 1.5CVT. The first impression of Astor is striking and has an appeal in terms of design, similar to Kia Seltos. The exterior design is same as the MG ZS EV with same proportions. Step into the cabin of the Astor and you can feel the opulence in the quality of the materials used inside of the cabin. Leatherette dashboard and premium seat covers, even the use plastics is of high quality. The ADAS features are definitely worth but not the AI assistant which does seem to be different from competition but not a show stopper. Some of the ADAS features are available in the top section model of sharp(o) which is pricier by close to 1.0 lakhs.
The AT model gear change is very smooth while the CVT shows a very minimal lag on pressing the pedal. I drove in peak traffic and the engine responded very smoothly.
Pros: Excellent interior quality
New segment first features
Right pricing considering the long and new features list.
Spacious backseat but with less thigh support
Cons: No ventilated Seats
No front passenger electronic seat adjustment
The lower model variants could have had some of the ADAS tech as it is the attraction for customers.
Should you buy? I would recommend to buy the sharp variant if you are looking to buy a mid size suv with good safety features. Considering the pricing, its the best fit in the segment.