MG Astor Review vs Volkswagen Taigun Review

The MG Astor and the Volkswagen Taigun are among the bestselling midsize SUVs in the country. First things first, the MG Astor is also available in an electric iteration, known as the MG ZS EV. The Taigun, on the other hand, is only available with a turbocharged petrol engine. The VW group hasn’t introduced any of its electric portfolios into the Indian market. However, they were recently spotted testing their electric vehicle, the Volkswagen ID.4. It translates into the possibility of VW India

Making a foray into the EV segment. Anyhow, keeping the EV topic aside, let’s weigh the petrol-powered vehicles and see how these two midsize SUVs stack up against each other. So, let’s begin!

The Powerhouse

As mentioned earlier, the Astor and the Taigun are available with petrol-powered engines. So, let’s start with the former. The MG Astor has two engine options. There is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated (NA) engine and a 1.3-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. The NA engine draws out 108bhp and 144Nm of torque, and the turbocharged engine produces 138bhp and 220Nm of torque.

As for gearbox options, there is a standard six-speed manual unit and an optional CVT gearbox. Moreover, the turbo-petrol mill is exclusive to the six-speed torque converter automatic unit. For more on driveability, check out the MG Astor review.

Now, coming to the German-engineered, MQB-A0-IN platform-based vehicle, the Volkswagen Taigun. It has the same platform as Skoda’s Kushaq, the Slavia, and Volkswagen’s newly launched Virtus.

However, as for the Taigun specifications, there are two turbo-petrol engine options: a 1.0-litre and a 1.5-litre. The former engine option is exclusive to the “Dynamic Line”, while the latter is exclusive to the “Performance Line”. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine produces 115bhp and 175Nm of torque, while the 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit generates 148bhp and 250Nm of torque.

The front wheels of the Taigun receive power via a standard six-speed manual, an optional six-speed torque converter or a seven-speed DSG.

For further analysis on how the German SUV drives, check out the Volkswagen Taigun review.

Compared with the specifications of these two cars, the VW Taigun is a clear winner. There is more power and torque, and also, the weight of the Taigun is slightly lighter than the Astor, so the Taigun gets an extra edge in the power-to-weight ratio.

The War of Features

The Astor is one of the bestselling MG cars in its segment. It is the first SUV in its class to feature an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

This technology comprises active and passive safety features. Besides that, there is also an AI assistant, autonomous level 2 technology, etc. If you compare it with the Taigun, there are a few basic and necessary safety features, but it misses out on ADAS.

And speaking of safety, the Astor holds a five-star safety rating. However, the Taigun hasn’t been crash-tested by Global NCAP yet. But considering their records in safety tests, it is safe to assume that the Volkswagen Taigun would also be one of the safest midsize SUVs in India.

Apart from safety, both SUVs have a long list of comfort and entertainment features. You can also find a detailed list of the specifications and features of these two SUVs in the “compare cars” section under the “cars” category.

Let’s take the MG Astor first. This SUV has a long list of features. As for entertainment and communication, the MG Astor features a 7-inch digital driver’s display, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice command, steering-mounted controls, etc. The Astor also gets a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree camera, auto-headlights, and connected car technology, to name a few.

For more on the cabin features and inside-the-cabin experience from an expert, check out the Astor review.

However, the Astor misses out on a handful of features that are present in the VW Taigun. These comprise a wireless charging tray, front ventilated seats, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and ambient lighting, to name a few.

Besides that, the Taigun also gets a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, an 8-inch instrument cluster, connected car technology, and a single-pane sunroof. It also has a glove box cooler to refrigerate your beverages. And, as mentioned earlier, the Taigun also gets front-ventilated seats (only cooling), making it extremely useful in a tropical country like India.

Please note that the features in both the midsize SUVs will vary across the variants. In addition, the carmakers have the full right to add or cut down on features without any prior notice.

Prices and Variants

Let’s start with variants. Firstly, the MG Astor has four broad trims: Style, Super, Smart, and Sharp. And, each trim gets an “EX” variant, which misses out on a few safety features. However, they total up to sixteen variants.

So, as for the MG Astor price, it starts at Rs 10.28 lakh for the base model, Style EX, and it goes up to Rs 18.13 lakh for the top model, Savvy Turbo AT.

On the flip side, the Volkswagen Taigun has two broad trims: Dynamic Line and Performance Line. Moreover, they make up to seven variants.

However, at the same time, the Taigun’s price starts at Rs 11.40 lakh for the base model, the 1.0 TSI Comfortline MT, and it goes up to Rs 18.60 lakh for the top model, the 1.5 TSI GT Plus.

Please note that these are ex-showroom prices in New Delhi as of August 2022. They are also subject to change without any prior notice. That said, you can always check the up-to-date prices of any of your preferred vehicles on autoX. You can type the car’s name in the search bar, which will immediately redirect you to the next page, where you can see all the car’s details, including the on-road price.

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