Review: Holden Astra CDTi

**JoeT** · 03-13-2008, 01:22 AM

This Week's Wheels - Holden Astra CDTi

Daniel DeGasperi
5 March 2008
www.wheelsmag.com.au

Will a sparkless engine give the Astra some added sparkle?

From 1998 to 2004, the Holden TS Astra was king of the small-medium hatchback brigade. But when the majority of its competition moved to 2.0-litre engines, Astra stayed with its 1.8-litre.

The new AH Astra was accomplished, likeable… but not class-leading. Comparative performance was a real sore point within the Wheels office. So with strong diesel torque and a six-speed automatic transmission (rather than the petrol’s four-speed), the Holden Astra CDTi appealed.

After three years on sale, and a recent facelift only altering its grille and bumpers, the Astra still cuts a sharp and modern silhouette.

Pumping out 110kW/320Nm, the 1.9-litre CDTi manual’s figures are impressive. Unfortunately, the automatic loses 23kW and 40Nm, bringing its figures to 88kW/280Nm. Emission regs and torque converter issues are the given reasons, yet other manufacturers (VW, Peugeot) manage the auto shifter without any such loss.

Click here to continue article

Review: Holden Astra CDTi Diesel
Review: Holden Astra TwinTop Convertable

RedVee8 · 03-13-2008, 01:29 AM

I'd be interested in one, probably the manual.
I hate when the auto gets short changed on power....

kmacleod · 03-13-2008, 07:55 AM

I wish they offered the 1.9L here in the States........

Ken

avdberg · 03-13-2008, 09:43 AM

obviously they don't know the difference between a 2-valve head (88 kW) and the 4-valve head (110 kW).
So the powerdifference has nothing to do with the automatic.

stevecmh · 03-13-2008, 11:28 AM

why cant we get more diesels in the states

Ssom · 03-13-2008, 04:19 PM

I'd say the Astra diesel is best in the class. The Focus diesel isn't nearly as well equipped for the same $$, the VW Golf is too expensive (As are the other Germans), the rest of the Europeans won't support the car post-purchase as well as Holden can and I can't buy a Mazda3 diesel here (Though soon will be able to get a Corolla GLX 2.0 Diesel)

mmciau · 03-13-2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ssom

...
and I can't buy a Mazda3 diesel here (Though soon will be able to get a Corolla GLX 2.0 Diesel)

The newly released Hyundai i30 knocker will put the "cat amongst the pigeons!!!"

It's the same size as the Golf and in Australia, about $10K cheaper!

Mike

mikmak · 03-13-2008, 05:30 PM

Corolla Diesel? WTF? Is that coming to Oz anyone?

Ssom · 03-13-2008, 10:30 PM

**** I forgot about the i30, though the 1.6 CRDI Elite costs the same/has the same spec as the Astra but has a weaker engine (Don't ask why the i30 costs so much here because I'm still stumped), plus I prefer the thus-far unavailable Kia Cee'd as far as styling is concerned.

The Corolla diesel was announced for NZ in 1.4 (Fleet-chaser) and 2.0 (Private buyer chaser) forms this week to be released in June, though no word on what Toyota of Oz plans to do of yet. I'm guessing it'll be hatch only with maybe the 1.4 in the wagon as well (not like they can do worse than the 1.5 from the Yaris that's in there at the mo).

03-13-2008, 01:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
JoeT GMI's Holden Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wollongong, Australia Drives: 2003 Holden Monaro CV8 Posts: 4,854	Review: Holden Astra CDTi This Week's Wheels - Holden Astra CDTi Daniel DeGasperi 5 March 2008 www.wheelsmag.com.au Will a sparkless engine give the Astra some added sparkle? From 1998 to 2004, the Holden TS Astra was king of the small-medium hatchback brigade. But when the majority of its competition moved to 2.0-litre engines, Astra stayed with its 1.8-litre. The new AH Astra was accomplished, likeable… but not class-leading. Comparative performance was a real sore point within the Wheels office. So with strong diesel torque and a six-speed automatic transmission (rather than the petrol’s four-speed), the Holden Astra CDTi appealed. After three years on sale, and a recent facelift only altering its grille and bumpers, the Astra still cuts a sharp and modern silhouette. Pumping out 110kW/320Nm, the 1.9-litre CDTi manual’s figures are impressive. Unfortunately, the automatic loses 23kW and 40Nm, bringing its figures to 88kW/280Nm. Emission regs and torque converter issues are the given reasons, yet other manufacturers (VW, Peugeot) manage the auto shifter without any such loss. Click here to continue article Review: Holden Astra CDTi Diesel Review: Holden Astra TwinTop Convertable

03-13-2008, 01:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
RedVee8 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Rosemeadow, NSW Australia Drives: 1984 Holden VH Commodore Vacationer 253 V8 2006 A Posts: 1,617	Re: Review: Holden Astra CDTi I'd be interested in one, probably the manual. I hate when the auto gets short changed on power.... __________________ RedVee8 Current Holdens. VH Commodore Vacationer 253 V8; AH Astra CDX 1.8; CG Captiva LX 3.2V6 (work). Previous Holdens. 1969 HT Kingswood 186; 1975 HJ Premier 202; 1977 TC Gemini; 1985 JD Camira SL/E 1.8i Keep Holden On.

03-13-2008, 07:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
kmacleod 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: AZO Drives: 02 Montana, 88 Fiero GT Posts: 644	Re: Review: Holden Astra CDTi I wish they offered the 1.9L here in the States........ Ken

03-13-2008, 09:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
avdberg 2.5L Iron Duke Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Near the Hague (that's in the Netherlands) Drives: SAAB 9-3 SC 1.8t 2006 Posts: 26	Re: Review: Holden Astra CDTi obviously they don't know the difference between a 2-valve head (88 kW) and the 4-valve head (110 kW). So the powerdifference has nothing to do with the automatic.

03-13-2008, 11:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
stevecmh 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Muskego, WI Drives: 04' Grand Prix GT 03' Pierce Saber Fire Engine Posts: 3,264	Re: Review: Holden Astra CDTi why cant we get more diesels in the states

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
GM Inside News Forum Advertisement

03-13-2008, 04:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ssom 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 536	Re: Review: Holden Astra CDTi I'd say the Astra diesel is best in the class. The Focus diesel isn't nearly as well equipped for the same $$, the VW Golf is too expensive (As are the other Germans), the rest of the Europeans won't support the car post-purchase as well as Holden can and I can't buy a Mazda3 diesel here (Though soon will be able to get a Corolla GLX 2.0 Diesel)

03-13-2008, 05:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
mikmak 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pacific Paradise, Australia Drives: VZ Wagon and JSII sedan Posts: 8,037	Re: Review: Holden Astra CDTi Corolla Diesel? WTF? Is that coming to Oz anyone? __________________ You start a conversation you cant even finish it. You're talkin a lot, but you're not sayin anything. When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed. Say something once, why say it again?

03-13-2008, 10:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ssom 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 536	Re: Review: Holden Astra CDTi **** I forgot about the i30, though the 1.6 CRDI Elite costs the same/has the same spec as the Astra but has a weaker engine (Don't ask why the i30 costs so much here because I'm still stumped), plus I prefer the thus-far unavailable Kia Cee'd as far as styling is concerned. The Corolla diesel was announced for NZ in 1.4 (Fleet-chaser) and 2.0 (Private buyer chaser) forms this week to be released in June, though no word on what Toyota of Oz plans to do of yet. I'm guessing it'll be hatch only with maybe the 1.4 in the wagon as well (not like they can do worse than the 1.5 from the Yaris that's in there at the mo).

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode