Going on looks alone, the handsome and well-proportioned Opel Astra should have sold well here.
But the Opel Astra has lacked a bankable drivetrain, with the naturally aspirated 115bhp 1.6-litre engine in the base model not beefy enough to cope with the car’s weight (a considerable 1373kg), while the 6-speed automatic, though seamless, needs to work more quickly.
Here to hopefully sway buyers is the new turbo version of the Astra. The force-fed 1.4-litre beneath the bonnet is good for 140bhp and 200Nm – a significant 25bhp and 45Nm gain over the 1.6-litre unit, which is also still available.
Better still, the increased output translates into a century sprint timing of 10.2 seconds, a massive 3.1 seconds quicker than before. At the same time, fuel consumption has been improved by around five per cent.
This engine’s sweet spot lies between 3000rpm and 4000rpm, which results in a rather relaxed low end accompanied by a livelier mid-range and impressive cruising ability.
Although the bump-up is palpable, the full potential is held back by the impassive behaviour of the 6-speed automatic. Even utilising manual mode yields the same result.
The refinement of the Astra insulates occupants from high expressway speeds and busy traffic. Adding to the premium feel is the coloured 7-inch display in the dashboard, which is way nicer than the smaller screen (with dated red/orange lighting) found in the basic Astra.
Another new feature is Opel’s Flex-Fix system. Targeted at cycling enthusiasts, this is a built-in bicycle carrier neatly integrated with the vehicle. Deploying it is easy – a lever in the boot unlocks the mechanism that lets you slide out the rig from beneath the rear bumper.
The carrier can secure two bikes with frame sizes ranging from 18 to 22 inches and a total weight of 40kg. A warning sounds in the cabin if reverse gear is selected while Flex-Fix is deployed, reminding the driver to take extra care when backing up.
With this model, Opel has gained some ground against the all-turbo Volkswagen Golf range.
Opel Astra Turbo 1.4 (A)
ENGINE 1364cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbocharged
MAX POWER 140bhp at 4900rpm
MAX TORQUE 200Nm at 1850-4900rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 10.2 seconds
TOP SPEED 200km/h
CONSUMPTION 14.9km/L (combined)
PRICE INCL. COE $127,888 (as of June 2011)
Check out the latest Opel Astra Hatchback and Sports Tourer
