Holden Astra 2016 Review

Holden Astra R, RS and RS-V
Australian launch
Canberra, ACT

As Holden strives to revitalise its range in what’s soon to be an all-imported line-up, the return of a familiar nameplate may be just the ticket to boosting its image. The European-sourced Astra five-door hatch will go on sale from December 1, joining the cheaper Cruze sedan and hatch as what Holden says will be its sporty, premium small car. The all turbo-petrol Astra portfolio arrives in three grades, and introduces a number of driver safety and technology items new to the segment. The BK-series Holden Astra is priced between $21,990 and $33,190 (plus on-road costs).

Small-car charge!
The Australian small-car market is alive and well with models including the Hyundai i30, Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla fiercely rivalling one another for top spot on the monthly sales charts.

For Holden, its aging Cruze (which is now on run-out and due to be replaced with a new, imported model early next year) is less successful, selling just 10,455 examples year-to-date, well behind that of Hyundai (32,396), Mazda (30,089) and Toyota (34,158).

But before the new Cruze arrives – a model we expect to remain the budget offering in Holden’s two-pronged small car offensive – it’s the five-door Astra hatch that will shoulder Holden’s small-car charge.

Available in three grades – R, RS and RS-V – and with the choice of 1.4- and 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engines, the five-door Astra introduces what Holden says is a sporty, premium car to its range; a model it will sell alongside Cruze and sportier Astra three-door GTC, GTC Sport and VXR variants as a competitor to the likes of Volkswagen’s Golf.

Astra RS and RS-V variants score a five-star ANCAP safety rating, but the entry-grade Astra R is unrated.

Tech torque
Bearing an exterior design inspired by the 2013 Opel Monza concept and riding on GM’s small D2 front-wheel drive architecture, the Astra shares its underpinnings with the upcoming Cruze, and may preview some of the driveline options expected in that model.

For now, these include ECOTEC direct-injection turbo-petrol units of 1.4 and 1.6 litres in displacement and offering 110kW/240Nm (5.8L/100km on 91 RON ULP) and 147kW/280Nm (300Nm on over-boost and 6.3L/100km on 95-98 RON PULP).

Owing to a lack of demand, no turbo-diesel engines, including the flagship twin-turbo variant, will be offered Down Under.

Delivery is to the front wheels via a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The Astra rides on a MacPherson strut (front) and Watts Link (rear) suspension arrangement, is stopped by disc brakes all-round and steered by an electrically-assisted system tuned right here in Australia. All model grades ride on alloy wheels ranging in diameter from 17 to 18 inches and include a steel spare wheel.

Automatic variants include up and downhill modes and a Performance Mode Lift Foot function to adapt to driving style. All variants excluding the manual 1.4 offer idle-stop technology.

New to Holden on the 2017 Astra is a forward-facing camera and radar technology known as Holden Eye (yes, I’m also thinking of the 17th Bond movie Golden Eye).

Expected to debut across future Holden models, the technology offers Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keep Assist, Forward Distance Indictor and Forward Collision Alert as standard on RS and RS-V models, and will be available as a $1000 option on base R variants from March 2017.

The technology also facilitates Adaptive Cruise Control, available as part of the $1990 Touring Pack (which also adds a sunroof) or $3990 Innovations Pack (that adds a sunroof and IntelliLux adaptive LED matrix headlights) on RS-V variants.

All model grades received six airbags and Bosch-sourced chassis controls, LED daytime running lights, a reversing camera and rear acoustic parking sensors. Cruise control is also offered standard, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital (DAB+) radio reception, Siri Eyes Free technology and Bluetooth streaming and telephony as part of Holden’s MyLink infotainment package.

Mid-spec RS variants add passive entry and push-button ignition, a leather steering wheel and autonomous parking (which can parallel park in a gap just 1.1m longer than the car), front parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and rain-sensing wipers, as well as the aforementioned Holden Eye technology.

For top-shelf RS-V models add remote start (auto. models only), LED tail-lights, an electric park brake, heated leather-appointed upholstery, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate-control, satellite-navigation and larger 8.0-inch MyLink enabled touch-screen (other grades have a 7.0-inch display).

Astra does not offer a driver’s knee airbag, head-up display (HUD) or 24-hour OnStar service offered in other markets.

Sane, sorted, civilised
The Astra range may not have the attractive sub-$20K drive-away price tag of some rivals, but it certainly packs in the value.

In addition to the features listed above it’s the Astra’s sorted driveline and dynamic that impress most, the steering behaviour and weighting a notable highlight.

While not a sporty model in the same vein as Mazda3 SP25 or Hyundai Elantra SR per se (it doesn’t look as ‘shouty’), the lighter body of the new Astra (-160kg to 1283kg) and GTC-sourced 1.6-litre engine combine to offer a pretty compelling package.

Understated in its performance, it swaps effortlessly through gear ratios to accelerate briskly when summoned to overtake. This is the ‘warm hatch’ to have when you don’t want to draw attention to yourself.

Moreover, the Astra’s sane and civilised interior makes for a refreshing change in this segment.

Plenty of thought has been given not only to oddment storage and the interaction between driver and machine, but also the adult-friendly backseat, its ease of entry and exit and surprising levels of head (971mm) and legroom (906mm).

Rear seat comfort is equally impressive; a shame then tyre noise is an issue on coarse chip road surfaces and that there are no ventilation outlets on the back of the console.

The rear seats split 60:40, of course, to offer up to 1210 litres of capacity. In regular format the cargo area offers 360 litres of space -- 10 more than Mazda3 but 20 less than Volkswagen Golf. Astra can tow up to 1420kg (braked).

The Astra is backed by a three-year/100,000km warranty and capped-price service scheme. Service intervals are set at nine months or 15,000km intervals (whichever comes first), Holden saying the Astra will cost no more than $916 to service during its first three years.

While the extensive use of hard, black plastics inside the cabin seems to be an issue Holden (and a few others in the price range) has trouble shaking, the Astra is otherwise a classy and confident small car.

Both engine options make sense around town, but the higher output unit is a better choice for country and outer-urban buyers.

Back that with technology that is useful and actually works, a ride and handling blend that will shame many of its competitors, and decent after-sales support, and we think the Astra should have no trouble resuming its place in the Australian psyche.

Holden says its new Astra is a premium sports hatch that seeks to challenge those who’ve left the brand or may have never considered it, and we think they’re on the money.

This is a mature offering from GMH, and one that should help ease customer concerns as the manufacturer’s transitions toward an all-imported range.

With facelifted Trax, new Equinox SUV, seven-seat Acadia, Cruze small car, imported Commodore and even a born-again Adventra on the way, let’s hope the Astra is a taste of what’s to come.

Price: $21,990-$24,190 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 110kW/245Nm (240Nm auto. models)
Transmission: Six-speed manual, six-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 135g/km, 133g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not rated

2017 Holden Astra RS and RS-V pricing and specifications:
Price: $26,490-$33,190 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 147kW/280Nm (300Nm with over-boost)
Transmission: Six-speed manual, six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km, 6.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 149g/km, 146g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Ford Focus Sport (from $28,190 plus ORCs)
>> Honda Civic RS (from $31,790 plus ORCs)
>> Mazda 3 SP25 GT (from $31,790 plus ORCs)

Related reading:
>> Holden Astra pricing information
>> Holden Astra VXR Review
>> Ford Focus ST v Holden Astra VXR v MINI John Cooper Works Comparison