MG Astor VS Creta/Seltos VS Kushaq/Taigun- Detailed Comparison!

MG recently revealed the new Astor for the Indian market. It is the petrol version of the famous MG ZS-ev. The Astor is placed against some of the most popular cars in India, the Creta and the Seltos. It will also be competing with the newly launched VW Taigun and the Skoda Kushaq.

1. Dimensions

The Astor is the tallest, widest and the longest SUV in the segment, but it has the smallest wheelbase. In real-world, the cabin space will be similar to the Creta/Seltos. The Taigun/Kushaq have the highest wheelbases in the segment, and this suggests that they might have the most cabin space.

2. Engines

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3. Driving Dynamics

This one is specifically for the enthusiasts :). All five cars get a turbo petrol option; however, the Korean and the Germans take a step further with the dual-clutch gearboxes! The Kushaq and the Taigun are hands down the most fun to drive SUVs here. The lower height contains body roll amazingly well and helps with the handling. The Germans also have the most powerful engines in the segment.

4. Comfort

When it comes to comfort, the Creta rolls ahead of its competition. Its suspension set-up is softer than others, and the steering is also amongst the lightest. Take up the 1.5L Petrol and couple it with the CVT, and the engine will be as smooth and silent as a cold night’s breeze. The 1.4L Turbo Petrol variant is the perfect option for someone who wants a good blend of comfort and performance.

5. Interiors

On the inside, we believe that the Astor looks and feels much better than the competition. A lot more leather and soft-touch materials are used all around, which gives it a very premium feel. What makes the Astor better on the inside is the fact that we can choose between 3 interior color options- red, beige and black. The Astor also gets the largest panoramic sunroof. MG claims that it covers 90% of the roof of the car.

6. Safety

All 5 SUVs come with decent safety equipment. They all get six airbags, ABS with EBD, Traction Control and Electronic stability control. The Astor has a few more tricks up its sleeve. It gets blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a lane change assist. None of these cars has been tested by an NCAP body, except the Kia Seltos. The Seltos scored a mere 3-star safety rating at the GNCAP Crash Test. The MG ZS-ev was given a 5-star safety rating after it was tested by the GNCAP. Since the Astor is based on the same platform, we expect it to be just and solid and safe.

7. Features

All of these SUVs are loaded to the brim with features. They all get digital driver’s displays, sunroofs, driving modes, etc. The German twins miss out on a few features like a large panoramic sunroof and electrically adjustable driver’s seats. The Astor takes 4 steps ahead with the option of Level-2 ADAS. It gets features like Auto-emergency braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. This is a segment-first! It also gets an AI assistant, which will keep you engaged when you’re stuck in traffic. Shockingly, the Astor misses out on an auto-dimming IRVM. It also misses out on ventilated seats, something the Koreans have been offering for quite some time now.

8. Prices

All are starting prices, ex-showroom.

Here was a detailed comparison of the cars in one of India’s most competitive segments. In conclusion, we would like to say that each car drives neck to neck with its competitors. We would categorize the best ones as-

1. Best Driving experience- VW Taigun/Skoda Kushaq and Kia Seltos GT
2. Most Comfortable- Hyundai Creta
3. Maximum Features- MG Astor
4. Highest Safety- MG Astor
5. Assured Reliability- Hyundai Creta

Let us know which one of these would be your pick