Comparision: New Astra 1.4 Turbo vs. Golf VI 1.4 TSI

[Toto]

German car mag AutoBild: http://www.autobild.de/artikel/opel-...si_987997.html

Cars tested:

Opel Astra 1.4 Turbo
- 140hp
- 0-100km/h: 9.7s
- vmax: 205km/h (127mph)
- 5.9l combined (40mpg)
- CO2: 139g/km
- base price: 19.075 Euro

VW Golf VI 1.4 TSI
- 122hp
- 0-100km/h: 9.5s
- vmax: 200km/h (124mph)
- 6.2l combined (37mpg)
- CO2: 144g/km
- base price: 21,655 Euro

AutoBild give both cars in all category's (quality, comfort, driving, price of ownership and so on) equal points. Astra won mainly because of the better fuel consumption.

FYI: The result was surprising because AutoBild is also known as VWBild in Germany. Opel and AutoBild is like GM and Consummer Reports.

[ne_one]

Thanks for the link and summary Toto!

Your comments seem to be echoed by many other users in the feedback area of the site.

[zl-1]

Great!

[calgaryhhr]

The Astra is a very nice looking vehicle. The only thing I don't like about it is the mess of buttons on the center stack. I like the cleaner and less cluttered look of the Golf interior.

[gdsm3]

Cool! Have to admit that i'm kind of liking the VW front end more than the Astra for some reason. Even though the VW has a simpler design something about it just seems more aggressive to me. The VW interior is disgusting next to the Astra interior though.

[Toto]

Originally Posted by gdsm3

Cool! Have to admit that i'm kind of liking the VW front end more than the Astra for some reason. Even though the VW has a simpler design something about it just seems more aggressive to me. The VW interior is disgusting next to the Astra interior though.

I think it depends on the angel of view. I like the Golf front in a direct view better and the Astra more in a low side view.

[ne_one]

I'm a bit surprised that the Golf actually accelerates from a standing point a bit faster, even though the 1.4 Turbo in the Astra offers more horse power.

Is this more of a tuning issue?

[Toto]

Originally Posted by ne_one

I'm a bit surprised that the Golf actually accelerates from a standing point a bit faster, even though the 1.4 Turbo in the Astra offers more horse power.

Is this more of a tuning issue?

The Astra is longer and wider, so he weight more I think but I'm not sure. Traditionally VW cars are more peppy at low speed whereas Opel cars are a little bit better at high speed. For example, a friend drove a Audi A3 1.6/105hp and I have a Astra G 1.6/101hp. We both have a 5-MT and the Audi feels on lower speed better. But on the Autobahn it's quite the opposite. The Audi has a top speed of 185km/h at 6.100rpm and my Astra is a little bit faster (188km/h at 5.600rpm). Downhill the Audi has no chance, because the limeter kicks in at 6.200 rpm whereas my limiter is at 6.500 rpm. Theoretical I would drive 218km/h at 6.500 rpm. I came very close to this number as I followed an S-class downhill. ;-)

[Canyonaro]

This is interesting, and further proves to me that the Astra is a better choice. The VW is nice, but the Astra numbers fare well.

[GMusa]

well it looks alot better then the Golf, thats for sure!

[mattyman1010]

The Astra is a great look car, the golf is pretty average.
Imo this is GM's best small car, so why isn't it offered globally??

[ne_one]

Originally Posted by Toto

Downhill the Audi has no chance, because the limeter kicks in at 6.200 rpm whereas my limiter is at 6.500 rpm. Theoretical I would drive 218km/h at 6.500 rpm. I came very close to this number as I followed an S-class downhill. ;-)

And I thought some of the Australians on here were a little crazy.

[ne_one]

Originally Posted by mattyman1010

Imo this is GM's best small car, so why isn't it offered globally??

Groan. +1

[rsbaker]

I've been impressed with VW designs recently but when you see Astra and Golf together side by side it no contest...Astra wins! The VW interior actually looks like something from the 1990s next to the very elegant Astra interior, in fact Astra causes everything about Golf to look dated when comparing each feature next to each other.

[Toto]

To be fair, the base Astra with the 1.4 Turbo is w/o AC and Audio, but you can order for 990 Euro the Cool & Sound package incl.:

- Auto climate
- CD300 MP3/WMA, AUX-in, 4 speakers, 4x20 Watt, triple info display

That's 20.065 Euro. Now you can add some other things from the Cool & Sound package:

- Dual zone climate control (350 Euro)
- CD 400, 7 speaker, DSP, graphic info display, AUX-in (150 Euro), USB with iPod control (170 Euro)
- CD 500 Navigation, color info display, 7 premium speaker, AUX-in, USB with iPod control (900 Euro)

Remember, that's the lowest trim level.

The next higher trim level with the same engine cost 20,575 Euro (A/C and CD 300 are included). On this middle trim level you can order almost everything you want.