MG Astor Engine & Performance
Two petrol motors power the MG Astor. First is the 1.5 litre produces 110 horsepower and 144 NM torque. This motor can be coupled with either a 5 Speed Manual Transmission or a CVT. Second option is the 1.3 litre Turbo charged motor that puts out 140 hp and 220 NM torque. This engine comes with a sole 6 speed torque convertor automatic gearbox. There is no manual on offer with this engine. For our drive, we sampled the 1.3 turbo petrol.
We drove the Astor briefly on the Buddh Circuit for a few laps that MG gave us. The engine is pretty smooth and peppy, there is hint of lag noticed e at the lower end but that diminishes as the speeds climb. Since it is turbo charged, the Astor builds speed effortlessly and motor never felt to be under any sort of strain. The 6 speed auto box has smooth shifts and we are glad MG chose this unit over a DCT unit. There is also a Sport mode and the engine becomes enthusiastic one you make the shift. Push the accelerator pedal and the motor makes a very likeable note. It even downshifts quickly keeping the driving experience fun. However paddle shifters are sorely missed in the Astor. Since the driving was restricted to the track, we cannot comment on how it drives in real world urban city conditions. We will request MG for a car that we can drive over a few days and report.
