Holden Astra CDX Coupe 2006 Review

Best of Holden's small and mid-sized bunch, the new Astra is spacious, stylish and well-built. That goes for the five-door hatch and wagon models and the value-packed three-door coupe, available in two spec-levels: CD and CDX.

In addition to the standards list for Astra Coupe CD, which starts at under $24k and includes cruise control, alloy wheels, air-con, power windows, front and side airbags, MP3-compatible CD player, ABS and Brake Assist, the more luxurious CDX model gets a better multi-function display, leather-wrapped steering wheel, six-stack in-dash CD player, leather-trimmed seats and front sports seats with heater function and eight-way adjustment. Door sill plates, carpet mats and climate control, even a holder for sunglasses, come standard at CDX level and they're all pleasing inclusions that add to Astra Coupe's quality feel and attention to detail.

Astra's cabin is quiet, comfortable and uncontrived, with good seating all around and clear instrumentation style and layout. A few weeks' familiarization failed to uncover any assembly (in Belgium, if you're wondering) issues, and handles, dials and dash looked and felt sturdy. Astra's steering-wheel mounted control is well-designed; the steering wheel is adjustable for both height and reach and it's easy to find a comfortable driving position.

The CDX Coupe's interior with its leather treatment and more functional display unit is class act compared to price rivals and the cabin's colour combination is attractive; the dark tones blend nicely and stayed clean-looking throughout.

The Coupe is a fun drive with its competent chassis which feels composed and encourages efficient cornering. The ride borders on firm but stops short of any harshness. Astra's electro-hydraulic steering feels satisfyingly weighty and is sharp into corners, steady along straights.

The level-up 16" 'Elegance' wheels that come standard with the CDX complement Astra Coupe's chassis settings but ultimately the handling defaults to the 'class-standard' understeer when pushed hard in bends. Optional 7.5 x 18-inch wheels from Holden By Design are available, so too 17-inch wheels in two styles, but the big 18-inchers look serious and stylish.

The Coupe like all the Astra range gets the 1.8-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine, rated at 90kW/165Nm. Using Premium unleaded fuel returns 92kW/170Nm.

It's not particularly efficient -- 7.8lt/100km -- and we're guilty of 9.1lt for our stint, mostly because Astra Coupe is a lot of fun but needs a little work if you're interested in exploiting the chassis and suspension set-up. It's still a competent, fast-revving engine that happily nips around town but that the 1.8lt isn't quite hearty enough to match Astra Coupe's great handling potential is an anticlimax.

To be fair, Holden doesn't market the Coupe as Astra's sport model, rather using "an exceptional array of luxury features" to describe the CDX. The refined fit and finish certainly makes long trips comfortable and Astra is excellent at cruising speeds, always ready for fifth-gear efficiency.

It's far from city-car dull either with willing engine response and enough punch down low and mid-range to satisfy those after good clean fun.

Astra Coupe looks good, hot even, with wide stance and tidy dimensions. In comparison, Ford's Focus Zetec needs its body kit, which comes standard, to get the sporty look whereas the Astra's styling appears slick and aerodynamic without tack-ons.

A Holden By Design body kit is available for Astra Coupe, for around $1100 but for our money we'd go for those wheels and the resultant handling benefits rather than go-go glam. Wait for the fully-loaded Astra VXR Coupe from HSV or even the 2.0-litre Astra SRi Turbo model which Holden says is coming this winter if you're after more action from your Astra.

Coupe nuances like far-back front seatbelts are offset by big doors and Astra's decent boot space. The five-door to coupe conversion comes at the expense of rearward visibility and rear passenger headroom; other traits of coupes. Holden will fit rear parking sensors for $462.

If you can live without the extra two doors this is a great value and good quality small car option.