Test drive Opel Astra sedan since 2007 sedan

Opel Astra. Child Dudenhofen

Opel Astra. Price: Not defined. On sale: since February 2010

Passions about the new Opel Astra, which made his debut at the Frankfurt car dealership, as a month later in the same places the first tests were not yet submitted

Test pilot
Eduard Shivorshinov, 35 years old, test engineer, driving experience of 17 years, travels to Mercedes-Benz G300 TD

One gets the impression that the main in the creation of the new Opel Astra were not engineers, but marketers who were attention to the pressing needs of motorists. Moreover, there is a desire not only to preserve adherents of an old brand, but also to win new fans.

Acquaintance with Astra took place at the Dudenhofen training ground and in its environs. But the first impression, which is usually the most correct, developed even before tests during a visual inspection. So, what are we dealing with? With a cursory examination, similar features are guessed with senior models of Opel. In this case, the car has a completely individual character. Compared to the previous version, the upper part of the radiator lattice, combined with the bumper, has become smaller. And the enlarged lower part made a new face more sporty and bolder. In the modeling of the body sidewalls, designers used the knife blade well -known through the Insignia. True, in the case of Astra, it has a reverse direction, emphasizing the expressive feed. The plexus of body lines, merging together with the rear window, completes the portrait of a small athlete.

The new Astra has become more predecessor. Explicitly for today's times, experts consider the event the discovery of a new class, which was called a compact plus. This means that an increase in the new generation in length was 17 cm. And if you compare Astra with the nearest competitor Volkswagen Golf, the novelty will be 22 cm longer. An increase in the front and rear track ensured better stability and controllability, which to a large extent affected the arrangement of the cabin.

The worship of the blade continued in the interior. The door handles, the front panel with deflectors, in short, everything that the gaze stops is convinced of the sports image of the car.

The front seats with pronounced side supports have a wide range of adjustments. If the driver’s chair is pushed back to failure, then even the Center basketball team will be able to get a drill. True, it will be convenient to sit behind him perhaps a piece of paper. The convenience of the driver’s place is a chip that Opel marketers pay attention to. They argue that comfort is provided with representatives of both sexes of a wide variety of constitution. The space in the back is arranged in such a way that the passenger will not rest on the ceiling above the average passenger above the average.

The line of engines that will be installed on Opel Astra consists of four gasoline and the same amount of diesel engines. True, the prospect of the latter in our country is very foggy. The diesel engines still remain a stumbling block for many Western and Eastern manufacturers. Basic units have only two volumes of 1.4 and 1.6 liters. The difference is that two of them are atmospheric, and the other two are equipped with turbocharges. Personally, we have chosen the most powerful option for testing. The declared capacity of 180 liters. with. With 5500 min-1 and traction efforts at 230 Nm, during movement on German autobahns, I did not impress. Meanwhile, pleased the setting of the chassis and steering. The front suspension got Astra from Insignia. In addition to the usual McPherson, for the first time on a compact class as an option, an adaptive FlexRide dumping control system is used. She continuously controls the work of all four shock absorbers, changing the settings during the milliseconds depending on the road surface, driving mode and driving style. To reduce noise and vibrations, the front lower levers of the pendants and the reptile stabilizer were installed on the subframe, which, in turn, is attached to the body through four silent blocks.

The new one is sometimes forgotten or little used by the old. In the tenth generation, Astra received a longitudinal fold in the previous rear-beam. Due to the increase in the diameter and thickness, the rigidity for twisting increased. In addition, a system of levers was installed, which is responsible for the fight against transverse forces when moving along a curved trajectory. Thanks to the use of softer silent blocks, unwanted noises and fluctuations have significantly decreased, which ultimately had a beneficial effect on the comfort and controllability of the car.

In general, Astra has remained a solid car in the unisex style, suitable for the needs of various segments of the population. Moreover, in the new generation, this versatility is emphasized even more. It remains to wait for the marketing research of the Germans to appreciate the mass buyer, who votes for the goods by his far from the crisis by the ruble.

A round of history
The first compact car Opel saw the light in 1936. It was a Kadett model with sedan-wrecking and convertible bodies. Two years later, a four -door performance of the sedan appeared. In 1940, the production of C-class at the factory in Ryusselshaim stopped. After the war, production equipment from the American occupation zone was dismantled and taken to the Soviet Union, where the release of Muscovites was established with its help. It is curious that the military governor of the zone, General Lucius Clay, did not take the money brought by the Soviet delegation, and ordered the Russians to give everything necessary from the Opel plant.

The revival began in 1962, when the production of Opel Kadett A. began at the new plant in Bochum. The first hatchback with front -wheel drive was released in 1979. The line of Kadett models ended in Litera E in 1991, changing the name of the compact class to Astra. The letter designation is applied to this day. In particular, within the company, the new Astra is called nothing more than J. In the fall, the novelty began to be collected in England, and the current owner of the Opel, the GM concern, will not give this plant even for a lot of money will come in handy!


We do not love
In order not to miss the darkness, the gearbox lever is highlighted in red. Freshly

This option will help to save fuel at the right time, continuing the way on a bicycle. Comfortable

The stand for trifles may come in handy when iron dozens and fifty dollars appear. Thought out

Driving
To the top five: the adaptive steering wheel drive complements the good chassis settings,

Salon
Everything is thought out in the stylish salon.

Comfort
The car was created not only for the driver, it will be comfortable for all passengers.

Security
Passive and active safety in the basic configuration deserve compliments.

Price
The price left at the level of the previous model is already a victory over competitors.

Advantages and disadvantages
+ Good dynamic and acoustic characteristics, comfortable seats with a large range of adjustments.
- Due to low planting, visibility problems are possible.

Specifications
Mark and model - Opel Astra 1.6 Turbo
Dimensions - 4419x1814x1510 mm
Engine - gasoline, 1598 cm3, 180 hp/ 5500 min -1
Transmission - mechanical, 6 -speed KP
Dynamics - max 221 km/h; 8.5 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - VW Golf, Ford Focus


Our opinion
Opel promises that the price of a new Astra will remain at the previous level. If the word is kept, the novelty has every chance of good indicators of Russian sales. True, to achieve good results, the debutant will have to withstand a serious battle with Ford Focus and VW Golf. Astra has everything necessary for an equal struggle, and only the omnipotent market god will be able to determine the final winner.

Author: Eduard Shivorshinov



 

A source: Magazine 5 wheel [December 2009]