By Miles Downard
What’s this?
I think its fairly safe to say that aside from the original Astra from the early 90’s (which incidentally won SA Car of the Year in ’95), Opel has been through a rough patch. The good news is that an all new line up is pulling the company out of the doldrums; and this Astra forms part of that effort. Accordingly almost everything has been redesigned and re-engineered. It’s a lot lighter, a little smaller (though just as roomy), and prettier. It’s even been nominated for the 2016 Car of the Year competition.
On the outside
It’s quite distinctive, isn’t it? Quite a smooth, almost French inspired front end that wraps around to an edgy rear end. There aren’t any fireworks per se but I do like it. The headlights are especially intricate in their design and blend well with the chrome across the grille.
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On the inside
Nice and stylish is the general feeling, again displaying a French touch in my opinion. Nothing is brash, just clean swooping lines make the dashboard flow from one end to the other. Quality is good and ergonomics just right. Amazingly, despite the smaller overall dimensions, the Astra actually has more space on the inside thanks to clever packaging.
The differentiator though is all about tech, specifically the R 4.0 IntelliLink infotainment system. This brings smartphone connectivity and apps into the cabin, including the use of Apple’s CarPlay and, when it arrives in SA, Android Auto.
Then there’s Opel’s driver assist package, which granted is an optional extra but is well worth mentioning (and having). There are blind spot indicators, forward collision warning systems that incorporate low speed collision mitigation braking, lane keep assist and a following distance indication. Furthermore the car will read road traffic signs (like speed limit signs) and display them on the instrument panel. It’s a remarkable array of safety features for any car, let alone a C segment hatchback, putting the Astra in a class of its own.
Behind the wheel
Under the bonnet lies Opel’s 1.0 litre three cylinder turbo charged petrol unit, good for 77kW and 170 torques mated to a five speed manual gearbox. Nice combo, which doesn’t feel terribly underpowered despite the apparent size of the Astra. That’s because Opel’s engineers have worked tirelessly to reduce the car’s weight by no less than 120kg and up to 200kg for certain derivatives. That’s massive.
The knock on effect is an Astra that feels light and nimble on the road, which is a pleasing experience behind the wheel and helps tremendously with fuel consumption.
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Pricing
The Astra 1.0 Enjoy starts on the price sheets at R284,300. The Driver Assist Pack is only a R6,300 option. At that kind of money you can’t even buy a Kia, never mind a VW Golf. The value proposition offered by Opel is simply ridiculous.
Verdict
The Astra might not seem the most obvious choice amongst the sea of C segment hatchbacks, and that’s before you ever consider the more popular and ever growing compact SUV market, but honestly it’s the one you should be buying.
