MG Astor Vs Volkswagen Taigun - Top Variant Feature, Price, Spec Comparison

Astor vs Taigun - Top Variant Price Comparison

The Astor and Taigun, both offer 2 petrol engines. The Astor Savvy variant is not available with a manual transmission. This is because the ADAS features need the automatic transmission to control the speed and gear changes, which is not possible with the manual transmission.

The Volkswagen Taigun GT Plus top variant is only available with the 1.5L turbo petrol engine and DCT automatic transmission. While it is based on the Topline variant, it doesn’t get ventilated front seats. So, even the Topline also qualifies to participate in our top variant comparison.

The MG Astor, meanwhile, doesn’t differentiate like this between the engine options. You get the same features with the 1.5L normal petrol CVT automatic and the 1.3L turbo petrol TC automatic. Therefore, it keeps the decision making simple.

On the pricing front, the MG Astor 1.5L CVT automatic costs Rs. 15.78 lakh, which is Rs. 57,200 less than the Taigun Topline 1.0L turbo petrol with TC automatic. The Astor 1.3L turbo TC automatic costs Rs. 17.38 lakh and it’s Rs. 16,200 less than the Volkswagen Taigun GT Plus 1.5L turbo petrol with DCT automatic.

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In the pricing department, the Astor Savvy has a clear win over the Taigun as it’s more affordable.

Astor vs Taigun - Top Variant Feature Comparison

Since we’re considering the top variants, there are a bunch of features, which are common between the two cars. Here’s a quick look at the common features between the Astor Savvy and Taigun GT Plus/Topline:

The top variants of both the cars also manage to bring some exclusives to the table. The Astor Savvy’s unique features like heated outside mirrors, rear disc brakes, and panoramic sunroof appear more focused towards the British car buyers. In the colder climate, a giant glass roof and heated mirrors are absolute must-haves. However, we Indians also love flashy features like a large sunroof. After all, the Astor is a slightly Indianized and rebadged version of the British car MG ZS. The power driver seat, steering modes, voice commands, 360-degree camera and smartphone key are some of the convenience features of the MG Astor Savvy variant.

Also Read - 2021 Volkswagen Taigun Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

The Taigun’s list of unique features includes larger instrument cluster display, electronic front differential lock, wireless phone charging, wireless Apple Carplay, wireless Android Auto, ambient lighting, a smaller sunroof, paddle shifters, and a India-friendly cooled glovebox. Another India-friendly feature of the Taigun is front seat ventilation. Unfortunately, you don’t get this feature if you buy the Taigun with the more powerful 1.5L turbo petrol engine.

In exchange, the 1.5L turbo petrol engine somewhat makes up for it with the cylinder deactivation feature. It cuts the fuel supply to 2 of the 4 cylinders when the car doesn't need much torque. This helps save fuel while cruising and crawling in traffic. We’ll see its benefit in the engine comparison section where we discuss the Taigun’s mileage figures.

Surprisingly, that’s not all. The biggest differentiator for the Astor is the bouquet of ADAS features. The features under the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems not only add to the car’s safety credentials but also offer a much-needed dose of convenience. Lane keep assist, auto emergency braking, collision warning, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot warning and auto headlamps are literally life savers. While adaptive cruise control makes the vanilla cruise control more useful.

Astor vs Taigun - Top Variant Dimension Comparison

Not only does the Astor beat the European twins with simpler and more affordable pricing, it is also considerably larger than the Taigun. The Astor is noticeably wider, taller and longer than the Taigun. It also has a much larger boot space. But, it probably has a lower ground clearance, which could be why MG haven’t revealed its ground clearance figure yet.

Astor vs Taigun - Top Variant Engine Specs Comparison

The Astor’s base engine, the 1.5L normal petrol, is 5PS behind the Taigun’s 1.0L turbo petrol engine’s power output. Its torque output is also 34Nm less than the Taigun 1.0L as it’s not a turbocharged engine. The fuel efficiency details of the Astor 1.5L petrol engine are not available right now.

Despite a lower displacement, the Astor’s 1.3L turbo petrol engine is on par with the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5L turbo petrol. It has only 10PS less power and 30Nm less torque output than the Taigun 1.5L turbo petrol engine.

Also Read - Mg Astor vs Skoda Kushaq - Top Variants Features Comparison

Because of the cylinder deactivation technology, the Taigun’s 1.5L turbo petrol engine can deliver almost 18kmpl mileage if you drive it with a light foot. When you want to go heavy with it, it can also churn out a healthy 150PS of power and 250Nm of torque. The dual personality of this engine makes it worth a look.

Verdict

As you can see, the Astor Savvy is larger, more affordable and has way more features than the Volkswagen Taigun Topline and GT Plus variants. The Astor has a bit less power and torque output than Taigun, but it more than makes up for it with the road presence, high-value unique features and affordability.

On top of that, the value of ADAS features is difficult to ignore. Not only do they save lives, but they can also save you money by greatly increasing the chances of avoiding a crash in the first place. With a higher probability of keeping it accident free, the Astor will also have an easier time holding high residual value at the time of resale. Over time, when the insurance providers see that the Astor is less likely to get into a crash, they may even start offering lower premiums.

Because of the size, price and feature advantages, the MG Astor Savvy comes across as a better value for money regardless of which engine you pick.

Also Read: MG Astor Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

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