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Jaggy Bunnet's Cars - June 2011
Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.7 CDTi
It must be an age thing. I find I am becoming more resistant to and less appreciative of new designs, or is it that I just don’t like change? For instance, I prefer the old model shape Astra to the latest version.
When Baby Bunnet’s Corsa needed replacing we had a good look round at what was available in her price range, but she had already set her sights on a three door Astra hatch. Then it was down to age and price. We sourced a two year old 1.6 Astra Design with extra chrome trim along the window line and the piano-black interior trim, and I think the wee car is a cracker. So does the bairn.
So when I told her there was a new Astra on its way for appraisal, she was actually quite excited. Having already seen the new shape car on the road I knew what to expect, but what turned up was the Tourer, which I now think is the best looking of the bunch. I still don’t like the ‘inverted comma’ tail lights though!
The five door is a bit bulbous, the three door less, but somehow the proportions and shape all come together in the Tourer, but is it better looking than its predecessor? That’s down to personal choice. As for me I still prefer the old one.
It’s not just the exterior that has changed, the interior has been sexed up and has a bit more shape to the dashboard and some ore bright trim. The result is more stylish and more pleasing to the eye, so that’s one up for the designers here.
As for ride and handling, there is a definite improvement here. Ever since the first Cavalier was launched way back in 1975, Vauxhall have been building better cars, and you can say what you like about the Vectra, but it was an excellent car for the money and for its purpose. It was the same with the Astra, the first ones were good and later ones better, and so it continues now.
The wean’s current 1.6 litre petrol motor is surprisingly rapid (just don’t tell her I said so!) for what it is and it handles remarkably well (it needs a good blow-out every now and again to stop it sooting up and gathering cobwebs!) so the 1.7 litre diesel would provide an interesting comparison.
Although there is a 108 bhp version, the test car had the 123 bhp (125 PS) 1.7 litre turbo diesel although both share the same official combined fuel economy of 62.8 mpg. Just as important is the 119g/km CO2 rating which means that the annual Vehicle Excise Duty is £30 per year rather than the £95 it would be if the emissions were 2g/km higher.
It’s not so long ago that anything over 100 bhp was considered sporty, and although this new Astra has a mere 123 bhp and is fuelled by the dark stuff, it is surprisingly sprightly, pulling well through each of its six gears. It also handled remarkably well too and considering this was the ‘estate’ version rather than the saloon, the optimised rear suspension did its job well.
The passengers are well cocooned from the worst of British road surfaces, while the driver has all the legroom and elbow room needed to make him/herself comfortable.
It also has one other appealing feature, especially for those of us who use such cars properly at weekends – to carry stuff!
The tailgate is virtually the same width at the bottom as it is at the top, with Vauxhall resisting the urge to ‘waist-in’ the bottom half, and the sill is low. So if you’re throwing in a set of wheels and a trolley jack you shouldn’t put your back out. It’s not a huge boot, as this is a Tourer rather than an Estate, but with the back seats folded down there’s enough room for a big toolbox and spider alongside the wheels, trolley jack and jeely piece box.
There is just one wee drawback, visibility. Or the lack of it. As is the way with these modern designs, the rear windows are upswept as the rear roofline flows downwards, and although this is more aesthetically pleasing, it’s a good case for providing a reversing camera – which this one didn’t have.
So, yes I liked it, but I still prefer the old one. And yet, despite all that talk about preferring the old to the new I happen to like the latest Corsa more than the previous one. Or is that I’m just being silly, senile or set in my ways?
Oh, and as far as the Baby Bunnet is concerned, she still prefers her old shape Astra too!
In Short:
Price: £22,785
Engine: 1.7, 4 cyl turbocharged diesel with 123 bhp
Performance: 0-62 mph in 11.0 seconds, flat out at 120 mph
Economy: 62.8 mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 119 g/km
Insurance Group:
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