Review: Holden Astra SRi Turbo vs Ford Focus XR5 Turbo

[JoeT]

Ford & Holden's Turbo Hatches Compared

Samantha Stevens
18 June 2006
www.carsguide.com.au

Wakefield Park had seldom seen such a deluge. Water covered the track; every apex was a dangerous pool of oil and water that stole traction and precious seconds.

The first day of the NSW Alphera Dutton Rally was one for hefty all-wheel-drives — anything driven by two wheels spun straight into the infield.

Setting up for turn one in the front-drive Ford Focus XR5, its turbocharged in-line five bristling with torque, the likely result would have been slippery, slow understeer. Instead, the rear broke away in a hilarious, tank-slapping slide that would have shamed a tyre-smoking V8, but was fixable with a touch of brake and throttle.

The notion that compactness, practicality and price cannot be combined in a performance package was well and truly blown away.

The hot hatch may be a cult institution, but in the real world small cars have led the big sixes and eights in popularity since petrol prices hit three figures. Dollar value, bowser relief and all-round ability are what we want.

Thus the hot variants of Holden's and Ford's best-selling small cars couldn't have come at a better time. The face-off between the marques' hot hatches is the only comparison that matters these days.

Both entrants are priced under the magic $40K: the XR5 cuts in at $35,990; the second-generation Astra SRi retains its modest $34,990 tag.

Both ride on monstrous 18-inch tyres, possess sports-tuned exhausts and suspension, carry whopping turbochargers, but can claim fuel consumption of less than 10 litres/100km.

Both can be flung around a track, fit in a tight parking spot at Westfield, will carry the shopping and five people, and are loaded with standard kit.

Jumping from one into the other on the track and on the street, however, they couldn't be more different.

It begins with the powerplant. Ford, which owns Volvo, helped itself to the 2.5-litre turbo five-cylinder that powers Volvo's S40/V50 T5.

Hence the Focus grunts like a Volvo on steroids with a prompting throttle, a device under the car forcibly pushing the decibels through to the cabin to heighten the experience.

The XR5 packs 166kW and an electronically limited 320Nm of torque (any more, and the tyres wouldn't cope) for a visceral and aural surge off the line.

That's helped by a fabulous close-ratio, six-speed manual that hurls the Ford in front of the SRi in a straight line.

The SRi forces a respectable 147kW and 262Nm from its two-litre Ecotec engine, which is larger than the base Astra coupe's 1.8-litre atmo engine but pales next to the XR5's muscular powerplant.

It may lack the Ford's aural edge, but the Astra's turbo boost hits the back of one's head with much more force.

The SRi feels nimble and light, particularly with the rather sensitive clutch. Its six-speed transmission is sweet to shift, and its turning circle is noticeably less strained.

Although the SRi is slightly lighter than the five-pot Focus, it's 158kg heavier than the base-model Astra coupe from which it's derived. The compromise is a comfortable one: leather interior, heated seats, six-stacker CD and climate control — fabulous standard gear on a $35K car.

With minimal glass area and a tiny rear window, the Astra's interior is dark and has an almost corporate feel, which is in keeping with its understated exterior. It's a polar contrast to the Focus.

The jellybean-orange XR5 looks like a sports shoe inside, all stripes and colours, complete with boost gauges on the dash and massively bolstered seats. But cruise control isn't even an option.

The Ford's tyre noise on coarse-chip roads makes a highway cruise less pleasant than in the SRi, which rides surprisingly well on its low-profile tyres and torsion-beam rear suspension.

The latter also removes some of the SRi's mid-corner speed, with the Astra prone to more front-end push than the Ford.

The XR5's independent rear end and grounded handling win out, but the suspension set-up and an enormous exhaust system don't leave enough room for a full-size spare.

The Astra packs loads of standard stuff into a well-priced, good-looking hatch that happens to have a turbocharger and some sports mods strapped on.

By contrast, the Ford feels dedicated to performance. Its neutral handling and German engineering combine with a dedicated powerplant (albeit someone else's) that pulls beautifully throughout the rev range.

Ultimately, the Ford is more rounded, more solid, and wins handily. For now, that is.

The tables may be turned next month when HSV's Astra VXR hits the market, promising a resounding 176kW from its two-litre turbo four (though at upwards of $40K).

No murmurs yet from the Ford Performance Vehicles stable, although Focus and Fiesta would be prime FPV candidates.

Either way, the perennial Holden/Ford battle is as big as it ever was. Only the cars have become smaller.

Holden Astra SRi Turbo (Top) & Ford Focus XR5 Turbo (Bottom)

[bouda]

That Astra is a sweet looking car!

[Aych Es Vee]

tryin to get my mum to buy one!!

I dont like the Vauxhall grill on them though.....
Should be like other Holdens; big chrome badge in the center, with black wing on each side

[TDi]

Originally Posted by Aych Es Vee

tryin to get my mum to buy one!!

I dont like the Vauxhall grill on them though.....
Should be like other Holdens; big chrome badge in the center, with black wing on each side

Yeah, what is it with using Vauxhall grills?? Why?? I don't like them either, they should be like the rest of Holden's range.

I remember they first used them on the last generation Opel Calibra's that Holden last sold over here and more recently on the new Tigra and now the SRi Astra's.

Isn't the Vauxhall grill going to be present on the HSV Astra VXR too??

[Cmicasa Bossa]

This would be such a welcome edition to GM NA that I can see it being a HUGE hit if priced within a the RSX's old territory. As a Saturn of course. The main focus of this NEW Saturn is to taken on the near lux imports such as Acura, Infiniti, and possibly even Audi. The styling is "bank" and the performance is hardcore. I bet the 3.6 will fit under the hood as well, or even the 9-3's 2.8 Turbo. Th best choice tho I believe would be it's potential stablemate Sky Redline's 260HP/260lb Ecotech turbo...since it's essentially already under the hood...albeit without the turbo..

[TaHoE]

Wait a sec...how is the Ford GERMAN engineered? Ford is American and Volvo is Sweedish, I don't see how Germany worked it's way in. The Astra is the german one here.

[lol internet]

I'd glady own either of these.

[rueben44]

I notice the whole article was really about the Ford. I mean really read it again they just drop the Astra name here and there. Oh and on Fifth Gear they put these two car up against each other along with the Golf and the BMW little hatch. Needless to say they put the Ford dead last and the Astra a very close second even though it was the fastest.

[perry]

Ford Focus XR5 is not only German engineered, but also MADE in Germany. Anyways, this SRi is a weird child with new Astra body and old Astra SRi engine(same engine, heavier body, poorer performance), which is not even avaliable in Euro... and the price of 1000 dollars under XR5(much more powerful and refined) is simply stupid. Holden's real challenge to the competition will be Astra VXR, however, as far as i read Poms mag, it comes behind XR5 and Golf GTI(in Car, AutoCar and TestDrive magazine with all agree XR5 in the first place). And VXR's pricing in oz is AGAIN stupidly high(43,000). Higher than Golf(more expensive than VXR in euro, no wonder oz demand 4 GTi is so huge, GOOD pricing!), forthcoming Mazda3 MPS, and XR5 by 7 GRAND! Oh i forgot, 'Holden means a Great KOREAN deal to Australia' doesn't it? Euro product not included...

[Bolex]

if prestentaion is everything these two would do wonders in the states. are these stock pictures? the holden looks so darn clean, and the ford too. more attention to detail,..they dont look cheap, or maybe its just me. they should sell these here or have our versions look this nice. are these top of the line models? even thepics of the astra dont seem to look as nice. could be the rims, something else or just me?

[Kowalski]

Originally Posted by TaHoE

Wait a sec...how is the Ford GERMAN engineered? Ford is American and Volvo is Sweedish, I don't see how Germany worked it's way in. The Astra is the german one here.

The Focus ST (Focus XR5 Turbo) was designed in Germany and it is built in Germany.

[Toto]

The Astra GTC Turbo (2.0 Turbo with 170hp or 200hp) is not the top of the line version.

Astra GTC



Astra OPC (2.0 Turbo with 240hp) are the real competitor.

[SobeSVT]

Originally Posted by perry

Ford Focus XR5 is not only German engineered, but also MADE in Germany. Anyways, this SRi is a weird child with new Astra body and old Astra SRi engine(same engine, heavier body, poorer performance), which is not even avaliable in Euro... and the price of 1000 dollars under XR5(much more powerful and refined) is simply stupid. Holden's real challenge to the competition will be Astra VXR, however, as far as i read Poms mag, it comes behind XR5 and Golf GTI(in Car, AutoCar and TestDrive magazine with all agree XR5 in the first place). And VXR's pricing in oz is AGAIN stupidly high(43,000). Higher than Golf(more expensive than VXR in euro, no wonder oz demand 4 GTi is so huge, GOOD pricing!), forthcoming Mazda3 MPS, and XR5 by 7 GRAND! Oh i forgot, 'Holden means a Great KOREAN deal to Australia' doesn't it? Euro product not included...

Originally Posted by Kowalski

The Focus ST (Focus XR5 Turbo) was designed in Germany and it is built in Germany.

Thank you guys for clarifying this.

I am still left wondering how the german engineering makes a car better? Is ir German Pixie Dust? It is the Neubering hot vibes? Seriously, how being the German one makes a car a better one.

The Euro Focus is a fantastic car despite where it was engineered.

[slvrlkdude]

This is another example of awesome cars that you can't buy in the US.

[CobaltSScrazy]

Originally Posted by slvrlkdude

This is another example of awesome cars that you can't buy in the US.

yep badge it as a saturn and bring it here asap!!! 240HP version too!