CONFIRMED! MG’s Upcoming Hyundai Creta Rival To Be Called Astor

• MG Astor to be launched in India around Diwali 2021.
• Will be based on the facelifted ZS EV, which debuted at Auto Expo 2020.
• The cabin features a larger infotainment system and digital driver display
• Gets AI-powered features, Level 2 ADAS, and connected car tech.
• MG is yet to narrow down on a powertrain for the Astor, but it will be a petrol-only offering.
• Likely to be priced from Rs 12 lakh.

MG Motor India has confirmed that the petrol-powered ZS will be called Astor in India when launched here around Diwali this year. The upcoming compact SUV will rival the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Skoda Kushaq.  

The Astor is essentially the facelifted ZS, which debuted at Auto Expo 2020. To differentiate itself from the ZS EV, the petrol SUV gets slightly sharper-looking LED headlamps and tail lamps, a new chrome-studded ‘Celestial’ grille, and restyled bumpers. Even the wheels have been redone to ensure that it looks distinct from the all-electric ZS EV.  

Inside, the Astor features a larger infotainment system (likely to be 10.1 inches) that takes more space on the central console and eliminates the need for climate control knobs. Then there’s the digital driver display that replaces the conventional dials. And last but not least is the new black and maroon-ish dual-tone colour on the dashboard.  

However, as with all MG offerings, the main highlight here is the technology. The Astor gets Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven features similar to voice command-based functions. It’s just a gimmicky robot-styled device that sits atop the dash and acts according to your commands. That small device also has the ability to turn, look at you, and mimic human emotions and behaviour. 

Other notable features in the compact SUV include connected car tech using Jio e-SIM, a panoramic sunroof, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, a 360-degree camera, and segment-first driver assistance systems. The last one packs features like forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and high-beam assist. 

MG will likely provide the Astor with a 160PS/230Nm 1.3-litre turbo-petrol motor with manual and automatic transmission options. More importantly, the SUV will likely be a petrol-only offering. So you might need to look elsewhere if you’re eyeing a diesel. 

The Astor is expected to be priced from Rs 12 lakh, making it one of the most affordable cars in India to offer autonomous driving capabilities. Let us know what you think about the Astor in the comments below.