MG Astor vs MG Hector vs Hyundai Creta vs others

The Volkswagen Taigun has its own fresh, European character and complements its cousin (the recently launched Skoda Kushaq) nicely in a segment dominated by Indian, Korean and Chinese SUVs.

Aditya recently shared this other enthusiasts.

MG Astor:

Preview Link

MG Hector:

What you'll like:

• Big size & lots of bling for the money! We find the Hector to be well-priced.
• A spacious cabin that can easily seat 5 adults. Massive 587 litre boot too.
• Fiat-sourced 2.0L diesel is simply fantastic.
• Compliant ride quality. Suspension is tuned for comfort.
• Lots of kit (panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric seats & tailgate etc.).
• ‘Connected’ Tablet ICE with an embedded SIM & lovely sound quality.
• 5-year / unlimited km warranty with roadside assistance.
• Top safety equipment includes 6 airbags, ESP, HSA, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS & more.

What you won't:

• Awkward styling on the side & rear profiles. Looks weird from some angles.
• Sloppy high-speed handling, noticeable body roll & easy understeer.
• The petrol engine is “adequate” at best. Its guzzling Automatic variant is unimpressive.
• No Diesel AT (Creta, Seltos, XUV500, Hexa offer this combination, which we love).
• Some annoyances like the ~6 meter turning radius, strange rpm meter…
• Small after-sales network. Service quality & long-term reliability are big unknowns.
• Waiting period runs into a couple of months.
• Don’t get blinded by the British branding. This is a Chinese car.

Review link

Hyundai Creta:

What you'll like:

• A superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a premium experience.
• We find the Hyundai Creta to be well-priced for what it offers.
• User-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality parts.
• Loved the 1.4L turbo-petrol & 1.5L diesel. These are fantastic engines.
• Smooth & competent automatic gearboxes available. With the useful "auto-hold" feature too.
• Sorted road manners & handling for a Hyundai, including on the highway. You will be surprised!
• The Creta's safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS etc.
• Impressive kit (panoramic sunroof, paddle shifters, Bose sound system, cooled seats, cabin air purifier & loads more).
• Hyundai's competent after-sales service, fuss-free ownership & upto 5-years standard warranty.

What you won't:

• Oddball love it or hate it styling. We find the Creta's exterior design to be too weird & futuristic.
• Firmer suspension isn't as cushy as the 1st-gen Creta. It is more comfortable than the Seltos though.
• Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults.
• Some misses (no auto wipers, 360-degree camera, illuminated window buttons, full-size spare tyre on top trims).
• Dual-clutch ATs (like the Hyundai Creta Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India.
• Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment. Old 1.6L CRDi was superior.
• No manual transmission available with the fast 1.4L Petrol (Seltos offers this combo).
• The stiffer Seltos has an edge in the handling department. IMHO, the Kia is better looking too.
• You get bigger SUVs & Crossovers for the same money (e.g. Hector, Harrier, XUV500).

Review link

Kia Seltos:

What you'll like:

• A superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a premium experience.
• Handsome, contemporary styling. Looks very sharp.
• We find the Seltos to be well-priced for what it offers.
• Nice, user-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality.
• Loved the 1.4L turbo-petrol & 1.5L diesel. They are BS6 compliant too.
• Both the automatics - Diesel AT & Petrol DCT - are simply fantastic!
• Mature on-road behavior, including at highway speeds. A+ brakes as well.
• Unusually wide variant offering. Seems there is something for everyone.
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, blind spot monitor, TPMS etc.
• Impressive kit (360 degree camera, HUD, front parking sensors, Bose sound system, cooled seats, cabin air purifier & loads more).

What you won't:

• Barely managed 3-stars in the GNCAP crash tests (full discussion).
• Firm suspension. Liveable, but bad roads will bother you (especially on 17" wheel variants).
• Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults.
• Niggles are being reported by owners (details here).
• Some misses (illuminated window buttons, thinner spare tyre on top trims, no dual-tone option on GTX+ / HTX+).
• Dual-clutch ATs (like the Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India.
• Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment.
• Extremely confusing & complicated variant spread. We still haven’t gotten the hang of it!
• Kia's after-sales service quality is an unknown. We await details in our ownership reports.
• You get bigger SUVs & Crossovers for the same money (e.g. Hector, Harrier, XUV500).

Review link

Skoda Kushaq:

What you'll like:

• A breath of fresh (European) air in a sea of Korean, Chinese & Indian SUVs.
• Classy exterior & interior styling matched with solid European build quality.
• Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage.
• 48 BHP engine makes the Kushaq one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment.
• Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs.
• Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package.
• Safety features include 6 airbags (sadly MT only), ESC (all variants), 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more.
• 6-year extended warranty & 4-year all inclusive service packages available.
• Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, audio system with a punchy subwoofer, auto headlamps & wipers etc.

What you won't:

• No 1.5L diesel is a major disadvantage in a world where petrol costs over 100 bucks / litre.
• DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India.
• Narrow width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard.
• Lovely 1.5L TSI is only available on the top variant.
• At 385 litres, boot space is lesser than its direct rivals (Creta & Seltos = 433L).
• Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors.
• Skoda’s notorious dealerships & after-sales horror stories.
• Missing some now expected features such as 6 airbags on the ATs, driving modes (sport), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric driver's seat adjustment & regular USB ports.
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard.

Review link

Volkswagen Taigun:

What you'll like:

• Has its own fresh, European character and complements its cousin (the recently launched Skoda Kushaq) nicely in a segment dominated by Indian, Korean and Chinese SUVs.
• Unmistakably VW styling matched with solid European build quality.
• Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage.
• 148 BHP engine makes the Taigun one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment!
• Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs.
• Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package.
• Safety features include up to 6 airbags, ESC (all variants), 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more.
• Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats (weirdly 1.0 TSI only), sunroof, 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
• Advantages over the Kushaq = a top AT variant with 6 airbags, design that stands out more, cabin 'feels' better, fabric seats are executed in a nicer manner...

What you won't:

• No 1.5L diesel is a major disadvantage in a world where petrol costs over 100 bucks/litre.
• GT customers will need to choose between the rock (potential DQ200 transmission problems) and a hard place (GT manual variant misses out on many top-end features).
• Narrow cabin width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard.
• Interior colour scheme and quality don't feel up to traditional VW standards. Some polarising details too (chrome outside, painted plastics inside...).
• Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors.
• VW’s after-sales service can be a hit or miss. Many VW owners find it expensive too.
• Missing some now-expected features such as 6 airbags in the MTs, a subwoofer, driving modes (sport), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric driver's seat adjustment & rear window blinds.
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard.
• Kushaq's 'clever' touches are missing = no spot on top of the dashboard to place a deity, no smartphone holders on the front seatbacks, no ticket clip on the windshield, no elastic band in the doorpad to keep items in place, or even something as simple as the small reflective tapes on the doorpads.

Review link

Mahindra XUV700:

What you'll like:

• Handsome styling matched to solid build quality. Has street presence, feels robust.
• Very spacious interiors with comfy seats and sorted ergonomics. 6-footer passengers welcome!
• 182 BHP turbo-diesel & 197 BHP turbo-petrol make for a potent line-up.
• Smooth 6-speed torque converter Automatics available with both engines.
• Sorted suspension with good road manners & high speed stability.
• AWD available for the adventurous, unlike most FWD crossovers in the segment.
• Loaded with features like radar-based driver assistance system, pop-out door handles, panoramic sunroof, driver memory seat, 360-degree camera, 10.25" infotainment & instrument cluster etc.
• 12-speaker Sony audio system is fantastic! You'll enjoy its sound quality.
• Safety features include 7 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, hill descent control, driver drowsiness detection, TPMS, ISOFIX...

What you won't:

• Negligible boot space with the 3rd-row seat up. Either 5 onboard, or 7 with a roof-top carrier.
• Cramped 3rd-row seat is best suited to children only. A sliding middle row is sorely missed.
• Petrol AT is thirsty due to its hefty weight, 197 BHP & torque-converter AT.
• Some cabin plastics & a few rough areas don't feel premium in an otherwise loaded SUV.
• Missing features such as an auto-dimming IRVM, ventilated seats, paddle shifters, full-size spare wheel, ambient lighting, rear sunblinds....
• Concerns over niggles & bugs in a freshly baked, complex Mahindra. We saw 2!
• Mahindra's after-sales service is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble.
• AWD is available just with the Diesel AT, and not the MT or petrol motor.

Review link

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

The MG Astor sure has created an impression. It's no cheaply built Chinese product. Quite the opposite, honestly. Well put together, stylish interiors with the "wow" effect, tech and sorted suspension.

I personally love big cars though, so I'd go for the very impressive XUV700 Diesel AT. It's not a direct competitor, but there is some price overlap in the variants.

Among the smaller breed, I would probably pick a Skoda Kushaq 1.5L, although only after they sort out all the issues & problems. It's a heck of a lot of fun to drive. Haven't driven the Astor yet (expected soon), but I don't think my opinion will change after that drive.

Here's what BHPian ashis89 had to say on the matter:

Something bigger.

The VW twins are a tad too small for me and overpriced for what they offer (I would consider the 1.5L only).

On the Astor, the engine options are not too attractive but the size is perfect! All those connected features on the Astor dissuade me enough not to consider it.

Creta and Seltos are the perfect size for my use case. Still can't digest the looks of Creta, unfortunately. And their crash test result left a bad taste.

If I am looking for a car today, the Harrier and XUV700 would be my choice, but their niggles will be my worry as well as lugging the mammoth in the city. If not one of these, I will go with the Seltos.

Here's what BHPian abhishek46 had to say on the matter:

The VAG twins are a bit compact & un-reliable.

The Astor has un-enthusiastic powertrains & a cross-over stance which did not appeal to me.

And to add, none of the above offerings have a diesel option.

The Koreans have the largest permutation combination ever, of engines (Both petrol & diesel) and gearboxes.

Among the Koreans, Hyundai has more than a thousand service centers, and is fuss-free for most part.

That is why my vote goes to the Creta.

The Hector, XUV700 & Tata-twins are too large & expensive for my needs.

Here's what BHPian tp_dominator had to say on the matter:

Voted for the MG Hector!

I was about to create a new What Car thread and this thread popped up at the right time. I am looking for a car in this segment and I am absolutely torn about what car to choose. I am considering diesels only for my usage and below are the only options (top variants only).

• Hyundai Creta:- Can't digest the looks plus poor headlights, however, seems the most complete along with that sweet diesel AT carrying loads of useful features. However safety concerns and the L-O-N-G waiting period has put this on the backburner. Maybe the rumored facelift next year would bring some more features from the Alcazar and make the looks more digestible.
• Kia Seltos:- 2 star safety rating, enough said. Not considering this at all, the waiting period also does not make it any easier.
• Tata Harrier:- Loved the car and it's available in diesel AT guise too but almost 5 lakhs expensive than Creta and does not get too many features for that money too. Also, the constant niggles on the Harrier thread do not help its case.
• XUV700:- Don't need a 7 seater and lugging such real estate daily in the city will be quite cumbersome. Those who booked it on 7th October still don't have a concrete delivery timeline, mere mortals like me would only be providing Mahindra free working capital plus Rs. 2100 donation when I cancel. PS:- My BIL has also booked one so one more reason its out of contention.
• MG Hector:- Feels too big for daily city usage but otherwise loaded to the gills with features, loved the ride quality coming from the 17 inch tyred Ecosport and family would be more than happy riding in it given its soft suspension. High speed behavior seemed satisfactory to me, maybe its something to do with the newer 18 inch wheels? This seems to be the most complete car for me barring its size and it being an unpopular choice here on the forum. Does not get a diesel AT too. However, still researching about it and seems its going to be the one mostly.
• Jeep Compass:- Expensive! However not too far from Harrier/Hector especially the Limited version. But it misses out on quite a few features present in Hector/Creta. Important one being ventilated seats on the Limited, would definitely need to stretch to Model S. Also, automatics are outside the budget range even if I stretch it since I would be stretching for the manual itself. Ride quality was good on the test drive, however, I found it low on space for my frame. My knee was constantly touching the console area and the footwell was cramped. Dead pedal was pretty useless on the manual. In the other cars I am considering, the upper shin area touches the console and that is fine with me since I sit quite wide legged and need free space for my knee.

In the end the battle seems to be narrowed down to the Creta and Hector. But the Hector scores more brownie points from me especially in that White/Black dual tone shade despite it being a manual only. Will take a decision by March/April 2022.

Leaving you all with another wild thought - retain the Ecosport and book a Thar diesel AT convertible top for the occassional adventure trips and thrills.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.