Opel Astra Sedan Automatic Review

While the Opel Astra hatchback has been a permanent feature of the South African motoring landscape since before I was born, the sedan version has dipped in and out of the market with varying levels of success. However now the German arm of General Motors has taken its latest, most refined Astra ever, and added a boot.

In hatchback form, the Astra’s rivals in most aspects are the likely suspects: Ford Focus, VW Golf, Toyota Auris, Mazda3, to some extent the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and now Mercedes A-Class, amongst others. However by adding a boot, I feel it opens itself up to a host of new competitors, particularly from a segment ‘below’. I use inverted commas because the segment below, with cars like the upcoming Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra, don’t feel very lowly at all anymore.

So let’s call this a newcomer to the segment then. And what a handsome addition it is. With clean, strong lines, the Astra is striking, and I did field a few enquiries from the public. If I did have a crystal ball, and I were to gaze at it now, I would predict this model becoming a bit of a modern classic, and I would imagine we’ll see loads of them on the roads in years to come. Probably with aftermarket kits fitted and neon lights underneath, but that’s beside the point.

Astra sedan range and engines

Three spec levels are available, however only two engines are currently on offer. I tested the 1.4 turbo Essentia Auto, which provides just about the perfect amount of oomph. The other powerplant is the 1.6 litre turbo, which offers a healthy extra dose of 30 kW and 30 Nm over the 1.4.

With 103 kW and 200 Nm running through a 6 speed auto box, the Astra never felt underpowered and even provides enough confidence for some enthusiastic driving. However, at higher revs, the engine does feel like it’s straining, although the noise is never intrusive. I have a feeling though that instead of being a well-tuned engine, the Astra rather features a well-insulated engine bay.

Power delivery is smooth and the Astra excels as an urban run-around. The autobox is a peach, it seems to always be in the right gear and kick down is quick and effective. It does have a sport mode, but for some reason Sport mode is just a shambles. While the box will hold the gear for longer, it doesn’t seem to want to kick down, at all. Baffling.

There is a 5 speed manual on offer and paired with the 1.6 turbo, I imagine it would make the Opel Astra sedan quite good fun to drive. But with the refined, comfortable ride, I would save the R20 000 difference and stick with the 1.4 auto. Opt for the manual and you’ll save another R10 000.

Interior space and features

In an age of touchscreen interfaces, the Astra’s dash does unfortunately look a little dated. A wide but narrow monochrome red screen displays all infotainment, while a smaller, similar panel sits between the speedo and tachometer, featuring consumption and trip information. Aircon and electric mirrors are standard, however only the front windows are electric. Yes, there’s good ol’ window winders in the rear, which I must admit I haven’t seen in a long while.

I found the steering-wheel buttons well thought out and useful, and the infotainment system is comprehensive, with Bluetooth connectivity, USB MP3 playback and a very decent sound system, but the old-school, four-lines-of-text display makes navigating through menu items a bit frustrating. I particularly didn’t like the gearknob either. It feels plasticky but is designed to look like the handle of your granddad’s walking stick. It looks very out of place.

Besides the dash (and gearknob), the rest of the interior is spot on for this segment. Comfortable, supportive seating for five and very generous bootspace make this a car you could easily live with on the daily school run. The Astra is a big car for this segment, and I would argue that the interior space on offer here is best in class. It feels very roomy indeed.

Astra sedan safety features

There’s a decent alphabet soup fitted as standard here. ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, traction control and ability control all step in when you run out of talent or really need to stop in a hurry. It’s another excellent feature of the car, the brake feel. Very confident and firm but not snatchy at all.

The Opel Astra sedan is fitted with six airbags and has achieved the highest award available from EURO Ncap, with 5 stars.

The Opel Astra Sedan – should you or shouldn’t you?

At R265 500, this is a lot of car for your money. And it is a solid car. Not a rattle or squeak was to be heard, and the drivetrain and chassis feel very solid indeed. It feels like beneath the skin, there is some solid German engineering. But all of that is let down by a dated and bland infotainment system and dashboard – the bits of the car you notice, your friend’s notice, and more importantly, the bit of the car you use all day, every day.

While the Opel Astra sedan is more interesting and keenly priced against rivals like the Honda Civic (a similarly powered and specced Civic 1.8 is priced at R263 900, I have a feeling the biggest headaches for the German car brand are still to come, most notably in the form of the Toyota Corolla, launching in SA in February 2014.

Opel Astra Sedan 1.4T Essentia Auto Specifications

We like:
– Solid feel, refined ride
– Efficient yet powerful little motor
– Interior space

We dislike:
– Dated infotainment interface
– Sports mode isn’t sporty – at all
– No diesel variant

Opel Astra Sedan – Also consider
Honda Civic
VW Jetta
Mazda3 with a boot
Toyota Corolla

Opel Astra Sedan Photo Gallery