Vauxhall AstraThe Astra name has been around for more years than most of would care to think about, and each new version has seen dramatic improvements. One of the main reasons I know that is that my mother owned a Mark 1 Astra for many years, and it gave me, who tried with increasing desperation to look after it, more problems than any other car my family has owned. Later models have by all accounts been paragons of reliability in comparison.At 4.42m the new Astra has grown 17cm compared with the previous one, and is sized right between the 4.0m Corsa and the 4.83m Insignia. The wheelbase has increased by 7cm, improving rear passenger space and obviously adding comfort.Design of the new car has taken its cues from the Insignia, a design which itself has been very well received (see our review here). Vauxhall spokespeople tell us that the Astra side view “hints at a sleek, almost coupe-like look, which belies the Astra’s generous passenger accommodation, suitable for five adults.” And that’s true, well the bit about the passenger room anyway, for leg room in the back is ample for full sized adults, with plenty of head room for the tall ones too.The car is available with a range of eight engines ranging from 87 to 180PS, which help provide an overall cut in emissions of 13% compared with the current Astra range. I started the tests behind the wheel of the 1.4 turbo petrol version. With 140PS this feels remarkably powerful, pulling what is not that small a car, and noise levels are commendably low. There are two lower powered 1.4 engines available, both un-turboed and of course considerably less expensive. The turbo version can be had with manual or auto transmission, though with the latter you’re staring at a dramatic fuel consumption penalty: 40.4mpg compared to the manual’s 47.9. Official consumption of both non-turbo engines is 51.4, so not hugely better than the manual turbo, and performance of the turbo is of course vastly superior. To put a figure to it, the 0-60 time is 9 seconds, compared to thirteen point something for both naturally aspirated engines.Although Vauxhall expect diesel engines to take almost half of the sales, the big seller of the range is likely to be the 1.6 petrol engine, which again is available in turbo or naturally breathing formats. I tried the non-turbo one, which though not especially rapid is remarkably refined; one of those engines that continually makes you think it’s something bigger than it actually is.The three diesel choices are 110 and 125PS versions of the 1.7-litre, and the impressively powerful 160PS two-litre. Surprisingly, what came across more than any other aspect of the diesel cars was the suspension. In theory this is exactly the same as on the petrol motors, but believe me, it feels a lot different. Stiffer springs are presumably employed to cope with the diesel’s extra weight, and the whole thing feels noticeably firmer. That’s no major criticism of course, for British motorists are known for their love of the firm ride; it’s just surprisingly different.For a car that has to sell in vast numbers, practical considerations are paramount. So does the Astra deliver? Well as mentioned above, it scores highly for passenger room, and boot space is 370 to 1235 litres; pretty much Ford Focus numbers. Along with many other of the latest hatchbacks, most models of the Astra feature an adjustable boot floor, here called Flex-Floor, which can be positioned at various heights to optimise the load carrying. Interior design is simple but attractive, with the predominantly dark finishes offset by bright edgings to the facia. The driving position has all the normal adjustments, and seats are very comfortable.Popularity of the Astra is evident from the sales figures: for a long time it ran a close second to the Focus, though for the last couple of years it’s dropped a couple of places as the model aged. This new one will undoubtedly get the Vauxhall show firmly on the road again, and indeed the company posted 6050 retail sales in December, which not only exceeded the 3925 sales from December 2008, when the recession first took hold, but also the 5881 retail sales recorded in December 2007. That brings to a close what has been an outstanding last quarter for Vauxhall, with a total of 18,884 retail sales recorded, a 53 per cent increase over the same period in 2008.“A major contributor to this success has been the new Astra,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Retail Sales Director. “In December 2008 the old model was running sixth in its segment, but a year on the Mk 6 has helped us achieve third place with retail sales boosted from 493 to 1969 units – a 299 per cent improvement.”Size: 4.42m x 2.01m (inc mirrors)Engines: Petrol: 1.4 litres – 87, 100 and 140PS1.6 litres – 115 and 180PS Diesel: 1.7 litres – 110 and 125PS2.0 litres – 160PSGearbox: 5/6-speed manual or 6-speed auto FWDBest Consumption: 1.7 diesels – 60.1mpgPrice at Jan ’10: £15,675 to £23,695Full details of the Astra range available on the manufacturer’s website: www.vauxhall.co.ukPeter Cracknell - January 2010
Vauxhall Astra
The Astra name has been around for more years than
most of would care to think about, and each new
version has seen dramatic improvements. One of the
main reasons I know that is that my mother owned a
Mark 1 Astra for many years, and it gave me, who
tried with increasing desperation to look after it, more
problems than any other car my family has owned.
Later models have by all accounts been paragons of
reliability in comparison.
At 4.42m the new Astra has grown 17cm compared
with the previous one, and is sized right between the
4.0m Corsa and the 4.83m Insignia. The wheelbase
has increased by 7cm, improving rear passenger
space and obviously
adding comfort.
Design of the new car
has taken its cues
from the Insignia, a
design which itself has
been very well
received (see our
review here). Vauxhall
spokespeople tell us
that the Astra side
view “hints at a sleek,
almost coupe-like
look, which belies the
Astra’s generous
passenger
accommodation,
suitable for five
adults.” And that’s
true, well the bit about the passenger room anyway,
for leg room in the back is ample for full sized adults,
with plenty of head room for the tall ones too.
The car is available with a range of eight engines
ranging from 87 to 180PS, which help provide an
overall cut in emissions of 13% compared with the
current Astra range. I started the tests behind the
wheel of the 1.4 turbo petrol version. With 140PS this
feels remarkably powerful, pulling what is not that
small a car, and noise levels are commendably low.
There are two lower powered 1.4 engines available,
both un-turboed and of course considerably less
expensive. The turbo version can be had with manual
or auto transmission, though with the latter you’re
staring at a dramatic fuel consumption penalty:
40.4mpg compared to the manual’s 47.9. Official
consumption of both non-turbo engines is 51.4, so not
hugely better than the manual turbo, and performance
of the turbo is of course vastly superior. To put a
figure to it, the 0-60 time is 9 seconds, compared to
thirteen point something for both naturally aspirated
engines.
Although Vauxhall expect diesel engines to take
almost half of the sales, the big seller of the range is
likely to be the 1.6 petrol engine, which again is
available in turbo or naturally breathing formats. I tried
the non-turbo one, which though not especially rapid
is remarkably refined; one of those engines that
continually makes you think it’s something bigger than
it actually is.
The three diesel choices are 110 and 125PS versions
of the 1.7-litre, and the impressively powerful 160PS
two-litre. Surprisingly, what came across more than
any other aspect of the diesel cars was the
suspension. In theory this is exactly the same as on
the petrol motors, but believe me, it feels a lot
different. Stiffer springs are presumably employed to
cope with the diesel’s extra weight, and the whole
thing feels noticeably firmer. That’s no major criticism
of course, for British motorists are known for their love
of the firm ride; it’s just surprisingly different.
For a car that has to sell in vast numbers, practical
considerations are paramount. So does the Astra
deliver? Well as mentioned above, it scores highly for
passenger room, and boot space is 370 to 1235 litres;
pretty much Ford Focus numbers. Along with many
other of the latest hatchbacks, most models of the
Astra feature an adjustable boot floor, here called
Flex-Floor, which can be
positioned at various
heights to optimise the
load carrying. Interior
design is simple but
attractive, with the
predominantly dark
finishes offset by bright
edgings to the facia. The
driving position has all the
normal adjustments, and
seats are very
comfortable.
Popularity of the Astra is
evident from the sales
figures: for a long time it
ran a close second to the
Focus, though for the last
couple of years it’s dropped a couple of places as the
model aged. This new one will undoubtedly get the
Vauxhall show firmly on the road again, and indeed
the company posted 6050 retail sales in December,
which not only exceeded the 3925 sales from
December 2008, when the recession first took hold,
but also the 5881 retail sales recorded in December
2007. That brings to a close what has been an
outstanding last quarter for Vauxhall, with a total of
18,884 retail sales recorded, a 53 per cent increase
over the same period in 2008.
“A major contributor to this success has been the new
Astra,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Retail Sales
Director. “In December 2008 the old model was
running sixth in its segment, but a year on the Mk 6
has helped us achieve third place with retail sales
boosted from 493 to 1969 units – a 299 per cent
improvement.”
Size:
4.42m x 2.01m (inc mirrors)
Engines:
Petrol:
1.4 litres – 87, 100 and 140PS
1.6 litres – 115 and 180PS
Diesel:
1.7 litres – 110 and 125PS
2.0 litres – 160PS
Gearbox:
5/6-speed manual or 6-speed
auto FWD
Best Consumption:
1.7 diesels – 60.1mpg
Price at Jan ’10:
£15,675 to £23,695
Full details of the Astra range available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.vauxhall.co.uk
Peter Cracknell - January 2010
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