MG Motors and Volkswagen will finally enter into the mid-sized SUV category in the month of September 2021. This segment is currently dominated by Hyundai Creta and its sibling Kia Seltos. Skoda has also entered this segment with the Kushaq, which has already bagged over 6.000 bookings since its launch on June 28, 2021. While MG Motor will launch the MG Astor, Volkswagen will launch the Taigun in September 2021.
Volkswagen Taigun
Volkswagen has confirmed that prices of its upcoming mid-sized SUV – the VW Taigun will be announced in the third week of September 2021. Interested buyers can pre-book the new SUV online or via VW authorised dealerships across India. It will be based on the MQB AO IN platform, which also underpins the Skoda Kushaq. Both models share body panels and features; however, the design remains completely different from each other.
The Taigun will be offered with two turbocharged petrol engines – a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder TSI turbocharged and a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged. The 1.0-litre engine is capable of producing 113bhp of power and 175Nm of torque. Transmission choices will include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque convertor automatic. The 1.5L TSI engine is the same engine that powers the Kushaq and VW T-ROC. This engine churns out 147bhp of power and 250Nm of torque. For transmitting power, it will have a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 7-speed DSG automatic.
MG Astor
MG Motors has announced to launch a mid-sized SUV, which is basically the petrol derivative of the ZS EV. Rumoured to be called the MG Astor, the new SUV will be launched in the second half of September 2021. The company has announced that the new Astor will be the first model to feature the IT systems enabled by Jio’s IoT solutions. The company has also announced the concept of Car as a Platform (CAAP), and Astor will be the first model to get this new technology.
Expected to be priced around Rs 10 lakh to Rs 17 lakh, the new Astor will rival the Hyundai Creta and the Kia Seltos. It will come with two petrol engine options – a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol and a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol. While the naturally-aspirated petrol engine will produce around 120bhp and 150Nm of torque, the turbocharged engine is capable of producing 163bhp of power and 230Nm of torque. Both manual and automatic gearbox options will be on offer.
