The MG Astor is a decent all-rounder amongst the mid-size SUVs, but it doesn’t excel in any particular area. You’re right to observe that its 1.5-litre petrol engine won’t feel punchy enough for highway overtakes, and moreover, it doesn’t give you that confident, planted feel at high speeds. Design aside, both the Tata Nexon and the Kia Sonet will feel cramped compared to other SUVs available at this price.
Given your priorities, you should definitely stretch for the Volkswagen Taigun Topline, as it seems to perfectly align with your needs. The 1.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine has loads of punch, the SUV feels superbly planted at highway speeds, and on top of that, it is comfortable as well.
It has a 5-star Global NCAP rating, so safety shouldn’t be an issue, and since it is the Topline variant, it has plenty of features. There is a facelift of the Taigun coming later this year, but the price you are getting this 2025 example is too good to ignore, so we feel you should go for it.