Opel Astra J - now you need to shine
Cars are a bit like show business stars. They may just be good at what they do, for which they get respect. But sometimes talent isn't enough to grab attention, sometimes you have to jerk off to a sequined Dior suit and blow something up at a concert to get noticed and make more headway in today's world. Opel did something similar. What is Astra J used for?
Life in a small car is hard, especially for one reason - such a car must be good in everything. It should have a large trunk for moving, an interior that will fit the whole family, and a good engine that will make the head of the family feel like a child with a Play Station in his hands. By the way, it would be nice if the car was still economical - after all, there are other costs. In fact, all Opel Astra were like that. Sports and regular versions were offered, a lot of body options, and everyone could find something for themselves. At a car dealership, you paid for a car that, perhaps, did not evoke associations in the city like: “man, I envy you!”, But it was associated as a reasonable, full-fledged compact. And so it has been until now.
Opel Astra J - image change
The manufacturer probably said that people, in addition to common sense, are guided by their eyesight when buying. That's why he decided to spice up the typical compact traits with a bit of character. This is how the Astra J was created - a car from the C segment, which began to arouse the interest of aesthetes, and in the case of somewhat boring Opel cars from the 90s, it was quite a success. What about malfunctions? This is a fresh car, so it's hard to say more. The problems are mainly caused by electronics, of which there are a lot of them, especially in richer variants. In addition, there are problems with the speed in the engines and the materials inside, which quickly lose their serviceability. Among the engines, diesel engines are the first to cause problems - their weak points are the two-mass wheel and high-pressure fuel pump.
Opel Astra J was shown in Frankfurt in 2009 - a year later it went to Polish car dealerships and is still sold there. However, there are already many used copies on the market that can be purchased at a more affordable price. The Opel Compact also had some minor successes - in 2010 it took third place in the European Car of the Year competition. Who bit him? A miniature Toyota IQ may come as a surprise, but the second car is guessed - VW Polo.
The Astra is based on the Delta platform, which is also used in the Chevrolet Cruze. And although today there are more body versions of this car in Dubai than foreigners, initially there were only 2 options - a 5-door hatchback and station wagon. It wasn't until the 2012 facelift that you could choose from the sporty Astra GTC, which is really only a 3-door hatchback, a Cascada convertible, and a sedan. Interesting - the back of the latter does not look like a growth that could be cut off. His line is almost flawless, as are the other options.
The car is actually quite new, so all lovers of iPhones, the Internet and hipster gadgets will be delighted - there is not much hi-tech here. In many instances, it's also easy to get power windows and mirrors, some external music devices, Bluetooth for your phone, and more. Even such a seemingly banal thing as a headlight can have as many as 9 road lighting modes. Does all this mean that the perfect car has been created? Unfortunately no.
There is another side of the coin
In the case of Opel, one can observe some strange relationship. More or less since he started making really good cars, their weight has grown so much that, compared to competitors, they resemble the Hulk Hoogan participating in ski jumping. It's the same with the Opel Astra J. The heaviest variants weigh almost 1600 kg, while the much larger Skoda Octavia III is about 300 kg lighter. What is the conclusion? Only Astra with a car engine starts to drive like an average compact van. As a result, it is better to forget about the 1.4l 100km gasoline engine - the car does not know what to do when you press the gas pedal. With 1.6 l 115 hp engine. a little better because you can actually get some dynamics out of it. However, it accelerates more readily only at higher speeds, and then the car burns badly. Interested parties should consider a supercharged 1.4T petrol option with 120 or 140 hp. It's especially hard to find fault with the latter option - although instead of 140 km you can subjectively feel them much less, but at least the Astra is quite willing to get ahead of it and is quite flexible. Demanding ones should reach for the strongest versions. The 2.0-litre OPC does 280 km, but it's an exotic proposition. Much easier on the market for 1.6T 180KM or newer 1.6 SIDI 170KM. Such power is a little scary in a compact car, but not in the Astra - in it, weight is simply no longer a problem. What about diesels? 1.3l 95hp - an offer for all those who do not want to spend their savings on a more powerful engine, and then regret it. Unless they are merchants, because both of these forces for fleets would be ideal, especially for a diesel. In everyday use, a slightly outdated diesel engine 100 l 1.7-110 hp. or newer 125L 2.0-160HP will be much better. Focusing on the latter… Interestingly, the twin supercharged version reaches almost 165KM and even in the Astra it's a bit too much. However, heavy weight also has a number of advantages.
The car does not make an unstable impression on the road. It can handle all corners with confidence and you can easily tell when you need to be careful not to overdo it. Especially with more powerful engines, the car can be a lot of fun. Some models are additionally equipped with a "Sport" button, which improves the reaction of the car to the movements of the right foot and slightly improves road behavior. A nice thing - by the way, it changes the backlight of the watch to red. But on transverse bumps, Astra is a little less fun. That's when you clearly feel that the suspension is just harsh and quite clearly shifts most of the bumps inward. After all, you can say that the car is focused on sports driving - but it's not. One is great for casual, leisurely use, and two is a hopeless drivetrain. The gearbox does not like fast, sporty shifts. In addition, it is quite easy for manufacturers to find more precise mechanisms that work more smoothly and reliably. For this, the interior of the car rewards.
First of all, it's really beautiful. Even the details in the style of the red luminous “dot” that moves along the speedometer along with the arrow are delightful. Secondly, there is nothing to complain about the convenience. You sit high enough in the car, which makes visibility good. But only forward - the rear view is so bad that it is better to invest in parking sensors so as not to visit the painter once a month. And the chairs? Just right for the track - big and comfortable. Users and journalists often complain about the dashboard - that it has more buttons than a telephone exchange, but after the initial horror of operation, you can quickly get used to it. Also pleased with the large number of compartments - there is a place even for a 1.5-liter bottle. Too bad we couldn't find more leg room in the back seat.
The radical change in style of the Opel Astra paid off - at least for us. The car became one of the best selling cars in Poland. It's true that Opel has gone all out on style and modernity, making its compact win heavyweight ratings in its class. At least, in combination with a strong Astra unit, it loses its heaviness and becomes comfortable. But most importantly, it's a good compact that offers many benefits. By the way, she is also an example of the fact that now it is not enough to be able to shine something - now you have to look.
