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Checking out the Skoda Kushaq and MG Astor

22nd October 2021, 14:30 by Dev Shah

The 1.3 litre automatic of the Astor felt adequate. NVH levels are not as good as Kushaq’s. Definitely cannot match Creta’s silence. But still, it is very good for a 3 cylinder engine. I felt the TSI to be a more matured motor in terms of response, speed buildup and refinement.

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I recently checked out the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 AT and MG Astor 1.3 AT and here are my brief observations about the cars! (p.s. my benchmark here is the 1.5 Hyundai Creta SX petrol that I own)

Skoda Kushaq:

Exteriors are really classy. Top quality paint job. The car doesn’t look big but has got a good personality. This car will age gracefully. Typical of Skoda, Isn’t it?

The car looks most solid in its class. Exterior fit and finish is very tight and good.
Interiors, well is a mixed bag. The car feels robust. Dashboard layout is pretty good. Materials used on the top of the dash/door panels are of good quality. Plastics below are slightly budget grade (Say Tiago class). Speedo dials are neat, the steering wheel looks classy (the leather stitching isn’t). Seat fabrics are again nothing to write home about.

The roof line is dreadfully bad looking. And with those exposed mechanicals, the view from the rather small sunroof can be embarrassing. (Why not give it a miss altogether?)

Ergonomics are spot on. I found a good driving position in no time. Controls and access are logically laid out, except the touch-oriented AC controls, which are placed low. Difficult to operate while driving.

Skoda has managed generous legroom at the back (better than Creta/Seltos/Astor). Two at the back is a good place to be in. Width isn’t as good. Three won’t fit well. A kid in the middle will be fine. Seat comfort is good overall.
1.0 TSI AT is impressive. I liked the NVH of the engine. It is very difficult to point if this is a 3 cylinder engine. My Creta’s 1.5 NA is dead silent at idle/low/avg speeds, but I have nothing to complain about the Skoda here. Only when it is ripped hard it makes its presence felt, but the engine note isn’t annoying. Rather likeable. Vibrations at idle is minimal. (This is far better than what I have witnessed in the Magnite Turbo/Tata 1.2/Polo 1.2 NA etc)
There is some lag initially and the throttle response isn’t lightning quick. This is no DSG. I felt the torque converter in Skoda is adequate and not explosive. But once it is in the turbo zone, this car pulls neatly and persistently. The Creta’s 1.5 won’t like being revved as the TSI. And of course the extra torque of TSI will make it faster. Easily. Though only on refinement point of view, Hyundai is still unbeatable.
Ride and handling are excellent. Rather best in class (even if by a small margin). Body roll is well controlled. Ride is flat once it gains speed. Sideways movement over bad roads is minimal. Steering is pretty light but responsive. Even the cabin insulation is excellent.
OEM music system has got good bass. Better than my Creta’s setup. Though I believe the BOSE setup of the top variants in Hyundai would be as good or better than Skoda’s. I couldn’t explore the infotainment system much, but the rear camera resolution felt below par for a 20 lakh rupee car.

MG Astor:

Astor honestly looks like a premium hatch (more in Mercedes entry level category) than a crossover. Looks stunning in black. The changes incorporated over the ZS EV make it look much better than the electric sibling.

Exterior fit and finish is impressive. Build quality and solidity is adequate. Skoda still is better with it. Creta being at par with the Astor.

The car’s cabin is the true selling point. One can see the amount of effort made in making it look premium. Quality and fit/finish is thoroughly consistent throughout. Difficult to find loose bits here. Design elements too are classy. I just felt the steering and materials around the gear lever could have been more special to make it near flawless. The Creta has got similar level of fit and quality finish, but the Astor trumps it for having generous levels of soft touch materials used. The Kushaq just can’t match the level of consistency right now. Surprisingly, the MG Hector parked next to it felt at least half a segment lower in terms of materials used (especially the beige colored ones) or panel gaps visible.

Panoramic sunroof here is huge. Infact, it is bigger than that of the XUV 700 (much narrower) is what I felt. I felt the sunroof curtain is a bit too thin. It needs to be seen if it in anyways affects the cooling of the car.
Ergonomics aren't as sorted as it is in the Kushaq or Creta, but decent. It took some time for me to find the right driving position. (I am 5’11”)
Rear seat is reasonably spacious. It is wider than the Kushaq’s but doesn’t have similar levels of legroom. Thigh support could have been better. I think the Creta still has the best rear seat here overall.

The 1.3 litre automatic of the Astor felt adequate. NVH levels are not as good as Kushaq’s. Definitely cannot match Creta’s silence. But still, it is very good for a 3 cylinder engine. I felt the TSI to be a more matured motor in terms of response, speed buildup and refinement. The gearbox rather felt good. I liked the shifts and gear selection based on throttle inputs. Surprisingly the ‘more premium’ offering from MG matches only the entry level engine of Skoda. I am sure the 1.5 Skoda would be a no contest here. Even the turbo 1.4 from the Creta/Seltos is vastly superior.
Mid-range acceleration is good. It does feel punchier than the TSI here. The engine sound is sporty and likeable.
Suspension setup is on the softer side. Overall dynamics is decent, but not as engaging. You can immediately feel the body roll compared to the Kushaq. I would rather say the Creta’s overall ride comfort is better here. Steering feedback is acceptable. Creta’s steering is slightly heavier (not necessarily more responsive).
Inspite of not having a subwoofer, the music system felt pretty good. Better than Kushaq’s. I didn’t have the patience to explore the plethora of safety and other features on offer but the infotainment system’s response felt adequate. The 360 deg camera is okayish. The Creta’s display/UI/touch quality is still very impressive.