Test drive Opel Astra sedan since 2007 sedan

Flower-seven-grain

It is unlikely that outside Russia they know a children's fairy tale about the girl Zhenya and the plant with seven petals, fulfilling desires. And it is a pity: you could crank the interesting advertising campaign Astra Notchback of the New Opelian sedan.

 
There is even a word in a fairy tale: Letti-Yati, a petal, through the west to the east naive, of course, but absolutely exactly for a family car, oriented just to the countries of Eastern Europe. Yes, and the seven -flower can be beaten by the sedan has become the seventh body of the current generation of flower open.
 

Here it is the main advantage of the sedan: almost a 500-liter luggage compartment, which can increase to 870 liters. According to this indicator, the Astra is by no means a record holder in the classroom: the same Megane and Jetta offer even more space, but these numbers are enough for two out of every three (!) Russians buying Astra to oppose (according to GM forecasts) on the sedan.
 

When GM invited children from different countries to draw a car, almost all of them portrayed a sedan. Apparently, this body from infancy seems to man the most accurate embodiment of the car.
 

It is nice that outwardly he looks no less harmonious than a relative of the hatchback, who is shorter than 7.2 cm. The roof is successfully incorporated with the trunk, the window of the windows repeats its shape, and the beautiful proportions are reached due to the sedan increased to 2.7 m of the wheelbase, the sedan is the same, Like a station wagon.

As a result, the senior Vectra almost caught up with the dimensions and volume of the trunk of Astra, and she has even more the wheelbase. (However, this is not for long: the new Opel business class will appear about and, of course, he will take his own).

  
The increase is reflected primarily on the comfort of sitting behind: the knees of a person of medium height are at a decent distance from the back of the front chairs.
 

In general, confusing Astra and Vectra, especially at some distance, is not difficult. It seems that the new sedan naturally takes the place of the outgoing relative. And in all respects: from dimensions to the price.
 

So, we are in Turkey, on the familiar hundreds of thousands of Russians of the Antalya coast. In front of me is the line of test cars, and I start with the most banal version: 1.6-liter with a five-speed manual.
 

The absolutely familiar elegant salon upon closer examination presented two surprises at once. The first pleasant: the driver's seat has an adjustment that allows you to tilt (or reject) the back and pillow together.
 

The second is not quite: a narrow armrest turned out to be, moreover, very uncomfortable. Firstly, putting his elbow on him, I had to bend my hand to reach the pen of the checkpoint, and secondly, he covered the cup holder. But I wanted to drink in the 35-degree heat
 

Prices
In the basic configuration (ABS, air conditioning, front electric windows, central locking, 4 pillows of safety) 497,000 rubles.

In the maximum configuration (climate control, CD with MP3, fog lights) 622,000 rubles.
 

But the road quickly makes you forget about all desires, except for one alive and, if possible, healthy to get to the final point. We are on a crazy mountain serpentine, and local drivers armed with buses and incredibly shabby trucks rush towards.
 

Astra obediently performs all the commands, fits perfectly into turns, showing decent stability: an sharp steering wheel and a comfortable suspension of the unconditional trump cards.
 

They are less informative than we would like, only the brakes: it is difficult to dose the effort, although it may be due to the youth of a specific copy of the sedan (at that time it ran less than 200 km) and the indifference of the pads.

  

The engine with a capacity of 115 forces can hardly cope with the difference in heights. Elasticity of the motor is missing; You have to constantly pull the checkpoint of the checkpoint, trying to hold the momentum at at least 3,000 per min.
 

True, on a flat power of the power of this engine is quite enough, and, coupled with a modest appetite (during a test of less than 7 liters in constant acceleration-renewal) and low noise, it remains an attractive option. Moreover, if we are talking about a family car whose owner does not pursue the goal of driving.
 

In Russia, a 1.6-liter Astra sedan will also be delivered with Easytronic. There were no such cars on the test and, it is possible that for the better. It is unlikely that a robotic box could deal with a complex relief
 

A short break and back along the same road we are already heading for a 1.8-liter version of the sedan with a five-speed automatic. I liked this car much more. The engine on the bottoms is noticeably more active, and the gears are switched with minor and non -insisting pauses. And the difference of 35 horses certainly cannot but affect.
 

Opel Astra Notchback 1.6 MKPP
(Manufacturer data)

Dimensions (length/width/height) 4 587/1 753/1458 mm
Road clearance 135 mm
Engine volume and power 1.6 l (115 l.
Acceleration to 100 km/h 11.7 s
Maximum speed 191 km/h
Average fuel consumption 6.6 l/100 km
 

An exotic 1.3-liter 100-horsepower diesel and a six-speed manual transmission is on a snack. Exotic because such cars will not be supplied to the Russian market. (In general, in our country, only hatchbacks at the end of the year will begin to be completed with diesel engines.

  

In addition to economy, this union did not present trump cards. The noise level, even taking into account the diesel, seemed excessive, and the first and second gearboxes so short that switching took almost more time than use. The sixth gear turned out to be effective at a speed of more than 120 km/h, which is considered to be enforced by both Russian and Turkish standards.
 

In general, the first acquaintance took place and turned out to be pleasant. Such a car is very clear, roomy, with interesting options (like a small hatch), that is, such as it is customary to be called family undoubtedly, will be in demand in Russia. Where, despite the lack of a sedan in the Astra line, Opel sales have grown many times.
 

Text: Philip Berezin
Photo: author
 
 
 
    
 

 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 121/2007]