Over the last couple of years I’ve test driven much of what Opel has on show in terms of their Astra. I’ve recently felt that it doesn’t get the credit it deserves. I say this because I don’t see it half as often as I used to on our roads. Last week I was given the keys of the Astra SRi Limited Edition (LE) which was jam-packed with extras, and at a reasonable-enough price too.
The Opel Astra SRi Limited Edition is a nice looking car, sportier looking than the regular Astra hatchback due to some features from the OPC-Line in the front bumper and grille, body coloured logo, side sill extensions and rear lower skirt.
The car certainly looks the part, but under the hood isn’t as exciting as what you’d find in a real OPC. Don’t get me wrong, this car comes with a new, and very efficient, 1.6litre CDTI ecoFLEX engine from Opel, but from the outside you expect much more. This car is for the dreamer who wants an OPC-Line Astra but doesn’t have the funds in their pocket to match. What this engine does have is great fuel economy statistics and a decent-enough 110hp. The maximum speed of this vehicle according to Opel is 184km/h and it will take you from 0-100km/h in 11.6 seconds.
What’s special about this car is two things; Firstly it’s Opel’s 1.6CDTI engine, it’s quieter and more refined than what was before it, it also offer much more attractive statistics in terms of fuel economy (on-paper fuel economy of 3.6 litres per 100km) and CO2 emissions (94 g/CO2 per km).
Secondly, this does look really good. The 18” alloys and the OPC-Line features, give a strong stance to this car. The only problem I found with the body kit is that it sits too low to the front, and under the bumper scraped off every ramp I drove over.
Drive:
When it comes to driving this particular Astra there is not really much to complain about. The steering is precise at regular speeds and it handles the roads in front well. When it comes to country roads the steering could do with a bit more life when you’re pushing the car a bit. The Astra is well-built, it generally soaks up bumps very well, and the cabin is well insulated from outside road noises coming in.
Interior:
Inside this car is very refined and comfortable. I like the chrome trim around the dials in the instrument cluster. The centre console is still full of buttons, but the next generation of Astra is sure to offer Opel’s latest IntelliLink system or better.
Price and competition:
This particular Astra has some very heavy competition, especially from the Volkswagen Golf Edition R with a 1.6 TDI BlueMotion engine. The Golf has a bigger fan base judging by current car sales and many of them would be driven by the looks of the vehicle. Other strong competition comes from the SEAT Leon, the Ford Focus and the Hyundai i30.
The Astra I drove will cost you €25,605, but without the additional extras I had (Forward Lighting Pack, Space-Saver spare wheel and Sight & Light Pack) the car will cost you €23,995. The standard features make this model a pretty good deal. You get the already mentioned OPC adornments and apart from that you also get; SATNAV with a seven-inch colour screen, sporty front seats, a multi-function steering wheel, USB connection with iPod control, Bluetooth, air conditioning and more. A base-model Astra will set you back €19,495.
