Holden Astra Convertible 2002

Holden's Astra notched up close to 30,000 keen buyers of its five-door hatch and four-door sedan last year, with a few three-door entry-level sales in the mix. At the end of 2001 a go-faster three-door with a new alloy 2.2-litre engine appeared wearing a SRi badge, complete with sports seats, big alloys and plenty of quiet street cred.

Now, in 2002, comes the piece de resistance, a four-seater convertible. Designed by Bertone in Italy, the convertible body is not based around the cuddly hatch but a rather suave and sophisticated two-door coupe model not on sale here yet (if ever). Using the sleeker coupe body meant Bertone could integrate the hood more fully, revealing a low belt line and plenty for the passing crowd to admire roof up or down.

The Astra Convertible cost a smidge under $45,000 at launch in January 2002, but despite doubling the price of the humble hatch, this is no chop-shop special. I can't remember the last time I drove a sub-$80,000 four-seater convertible with such a rigid body. The Astra does a good impression of the BMW 3 Series, probably the best small four-seater convertible you can buy under $100,000.

Astra Convertible boasts firm body control, great ride and natty up-market leather interior. The test car's silver paint and optional Oxblood leather trim suited it to a tee, suggesting smart sophistication. Black leather is the standard fare.

The lined black fabric roof is fuss-free in operation, you only need to prod a single button on the dash to get the contortionist cover to fold itself into the boot, no clasps to unlock, no levers to pull, so manicured nails don't get chipped in the process.

The Astra's roof is among the slower to fold or unfurl - a good 30 seconds is required - but you might get away with it at the traffic lights at major intersections. The Astra doesn't do a very convincing job of pretending it's a coupe and sealing out traffic noise when the roof's in place, something the vastly more expensive BMW has turned into an art form.

With the roof down there is a wind deflector to place over the (unoccupied) rear seats to cut the bluster, but with the four electric windows up, there's very little gale to disturb your hairdo.

Behind the wheel the punchy 108kW/203Nm engine has enough squirt to get the car moving swiftly and employs a drive-by-wire electronic throttle. Being heavier than most Astras thanks to its roof mechanism (1383kg vs 1200kg for the sedan), the Convertible is no rocket ship, but four-seater cabrio buyers are looking for cruising ability rather than pole position getaways. Thanks to the engine's torquey character you're never left floundering.

According to governement AS2877 fuel figures, the Astra Convertible uses 5.8-litres of premium unleaded per 100km on highway and 9.5L/100km in town.

From the driver's seat the interior is familiar yet spruced up slightly with silver facing for the dash centre console, along with a bold and not all that pretty Bertone badge on the ashtray. The steering wheel is leather-bound and chunky to hold, and the steeply raked windscreen pillars enhance the sporty look. The dials are chrome-ringed which look great, especially at night, but with the sun behind you the rings glint brightly in your face (and that's my excuse officer, honest).

With the roof stowing itself neatly behind the rear seats, it does intrude into the boot space, but there's still enough capacity for a weekend's luggage or a decent sized briefcase or two. Forget full-size golf bags though.

With BMW-style technology employed on the frameless windows they drop down a touch as you open the door, popping back up as the door closes, to ensure a fine seal with the roof that helps to keep the rain out. The carpet looks and feels cheap, but why put the best Wilton in a Cabrio, anyway?

There are side airbags built into the (front heated) seats as well as a CD player stereo from Blaupunkt (with steering-wheel mounted controls), front and rear fog lamps and 16-inch alloy wheels on wide 225/50 rubber. Keeping the car on course are anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control.

The large leather-bound chairs provide great location, and stop you sliding all over the place but they are very sporty, and rather too firm for a car that will be driven by many for leisure and pleasure rather than for outright cornering grip and pace. Another gripe is that they don't automatically return to the previous pre-set position after you have tipped them forward to let rear passengers in or out. On the other hand, keener drivers will love the pull out under thigh extension pad.

The Astra goes well in every gear, and absorbs bumps with the finesse of the sedan version, barely transferring any crash or thump into the cabin. The steering is well weighted and gives a good account of the road surface and level of grip beneath the front wheels, and torque steer is not unduly apparent unless full throttle is applied from takeoff.

However the clutch is quite stiff and the gear-change notchy, so lazier buyers may opt for the four-speed automatic transmission instead.

In the first quarter of 2002, the Astra Convertible found 626 buyers compared with a combined total of 320 buyers for the Renault Megane Cabrio, VW Golf Cabrio and Peugeot 306 Cabrio. The Astra's solid build also makes the far more expensive Saab 9-3 Convertible look like it's made of jelly.

As a refined and thoroughly engineered four-seater convertible, the Astra comes up trumps. It's fun to drive and is adequately equipment. What's selling it in huge numbers is its style, if not its value for money premise. Definitely worth a test-drive if you're in the market for a stylish drop-top.