Honda City vs MG Astor: Comparing Their Entry-level Variants Priced Rs 10-12 Lakh for Family-focused Car Buyers on a Budget
As a family man, you consider only the best, or top family cars in India when deciding on which one to buy. Today, let’s look at the Honda City and MG Astor, and find out what makes them family-friendly car models in India.
In this article, we will share
- What family-focused buyers look for in a car
- Honda City vs MG Astor – a detailed analysis of their features, space, and safety
- How to pick the right car for you
So, are these perfect cars for a small family, or can they accommodate large families, too? And which of these is the right car for a family man? Read on.
What a Family-focused car buyer looks for in a car
Here’s what a family-focused buyer should look for in car:
- Safety – A car must have essential safety features, and a good safety rating
- Space and comfort – The car must have ample space to accommodate all family members, and must include convenience features like rear AC vents
- Ride and handling – The car’s ride and handling need to be good
Budget family buyers need space for kids and elders, some comfort features like power windows/steering, at least rear AC vents for second row, essential safety tech like airbags and ABS for trust, decent mileage for frequent trips, an automatic option for easy drive and good ground clearance for bad roads – all within an accessible price bracket between Rs 10-13 lakh. Brand reliability matters too.
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Why MG Astor and Honda City are popular
Both models target mass segment buyers desiring an affordable sedan for family duty. The Astor scores high on styling with LED lights, dual-tone alloys, panoramic roof etc even in base trim. Safety is addressed too with standard ESP, hill assist, disc brakes all around. Smart infotainment ups convenience.
The City SV packs Honda’s reliability at lowest pricing. Quality is impressive – be it fit-finish, plastic quality or paint job. Highlights include electric sunroof, steering controls, rear AC vents, auto AC, keyless entry, 17.8 kmpl mileage etc. Performance is perky thanks to the refined petrol unit. Brand allure means hassle-free ownership.
So with modern style and/or bulletproof reliability, both models check key boxes even in entry trims for joint families seeking value.
Honda City and MG Astor Variants Shortlist in Rs 10-12 Lakh Range
For Honda City, we have:
| Variant | Price (INR) as on 29 November 2023 |
|---|---|
| SV MT | ₹11.49 lakhs |
For MG Astor, we have:
| Variant | Price (INR) as on 29 November 2023 |
|---|---|
| Style EX MT | ₹10.52 lakhs |
| Style MT | ₹10.82 lakhs |
Honda City SV MT
The base City SV itself provides essential safety like dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, hill start assist, rear sensors, high speed alert etc – enough to protect the family. Comforts include 17.8 kmpl mileage, electric sunroof tilting seats, steering controls, rear AC vents, auto AC etc. Brand value adds ownership peace. If you enjoy long drives, you can read our comparison of the City with Hyundai Verna.
MG Astor Style EX MT
In Astor range, the entry Style EX packs LED lights, premium cabin with soft-touch materials, rear AC vents, tilt adjustable steering, 15.43 kmpl economy, 3D maps and smartphone connectivity. Disc brakes on all wheels and 4 speakers raise safety and convenience. If you’re a tech-savvy gadget lover, you can read our comparison of the Astor with Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara.
MG Astor Style MT
The mid Style trim adds essential safety tech like electronic stability, hill hold assist and rear defogger absent in the EX. Rest remains the same. So for an extra Rs 30,000, upgrades seem sensible. If you’re safety-conscious, you can read our comparison of the Astor with Honda Elevate.
Our Pick for the Best variant among MG Astor and Honda City for Family-focused car buyers on a budget
The best pick is the MG Astor Style MT priced at Rs 10.82 lakhs.
It strikes an optimal balance of modern styling, features, safety and pricing important for budget buyers. Exteriors look premium with projector headlights, LED DRLs, dual-tone 16-inch alloys and chrome highlights.
Interiors feel welcoming, thanks to the soft paint finish. The cabin gets auto climate control, rear AC vents, tilt steering adjustment, electric boot release, 3D maps, What3Words, Android Auto and Apple Carplay – sufficient to cover convenience needs.
Safety aspect is also well addressed with dual airbags, hill hold assist, electronic stability program, corner braking control, all 4 disc brakes etc which reassures family within city. Mileage is decent too at 15.43 km/l. Service network is improving as well.
So the Astor Style trim offers the most critical aspects family wants like style, comfort, safety and brand trust – all in an attractive price – making itself the most sensible package currently.
The 3 Variants Ranked in Order of Preference
- MG Astor Style MT
- Honda City SV MT
- MG Astor Style EX MT
| Variant | Price | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| MG Astor Style MT | Rs 10.82 lakhs | LED lightsAuto ACSafety features |
| Honda City SV MT | Rs 11.49 lakhs | ReliabilityElectric sunroofAirbags |
| MG Astor Style EX MT | Rs 10.52 lakhs | Alloy wheelsAuto ACValue pricing |
How to Pick the Right Car for You
- The Astor Style MT is the most sensible blend of design, features, safety and price important for family buyers on tight budget. This solid proposition makes it our top pick.
- The base Honda City SV also remains attractive primarily for its low cost of ownership, bulletproof Honda badge and package of comfort, safety features even in base form.
- The Astor Style EX variant tempts with its lower entry pricing coupled with premium styling and still retaining fundamentals like auto climate control, smartphone interfaces, alloy wheels etc.
So in summary, the Astor Style MT leads the charge by being the most practical and sensible choice currently for budget family buyers.
If you’re interested in reading more such face-to-face comparisons of popular car variants, head over to our Buying Advice section.
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