Review: New Holden Astra CDTi Turbo Diesel

[JoeT]

First Drive: Diesel & Thrust For Holden's Astra

Byron Mathioudakis
13 June 2006
www.goauto.com.au

The quickest, most expensive and best-equipped Holden Astra hatchback is now a turbo-diesel.

Priced from $29,990, Holden’s Belgian-built, Opel-sourced small-car contender is pitched against upmarket Europeans like the Volkswagen Golf TDI, Peugeot 307 HDI and Citroen C4 HDI. Holden is also hoping to score sales from the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic hybrid duo.

Only a single CDTi five-door hatchback model is available for now, although it comes in two distinct Euro IV emissions-compliant common-rail four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines, according to which gearbox is specified.

Both are fitted with a Garret turbocharger and intercooler.

Holden’s diesel strategy is an unexpected one, as it is being presented as a sporty as well as an economical and green small-car alternative.

To this end the base six-speed manual CDTi boasts a 1.9-litre twin-cam 16-valve unit delivering a class-leading 110kW of power at 4000rpm and 320Nm of torque at 2000rpm.

In contrast the larger-engined Golf diesel alternative, the $32,490 2.0 TDI Comfortline, manages 103kW and 320Nm.

For an extra $1500, buyers can choose the $31,490 CDTi automatic, utilising an Aisin-supplied six-speed transmission and fitted with a sequential shift facility.

However, the automatic uses a single overhead camshaft, eight-valve version of the 1.9-litre engine, for 88kW at 3500rpm and 280Nm at 2000rpm.

It joins the Golf by offering a six-speed automatic gearbox in a diesel small car for under $40,000. Holden envisages the automatic/manual sales ratio to be 60/40.

Fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are significantly lower in the manual though, recording an ADR 81/01 figure of 6.0 litres per 100km against the automatic’s 7.4L/100km, and 157 grams per kilometre versus 192g/km respectively.

Furthermore Holden says that two independently conducted economy drives have resulted the CDTi manual’s fuel consumption average falling to as low as 4.32L/100km. A 4.35L/100km average was achieved in some peak-hour driving conditions.

All Astra CDTi models, along with the new SRi petrol turbo released at the same time, introduce ESP stability control to the Astra range.

Also included are traction control, four-wheel disc and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, and dual front, side and curtain airbags.

The manual CDTi adds a Sports Chassis Pack, consisting of a 15mm lower ride height, firmer suspension, a quicker 14:1 steering ratio, and a ‘Sport’ switch that alters steering and throttle responses.

The regular Astra’s MacPherson strut-front and Torsion beam-rear otherwise remains much the same, as does the electro-hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering.

Fresh 16-inch alloys ride on 205/55 R16 tyres, backed up by an 80km/h-limited space-saver 16-inch steel spare.

Air-conditioning, a CD/MP3/radio audio with remote controls on the leather-trimmed steering wheel, cruise control, a trip computer, power windows, electric mirrors, and a remote-central locking are also included.

Holden commenced Astra diesel evaluation in Australia in 2003, and ran prototypes in that year’s, as well as the 2005, solar challenge race, totalling 6000km of testing.

Around 50,000km more were carried out for performance, fuel and air-conditioning testing, beyond the initial development Opel conducted for the Astra diesel globally.

Holden refuses to divulge CDTi sales expectations, which is understandable since its last diesel passenger car (the 1981 TE Gemini sedan) failed dismally.

However, Holden is quietly very confident, with dealer orders already surpassing initial expectations.

It also acknowledges that 65 per cent of Golf sales are TDI; that small-car sales were up 19 per cent in 2005 over 2004, making up 215,300 of the total 980,000 new-vehicle volume; that over 4700 diesels were sold last year compared to just 500 in 2003; and that 1950 diesels were sold in the first four months of this year.

If the Astra CDTi exceeds its secret targets, expect a wagon and three-door hatchback variants to follow.

Demographically 80 per cent of purchases will be private, skewed towards more male buyers, coupled, and with a dual annual income of $80,000-plus.

Holden is also pushing its one-time working-class hero Astra into new premium pricing territory.

The $27,990 base Golf 1.9 TDI manual undercuts the CDTi manual by $2000 (with a $1200 gap for the autos), although it cannot match the Astra’s performance and lacks ESP, cruise control, alloys and more.

Nevertheless, GM Holden chairman and managing director Denny Mooney is extremely cautious.

"I didn’t want to over-order diesels and then have too many cars out there ... because it is very easy to get over-enthusiastic," he admits.

"We’ll see how the market develops," Mr Mooney added.


2006 Holden Astra CDTi pricing

Astra CDTi hatch - $29,990
Astra CDTi hatch (a) - $31,490

Holden takes aim at small diesel-powered Euro hatches with its Astra CDTi twins

[Aerodynamix]

C'mon GM, these are selling well in the other markets so why not update the CDTI for use in NA with the low-sulfer fuel coming in January? At the very least I'm sure you can make a business case for a CDTI in Canada where buying habits seem to reflect Europe more than the USA.

[aball]

Nice!

An Astra CDX manual is $24990 and a CDTi is $29990. Does $5000 seem a bit steep? I know the TD engine is somewhat more expensive than the 1.8L petrol motor but $5000 EXTRA for it and an extra gear seems a bit rich. Still cheaper than the 2.0 TDi Golf though

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by aball

Nice!

An Astra CDX manual is $24990 and a CDTi is $29990. Does $5000 seem a bit steep? I know the TD engine is somewhat more expensive than the 1.8L petrol motor but $5000 EXTRA for it and an extra gear seems a bit rich. Still cheaper than the 2.0 TDi Golf though

... and i guess thats the thing - cheaper than the Golf. I hope it does well, although the CDXi was dropped - possibly too expensive at the same pricepoints?, maybe to simplify the range prior to the diesels and SRi turbo?

[CountryME]

Anyone know what the fuel economy and power numbers are in non-metric units (i.e. units that mean something to us here in the US?).

[Proetus]

110kW ~ 148hp
320NM ~ 236 lb ft
4.35L/100km ~ 54mpg

[asim]

Is Saturn going to get the Diesel version?

[seesully]

Hi all,

I'm totally new to the forum and found you all by searching for write ups on the cdti. So hi to everyone!

I work for a major automotive advertising company and have many big dealership groups as clients. A Holden dealership in Melbourne gave me the opportunity to take out one of their brand new CDTI manuals.

I have to say that I have driven all different typs of Holdens and this was the most fun I had driving one of their smaller cars in a long time!
It handles very well and has plenty of get up and go. While I was cruising on the freeway at approx 1700rpm, the average fuel consumption went down to 3.8lt/100km!

I've been looking for a new economical car and this one has me seriously considering signing on the dotted line.

It's improtant to note that you're getting more than just a diesel engine and an extra gear for the $5000. You get sports suspension in the manual, EBD, ESP, Traction Control, cruise control, power windows all round, trip computers, 6 airbags... the list goes on. It's a pretty serious amount of kit for the price.

Volskwagen, Peugeot, Citroen and anyone else in the diesel/fuel economy war has a serious competitor here and should be worried.

Cheers all,
Chris.

[AnthonyHSV]

How does the auto perform? Much less output from engine.... is it as gutless as it sounds?

[seesully]

By all accounts the auto performs very well. It's a different drive from the manual. Not as "sporty". In automatic guise, it loses the sports chassis. so the suspension is smoother and gives a more leisurely drive.
The auto does have a manual select feature if you want to give the car a sense of urgency. I think that majority of customers will be going for the auto and find it more than adequate.

[perry]

Originally Posted by seesully

By all accounts the auto performs very well. It's a different drive from the manual. Not as "sporty". In automatic guise, it loses the sports chassis. so the suspension is smoother and gives a more leisurely drive.
The auto does have a manual select feature if you want to give the car a sense of urgency. I think that majority of customers will be going for the auto and find it more than adequate.

R u actually a holden salesman? every one knows no one buys auto diesel in europe, diesel just dont go with auto. it is appropriate to compare astra with golf in europe. but here in australia, holden seems to sell more inferior and volume cars (beloved kalos and lacetti). VW simply has more brand image and exclusivity than holden.

[seesully]

Originally Posted by perry

R u actually a holden salesman? every one knows no one buys auto diesel in europe, diesel just dont go with auto. it is appropriate to compare astra with golf in europe. but here in australia, holden seems to sell more inferior and volume cars (beloved kalos and lacetti). VW simply has more brand image and exclusivity than holden.

No I'm not a Holden Salesman. I work for carsales.com.au so I have a pretty unbiased opinion on every manufacturer.
I'de have to disagree that an auto can't be matched with a diesel. To think that would be a pretty old school mentality. What about Mercedes CDI autos, Landrover Discovery Autos, BMW Autos e.t.c. ? Sure, you can't control the RPM the same way as you can in a manual, but you've just got to get used to the way a diesel auto behaves.
The list could go on and will always make for an interesting debate.
There will be a bigger demand for the auto in Australia, simply due to the fact that aussies love a torquey auto.
Sure, VW has more of a brand image. It all comes down to choice really. Many people will by a car for badge image over what the car actually can do or provide for the price!

[mikmak]

The more astras I see on the road, the more I like them. The auto diesel argument is an old one but inconsequential since people still buy the regular 1.8 petrol with the auto. I would pick the Diesel manual if that was what I was shopping for but I ain't. I believe its a good selection of drivetrains based on thier target audience. it would be interesting to compare the sri to the disel too...and a fair chunk of fun i'll bet.

[aball]

Originally Posted by perry

every one knows no one buys auto diesel in europe, diesel just dont go with auto.

I don't think Audi, BMW or Mercedes Benz would agree with you. Not many auto small cars with petrol engines are sold in Europe either. Doesn't mean they're right and we're wrong.

On the sports suspension thing. I could never work out why stiffer springs and shocks were any more expensive to make than the non-sports jobbies.

[Bravada]

Quite the contrary, actually. More than half small cars in Europe are sold with diesels, the diesels only became so big lately and its more in the big cars than in small, where the premium is much more pronounced and savings less sizeable. Only selected models come sell with more than 50% diesels, and that's usually when petrol engines suck (like @ Peugeot). I guess the diesel sales hit the ceiling now now that diesel fuel got more expensive than petroleum in many countries and diesel engines got really expensive, while petroleum engines are catching up with direct injection, VVT etc.

A diesel with auto is also a traditional choice for taxidrivers, which are perhaps the biggest market for both diesels and autos in Europe. Not that they buy Astras in droves, but there is a market for such combos. And yes, there are many diesel+auto options in the small car market, which means that they do sell.