Opel Astra 1.4 Turbo
Michal Kieca
Engine: 1.4 Litre 16-valve Petrol. Power: 103kW @ 6000rpm | Torque: 200Nm @ 1850rpm
Transmission: Six-speed Manual
Fuel Consumption listed: 5.9 l/100km | Tested: 10.3 l/100km
Price (as tested): $22, 990 Drive-Away
Overall Rating: ★★★
Plusses: Roomy, rides well, looks great, interior design, pleasant engine and gearbox, that German badge…
Minuses: Can’t match Golf’s polish and refinement nor Focus’ joyous handling, likes a drink, not that well equipped.
OVERVIEW
Opel has landed in Australia late, very late, 113 years late. This means that the Astra, available is Europe since 2009, has just reappeared on the Australian car buyer radars.
The Astra is a very capable car, over its many generations it has matured into a respectful and affordable German car. It gets so many of the small car basics right, it’s good value, well equipped, drives decently and above all else has that all important German badge slapped onto its nose. Ultimately, the Astra might not be as polished as let’s say a Golf or Focus, but it certainly raises a compelling argument for buying it.
DESIGN:
The Astra is quite a large car in the segment. It’s by far the longest of all selected rivals, sits on a longer wheelbase, is alone in being over 1.5 m tall and is beaten for width only by the Focus. Visually, the Astra has departed from the slightly dull lines of its predecessor and opted for a more sculpted look pioneered by the Insignia. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but somehow the Astra manages to find a happy medium between the Focus’ fussy, incoherent design and the Golf’s minimalistic, clean approach. In terms of engineering, the bigger body is 43% more rigid than before to provide a more stable platform for its suspension (MacPherson strut up front, torsion beam with Watts linkage at the rear). The engines have all been optimized to be located as low down as possible in order to improve the car’s center of gravity, aiding handling as well as pedestrian protection.
THE INTERIOR: ★★★
Climb from an old Astra into a new one and you won’t believe your eyes, for it seems hardly credible that such a plain Jane interior can have been transformed into one so swish and classy in one single giant leap.
While the design is generally elegant, we must remember that we are not comparing the current Astra to the old one, instead we must focus on how the interior sticks up against the fierce competition. Trouble is, the Cruze and Astra were developed together as part of GM’s Delta II platform and inside it shows. Inside there’s clear evidence of cost-cutting, the switchgear feels cheap, and the plastics and tastefulness of the detailing are way short of being Golf-good. The switches are too small and fiddly and sometimes an utter nuisance to operate on the go. In the base specification car that was provided, you could forgive yourself for thinking that you’re colourblind in the Astra. Apart from some silver touches, the overall interior ambiance felt quiet bland and dreary indeed.
Opel has put the substantial dimensions of the Astra to good use and created a cabin with space that rivals the best in the class. The driving position is very good, with plenty adjustment all round. Rear passengers are well looked after with decent knee and toe room, however due to the Astra’s swooping roofline, headroom and visibility for those sitting in back aren’t ideal.
The boot is of a useful shape and is large enough in this segment, offering a total of 370 litres. The seats can also be folded completely flat and to aid practicality there is an adjustable boot floor.
PERFORMANCE: ★★★
With 200Nm available from 1850rpm, the 1.4 Turbo makes for effortlessly swift progress. In urban everyday driving, there is no need to work the rev counter or the nice and swift six-speed manual. The low-end torque makes the Astra feel quick and responsive, even if the numbers don’t show it on paper (9.1 seconds to 100km/h). The least impressive thing about the Astra’s powertrain was the fuel consumption, the car slurped 10.3L/100km during the test. Admittedly it would do a lot better in more relaxed everyday driving, as the 1.4 Turbo prefers cruising around lazily rather than chasing the redline. RIDE AND HANDLING:
Alright, Opel should be praised for the clarity of thought and simplicity of design that led to the addition of a Watt’s linkage to a normal torsion beam rear axle on the Astra. It’s cheap to manufacture and easy to package, it’s a clever and effective move. Just make sure no one manages to convince you that it’s quite as good as a far more complex and expensive fully independent multi-link rear end such as on the Focus and Golf.
Having said that, the Astra revealed itself as an accomplished tourer and country road craver. This is a car that rides proficiently, turns in crisply and possesses sufficient body control not to become flustered even by some of the most challenging country roads.
However, while the ride is good, it can't match the super serene Golf. The Astra handles well, but it doesn't achieve the same sort of dynamic prowess of the Focus. It feels like what it is: a well executed trade-off due to production pragmatism rather than engineering excellence.
Likewise, the steering leaves a little to be desired. It’s well weighted and offers vague feedback in the corners yet it manages to point faithfully and precisely. Overall this means that the interaction between car and driver is not quite ideal and ultimately limits the involvement that an enthusiast can have with the Astra.
The brakes are clearly up to the job though, from initial bite to outright retardation by way of pedal progression and fade resistance.
VALUE AND FEATURES: ★★★
The Astra is decent value for money, helped by the fact that the tested model is being sold for $22, 990 drive-away. Unfortunately the base Astra lacks some equipment; there is no climate control, navigation, nor even a central armrest. However, the bargain drive-away pricing does make the Astra great value for new car punters.
SAFETY: ★★★★★
The Astra comes full of passive and active safety features. ABS, brake-force distribution and brake assist with ESP and TCS are standard. The car has 6 airbags and achieved a 5 star ANCAP rating.
VERDICT:
Trouble is that the Astra is so nearly 'there', but it lacks the sparkle or innovation to topple its rivals. It certainly looks very nice and is a fine car but in the company of the Golf and Focus it seems that the good old Astra has gone back to its eternal position of being the ‘best of the rest’. For enthusiasts, who will always care more about what a car does than how it looks, the Astra’s role as eternal class bridesmaid looks set to continue.
All images/media © Opel GM Australia