New generation Astra a sporty treat to drive
For the 2016 model year General Motors South Africa has recently launched its 11th generation Astra in hatchback form.
This latest version is not only lighter and more fuel efficient than its predecessor, but also has a more spacious interior and higher quality finish, and can boast that it was awarded the title of 2016 European Car of the Year.
Compared to the outgoing model, the Opel design team has given the new Astra a wider look.
The Opel Blitz is integrated in the centre of the chrome bar on the grill, with the characteristic ‘blade’ sweeping towards the rear. The headlamps are sleek and sporty, and flow seamlessly into the grill aperture to form a distinctive graphic, while the rear lights mirror the blade-shaped motif.
Moving inside, the Astra has been completely re-designed. Switches and controls have been reduced to an absolute minimum, making it much tidier and easier to operate. The centre-piece of the new Astra’s interior is the award-winning IntelliLink system that comes with Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, audio streaming, aux-in, USB ports and Digital.
The seats are firm but supportive, there’s plenty of adjustment plus the steering column is adjustable for both rake and reach, to help you find a good driving position. At the rear, there’s ample room for two tall adults, or perhaps three at a pinch, but there’s still plenty head room.
The interior is littered with useful bins and cubbies for oddment stowage, and the large boot will easily swallow the family’s luggage on the annual holiday.
The new Opel Astra is packed with the latest technology and, dependant on model or options selected, these include the latest generation Opel Eye front camera, which registers the preceding and on-coming traffic, as well as recognising ambient light, for example street lighting in urban areas.
The Astra 1.4T Enjoy manual is powered by Opel’s brand new 1.4 litre ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo delivering 110kW of power at 5 000rpm and 230Nm of torque from 2 000 and 4 000 rpm and sends drive to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Fuel consumption is given as 5,1 l/100 km but the trip recorder in the press vehicle registered 6,6 l/100 km.
The flagship Astra 1.6T Sport PLUS model is powered by Opel’s new 1.6 litre Turbo ECOTEC turbo charged unit with performance figures of 147kW at 4 700rpm and 280Nm available from 1 650 rpm.
The new Astra handles superbly as is expected from a sporty hatch, showing tremendous grip levels in tight bends not-withstanding the lightly weighted electric power-steering. Overall it is really sporty and fun to drive.
The brakes on both cars were fully up to the performance and in the emergency stop from 100 km/h, the 1.6 Sport pulled up in just 2,8 seconds.
