MG discontinued Astor in India owing to dwindling sales: Reports

New Delhi:MG Motor India has reportedly pulled the plug on the Astor, bringing an end to its five-year run in the Indian market. Dealer sources have told Autocar India that the mid-size SUV has been discontinued following consistently low sales. Introduced in 2021, the Astor competed against popular models such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq. 

Despite offering several premium features, the SUV failed to establish a strong presence in the segment. The Astor looked promising with its size and came at the perfect time when mid-size SUVs were growing in India. However, that was just not enough in a market that had both established nameplates and strong emerging products.

Why did the MG Astor struggle in India?

One of the Astor’s biggest limitations was its very small choice of engines. At launch, MG offered a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that made 110hp and a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol unit developing 140hp.

However, the turbo-petrol engine was discontinued in February 2025, leaving buyers with only the less powerful 1.5-litre engine.

The remaining petrol engine was available with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic. Meanwhile, several competitors offered a wider selection of powertrains, including diesel, CNG and hybrid options. Another possible reason behind the Astor’s disappointing sales was its design. Unlike the upright proportions of rivals such as the Creta and Seltos, the Astor featured a lower, crossover-like stance, making it appear comparatively smaller.

Between September 2025 and September 2026, the Astor averaged just 112 units in monthly sales. Before being discontinued, prices ranged from Rs 9.79 lakh to Rs 15.30 lakh (ex-showroom).

MG’s replacement for Astor expected in 2027

While the Astor has reportedly been discontinued, MG is not planning to exit the mid-size SUV segment. The company is developing a replacement model that is expected to arrive in India sometime in 2027.

The upcoming SUV is likely to use SAIC’s SIGMA platform, which supports conventional petrol engines, hybrid systems and fully electric powertrains.

This could allow MG to offer more engine options than the outgoing Astor. The new architecture could also underpin a replacement for the MG ZS EV. However, MG has not officially confirmed the upcoming SUV’s specifications, powertrain options or launch date.