– By Jarod Spiteri –
The Holden Astra nameplate has had a love-hate relationship with Australians over the years being the unfamiliar and underappreciated European cousin of Australia’s darling car maker.
But here in 2017 with the imminent exit of the Commodore, and local manufacturing, the Astra has grown up and returned in a big way that has given the competition something to worry about.
The base model Holden Astra R starts from $23,990 with the automatic and takes a fight to the likes of the Mazda3 Neo, Toyota Corolla and the long-time favourite Volkswagen Golf.
The Astra made good first impressions with a fantastic looking exterior that is sleek and modern while giving a premium feel with seventeen-inch alloy wheels and LED daytime running lights included as standard on the Astra R.
The interior continues the theme of the exterior with style and good quality, soft touch materials and piano black accents that look good until easily marked. The cabin is spacious front and rear with plenty of leg room in the rear and the ideal size for a small family.
The clear, seven-inch infotainment touch screen that features the rear-view camera with parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple Carplay, Android Auto, DAB digital radio and voice control as standard in an easy to use and fast responding package.
The only criticism is the slightly lacklustre rear view camera that could be clearer. The cloth seats were incredibly comfortable and hug you tight while the plastic steering wheel felt a little cheap and hard to the touch in an interior that feels anything but base model.
The driving dynamics of the Holden Astra R were fantastic with the 1.4L turbocharged unit providing 110KW of power and 240Nm of torque. This is more than adequate in the lightweight Astra giving the driver the confidence to overtake with ease and get up to speed quickly with the six speed auto providing fast shifts and no hesitation in changing down.
The handling compliments the drivetrain with steering that is light yet very direct that gives the whole chassis a fun, nimble and overall sporty feel without compromising ride comfort. Fuel economy was also excellent at an average of 5.8L/100km meaning fewer trips to the pump.
All in all, the new Holden Astra R has shown that it has what it takes to become the new fleet buyer’s car of choice being priced competitively while providing many standard features on a car that I believe to be the best to drive in class. The Astra brings a premium, European feel to the class that is sure to appeal to anyone who drives one.
