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Adam Davis25 Jul 2015
REVIEW

Holden Astra 2015 Review

Rebadged GM warm and hot hatches make Aussie return
Review Type
Road Test

Holden has gone back to the future with its revitalised Astra range. Already seen on these shores wearing Opel badges, these Astras have been repackaged with local lion badges and redistributed to the market with sharper pricing but similar specifications to what was deemed saleable in 2013. Can the Astra GTC Sport and VXR still stack up in the face of 2015 competition?

There's a ringing sense of familiarity to the shape of Holden's 2015 Astra range. Despite that, the exterior design remains fresh enough, cleanly modern and distinctive.

Plumping for the $29,990 (plus on-road costs -- there is also an entry-spec GTC available for $26,990 plus ORCs) manual Astra GTC Sport first, the illusion of modernity collapses somewhat with the first opening of the oversized driver's door.

For starters, its heft is a hassle as it constantly wants to close on itself. It also means the seat-belt mount is well behind your shoulder, asking for a contortion that only those familiar with the more advanced yoga poses could hope to pull off without a glitch.

The pews themselves are ‘leather-accented' and are comfortable enough, especially with the integral heaters warming you in winter. But they're not overly sporty in look or bolster.

Facing forward, the combination of plain steering wheel and busy central switchgear really shows the Astra's age.

The front parking sensor is also super-keen to let you know when a hazard may be on the horizon with a barrage of beeps. That's fine, you switch it off… only to have to do it again each time the ignition is turned on. There's also no rear-view camera, although side and rear vision is reasonable for this type of vehicle.

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Go to enter an address in the standard-fit satellite navigation – part of an overall standard spec that measures well on paper – and the lack of touchscreen requires old-tech scrolling through a QWERTY keyboard layout that appears on-screen. It can be frustratingly clunky.

Twist the key and the Astra GTC Sport's 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine catches quickly. Designed to run on 98 RON unleaded, its 147kW/280Nm figures don't particularly sparkle, especially against the GTC Sport's near-1500kg kerb weight. There's no point revving this engine, a feeling exacerbated by long gearing (with long-throw shifter) which sees the Astra requiring a shift back into first gear around car-parks to ensure smooth progress. The mid-range is where it's at its best.

Where the Astra GTC Sport may so far sound like a disappointment, when you move into the driving, the car does a solid warm hatch impression.

Body control is decent, as is the ride, and there's a nice progression to the Astra's steering and braking responses, which inspire confidence. The adoption of HiPerStrut front suspension no doubt assists in terms of feedback and response, while also reducing torque steer at the 19-inch wheels thanks to shortened spindle lengths and reduced kingpin angles. It's also relatively quiet at speed with low road and engine noise. It's also reasonably efficient, recording 8.3L/100km during our time with it.

Shifting to the go-hard VXR, it's the engine noise that immediately sets the top-spec sportster from its GTC stablemate. The VXR fires its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with start-up vigour before it settles to a resonant idle.
There's real bite to the VXR's bite, too. Listed at 206kW and 400Nm, the Astra VXR still outpunches the establishment in this segment, including the benchmark Renault Megane RS 275.

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Incorporating the same front suspension design as the GTC, the VXR builds further on its sibling's mechanicals with a Drexler mechanical limited-slip differential to further aid traction. There's also 20-inch alloys covering impressive Brembo brakes and shod in 245/35-series rubber, up from the 235/45-series 19-inch jobbies on the GTC Sport. FlexRide adaptive dampers, which can be altered via the cockpit's three driver settings – Standard, Sport and VXR – are also offered.

The VXR's interior is also more focused, with racy, bolstered, thin-shelled (though eight-way electrically-adjustable) front seats immediately putting you in the mood for driving. There's still a tight squeeze in behind them for adults, however, though the large doors make the initial approach to rear seating a little easier than expected.

Even in the standard setting, the VXR rides towards the harsher side of comfortable, but the chassis remains well controlled. Opt for VXR and all controls are further sharpened, the ride almost too harsh for the road.

The engine is also spikier than you may expect, feeling more old-fashioned in the way you wait for the turbo to spool up, before rocketing you forward to an aural accompaniment that evokes memories of the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.

Electro-hydraulic steering in the VXR provides good feel and response, and the VXR alloy-finished sports pedals offer added confidence when applying power or easing into the prodigious Brembos on corner approach, though – again – the gearshift could be more precise.

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Jump back on the power and the differential does its thing, providing solid drive out of the corner; only straight-line cambers see the front following the road under power, though for the increased cornering bite, you can live with that.

Of course, for all the VXR's punch and cornering prowess, there are the same basic shortcomings as cited in the GTC Sport – heavy doors, overzealous parking sensors and a clunky infotainment system.

On a more practical front, both Astras are covered by Holden's lifetime capped-price servicing program, a three-year/100,000km warranty and one year's complimentary roadside assistance. Service intervals are set annually or at 15,000km (whichever comes first) and that first service will cost $229 for either Astra variant.

Although both variants stack up dynamically against key rivals, the reality is that the Astras feel a generation – or two – behind the times. But with good looks and keen pricing to go with those dynamics, these small Holden hatches are still worth considering.


Price: $29,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 147kW/280Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 166g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP)

What we liked: Not so much:
>> Stable chassis >> Engine lacks sparkle
>> Keen pricing >> Car feels its weight
>> Distinctive looks >> Aged interior

   

Also consider:
>> Hyundai Veloster SR Turbo (from $29,990)
>> Kia Pro_cee'd GT (from $29,990)
>> Toyota 86 (from $29,990)

2015 Holden Astra VXR pricing and specifications:
Price:
$39,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 206kW/400Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 8.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 193g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP)

What we liked: Not so much:
>> Strong engine >> Aged interior
>> Solid traction >> No reversing camera
>> Responsive chassis >> Vague gear selector

Also consider:
>> Ford Focus ST (from $38,990)
>> Renault Megane RS 265 (from $43,990)
>> Volkswagen Scirocco R (from $45,990)

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Written byAdam Davis
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