Our new estate - the Astra Sports Tourer
The British-built Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer joins the ranks of our cars with the 1.7 CDTi SRi model expected to be a practical addition.
Date: 9 August 2012 | Current mileage: 8102 miles | Claimed economy: 62.8mpg | Actual economy: 45.9mpg
Firmly established alongside the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf as one of the UK's favourite medium-sized cars, the Vauxhall Astra in its current form has been around since 2009, with the Sports Tourer following on a year later. However, with the recent announcement that production of this British-badged car would remain at the Ellesmere Port factory in Merseyside, it's a good time to take stock and re-evaluate the most 'British' car in its sector.
Of course, we wouldn't advise anyone to go and buy a car on patriotic grounds alone – not even in what has been a special year for the UK. Far from it. Any car needs to stand (or fall) on its own merits. But given the consistent success of the sixth generation Astra, we'd say that the buyers have voted with their feet.
It might be a stylish thing, with a swooping roofline, but the Sports Tourer is actually a very practical estate. With a 500 litre luggage capacity with the rear seats in place, it's up there with rivals from Ford and Volkswagen. That extends to 1550 litres with the rear seat backs folded and the bases removed. We love the easy access load cover – when it's extended, a tap on the handle rises it out of the way, on D-post rails. Just remember to drop it back before you drive off though, as it obscures rearward vision in this position.
In SRi form, the Sport Tourer comes impressively equipped, with air conditioning, USB/iPod connectivity, 17-inch alloys and cruise control as standard – but the all-singing infotainment system is an £855 option, while our rain sensing wipers cost a hefty £230. In truth we'd sacrifice the latter for electric rear windows. The interior feels well put together, with an enveloping dashboard design that really looks quite appealing. The centre console is stacked with buttons, but it's easy to navigate and in terms of tactile quality, it's not far off the Volkswagen Golf – overall it's a convincing effort.
The driving position is good, with logically positioned major controls. However, the front seats are on the firm side of supportive and unless you get the driving position spot-on, backache will kick in prematurely. We'd also criticise visibility – the A-posts are far too chunky and seriously hinder progress at angled junctions. But this is a fault shared with the Ford Focus.
However, you can't criticise the way the Astra drives. As befitting SRi badging, it has a well-damped but slightly firm ride. Steering weight and accuracy are good and the change quality from its six-speed gearbox is excellent. Overall the Astra feels like it's taking on the Focus head-on as the driver's choice in its sector. You can corner with confidence and enjoy ample amounts of grip.
Performance from the vocal 125PS turbodiesel is lively enough if you're prepared to keep the turbo spinning, but be prepared for throttle lag if you're a lazy gearchanger. But once in its long-striding sixth gear, motorway miles slip by effortlessly.
List prices are high, although if you're looking for a new Astra, it's going to be reasonably easy to chip down the dealer before taking your order – but with 119g/km CO2 emissions and real world consumption of at least 50mpg, it should be cheap to keep this Sport Tourer on the road. One thing we hope Vauxhall fixes for the facelift is individual rheostats for the instruments and infotainment system. Even in night mode, it's far too bright and it can't be dimmed unless you turn down the dashboard lighting. Annoying to say the least.
In the first week of Astra ownership, we've already covered 1200 miles, with a rapid trip up north and across the Pennines followed by a weekend's jaunt to Reims in France. Work, you understand. As the miles pile on and the familiarity increases, our impressions of the Astra Tourer continue to warm – it's clearly a car designed for hard-working professionals that just works.
Odo clicks past 10,000 miles
A long trip sees agreeable fuel economy, while time in Scotland gives us a chance to test the handling.
Date: 3 September 2012 | Current mileage: 10,023 miles | Claimed economy: 62.8mpg | Actual economy: 46.4mpg
Just over a month in to Astra Sports Tourer ownership and we’ve already clocked up over 3000 miles. And it has to be said that this is a car that seems to thrive on long distance running – which would explain why the engine is loosening-up nicely, with performance and economy getting better.
The latest long journey was a three-up fully-laden trip to Scotland’s Western Highlands. This is the sort of job that the 1.7CDTi is built for and once in its long-striding sixth gear, the seemingly uphill slog to Scotland’s empty west was an easy one-shot run. Before the trip, we’ve been averaging a constant 45mpg. Good, but about 5mpg short of what we’d expect a Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI to deliver in the same circumstances.
Before the trip, I brimmed the tank and reset the counter, but was disappointed to see that the trip computer was reporting an anticipated range of 520 miles. Good, but somehow I expected a little more. But once rolling on the A1, cruise set to 70mph, that figure rather agreeably began to go up.
By the time we hit Glasgow we’d covered 300 miles and the gauge was reporting that the tank was still half full. More like it. Given that we’d be heading for the wilds of Scotland – the world of high fuel prices – we refuelled here and quickly calculated our mpg the old fashioned way. And guess what – 51.6mpg. Better.
But don’t get the impression we’re obsessing about fuel consumption. The long-striding Astra SportsTourer proved that once away from the motorway, it’s god fun on back roads. The handling is keen, with tidy turn-in and the steering is nicely weighted for those who like to crack on. But overtaking is a bit of a drag without a long run-up – the 2.0-litre with 165bhp would certainly alleviate that.
A week in Scotland with the Astra certainly gave us more time to warm to it. And it’s mostly good – it really is the driver’s choice in this sector if a little anonymous. It’s not perfect – the front three-quarter visibility is difficult in twisty roads, the infotainment system only intermittently picks up my iPhone through its data cable and the power delivery is a little peaky – but it’s incredibly competent without being boring. Professional is the best way of describing it.
On the (seemingly) down hill run from Scotland – a 400-mile non-stop motorway trip – fuel consumption once again topped 50mpg. It’s just getting better – a nice thought to consider as the odometer nudges through the 10,000-mile mark…
Vauxhall vs Ferrari – you’ll be surprised...
Our Astra is pressed into service for a photoshoot in France with a stunning Ferrari Daytona. But the dependable Vauxhall isn't left behind.
Date: 11 October 2012 | Current mileage: 10960miles | Claimed economy: 62.8mpg | Actual economy: 47.9mpg
We’ve been so busy enjoying the Astra that at just 11,000-miles, the service light has come on, advising that the car needs an oil change. I must admit that our handsome Sports Tourer is feeling like it’s in need of a little TLC – although the engine is smooth as it ever was and appears to be using no oil at all, there are a few clonks and rattles coming from the suspension that leave me wondering whether we might have a worn bush somewhere.
But having said that, the Astra still drives as well as it ever did. With sharp steering, a lovely gearchange and excellent driving position, it’s definitely the driver’s choice in its sector, despite the 1.7-litre CDTi engine’s laggy on/off nature and rather dead brake pedal.
Just how effective the Astra’s dynamics are were proven to us on a recent trip to France. The car was acting as back-up car on a magazine photo shoot. We were tracking a Ferrari Daytona in northern France and ended up covering rather a lot of distance in the pursuit of the perfect backdrop for our drive story. After a 500-mile day, the Ferrari’s interior was hot, its engine was beginning to complain about the temperature and its driver tired (albeit elated).
Following in the Astra, photographer and I were still fresh and ready for another few hours behind the wheel. However, it was on the second day of the shoot, that the Astra played another blinder – with pretty much all the photos done and a ferry to catch, we upped the pace, hit the A-roads and created an unlikely two-car convoy. And here’s the thing – with the Ferrari owner pushing reasonably quickly (as much as he dares in the wet), we easily kept up. And in fact, at times, it felt like we’re were being held-up.
Of course, I’m not claiming my 125PS Astra can outrun a 174mph Ferrari that was once the fastest car you could buy new, but on a streaming day – with end-of-job fatigue kicking in – the Astra’s sheer dependability breeds confidence. While the Ferrari and its old tyres breed caution in any sensible driver. And if nothing else, clearly shows how far cars have moved on since the early 1970s.
The Ferrari Daytona, which is worth well over £150,000, does have plenty of aces up its sleeve though – not least all the attention it creates - and the amazing soundtrack its V12 screams through its exhaust. Given a straight choice, I think I’d still rather go for the Italian! Still, I can’t wait to see how much better the Astra will feel once it’s had some serious attention in the service bay…
Refreshes the parts no other service...
After 12,000 miles and just in time for winter, the Astra goes in for a service and we're able to book it online using Vauxhall's new service booking system.
Date: 29 October 2012 | Current mileage: 11,781 | Claimed economy: 62.8mpg | Actual economy: 49.6mpg
I'd been complaining that the Astra was beginning to feel a little on the baggy side on the run-up to its service - there were some clonking noises coming from the front suspension and that venerable 1.7-litre CDTi was beginning to sound a little on the rough side. In the days before I booked VX61 GXF in to the garage, Vauxhall issued a press release about its new online servicing service. So what better opportunity to road test this new (to Vauxhall) feature.
I logged on to www.vauxhall.co.uk, found the 'service your car' lin, and filled in a few details - including what kind of service I needed, when I'd like it done and whether I'd like it collecting or not. Needless to say I picked the comprehensive £249 option and added the winter care package on top of that
Within five minutes, it was done – and in another five, the local dealer's (York, Ward and Rowlett of Wellingborough) service manager was on the phone, apologetically saying the date I'd chosen was unavailable. So much for the online booking system.
No harm done, though. I simply chose a day I was in the office and got them collect it. And just to make it tough for them, I didn't give them a list of faults. That would be up to them to find. As promised they turned up at 9.30am to whisk away the Astra and at 5.00pm it was back in the office car park, looking clean and sparkly. Yes, I'd been racking up the miles without keeping it clean... not good.
The delivery driver had forgotten to bring the service sheet with him, but the service book was stamped and the 'winter pack' on the passenger seat (containing wax, de-icer and other bits and pieces) looked like a good bundle for the extra £25.
The delivery driver promised the garage would post the service sheet (they did) and after he left I jumped in and took the Astra for an extended drive. And – wow – what an improvement! The suspension knocks and groans have gone and the throttle response of the (now quieter) engine has been improved (has it had a software update?). Some other niggles have been sorted, too – such as the flaky iPhone connection, which now works perfectly. We'll see how the Astra stands up to the coming few months of hard work.
Astra keeps on rolling... home
One of those last-minute trips means the trusty Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer gets to stretch its legs. And go home in the process...
Date: 18 November 2012 | Current mileage: 12,101 | Claimed economy: 62.8mpg | Actual economy: 48.1mpg
One of the joys of living in a multi-vehicle household is that there's always work to do on one of the cars. And because I have a taste for fast hatchbacks from the 1970s and '80s in particular - and the rarer the better - I'm usually on some parts-finding mission.
My latest caper involved a trip to Merseyside. I needed to pick up a set of 15-inch alloy wheels for a Citroen BX 16-Valve currently residing at my place, and given the huge and usable loadspace of the Astra Sports Tourer, combined with its reasonable fuel consumption (I will get back to this in the next update) make taking the Vauxhall up north an absolute no-brainer.
And every time I hit the motorway in the Astra it's hard not to come away thinking that the GM engineers really have honed this car for long, fast, non-stop journeys. The driving position is excellent (barring the usual caveat of rubbish front three-quarter visibility thanks to a bulky A-pillar), and the ride, while firm (and certainly more so than the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf Mk6) is pliantly-damped, and never gets tiring on a run. I've heard some journalists bemoan the Astra for having inert steering, but it's well-weighted and nicely geared, inspiring plenty of confidence at speed.
Heading north, cruise control dialled-in at 70mph, the Astra's a pleasant place to be, and the miles roll agreeably on. Sadly once again the fuel consumption proves disappointing, with a non-stop run to Ellesmere Port (where the Astra was built) failing to crack 50mpg. Again.
As we line-up the car in front of a Vauxhall-logo'd tower at the Ellesmere Port factory, it's easy to appreciate the fine stylng (subjective, I know), which looks best in profile. Again, I think the British-made Vauxhall has the beating of the Focus and Golf in this department. But after being chased off-site by some security guards in a (thankfully Vauxhall Astra) van, we headed off for the real reason we headed north.
Fitting four hefty (used) wheels and tyres in the boot was a piece of cake for the Astra. The load bay is well shaped and large (even if the seats don't fold fully flat), and once loaded, it was possible to slide the luggage cover across them, and remain flat in the process. Great!
As for the trip - it was in mixed conditions, mostly motorway, and never over 70mph. Average fuel consumption for the run was 48.1mpg. The only real disappointment of the day.
A thirsty tale
Stylish and good to drive it might be, but the Astra Sports Tourer is proving far thirstier than it should be. And we're not alone in thinking that.
Date: 27 November 2012 | Current mileage: 12,800 | Claimed economy: 62.8mpg | Actual economy: 46.9mpg
I like the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer. It's an honest car, that's well-made, well-designed and which performs well on the UK's motorway network. And over the months, I've really grown to appreciate some of those clever little touches that make life so much easier. But I really wish it was more economical.
In average driving, I'm getting between 47-49mpg out of the Astra, which isn't bad for a hack that spends much of its time on the motorway, but it's not as good as I'd hoped for. Of course, we know that car manufacturers are working hard to produce vehicles that score well in emissions and fuel consumption tests, but can this sometimes be at the expense of real world mpg - and should we even be using the official figures as a guide at all?
Looking at my car's entry in Real MPG, it's clear that I'm not alone in struggling to crack 50mpg in daily driving. The figures suggest an average of 48.5mpg, which is 77 per cent of the claimed combined figure. When reader Michael Sum got in touch about his Sports Tourer, his findings echoed mine completely. 'I've had the 1.7CDTI Ecoflex for three months and it’s covered just short of 6000 miles, averaging 50mpg, which is disappointing given the claimed combined figure of 62.8mpg. I spoke to Vauxhall about the situation and was told it takes 8000 miles to ‘break in’ a diesel engine and that 50mpg was ‘acceptable’.'
He goes on. 'They also told me that they don’t conduct these tests, and that they are conducted at 50mph on a rolling road, so nothing like real life! Reviewers say that the equivalent Golf gets easy over 60mpg, which over 40,000 miles makes a big difference…'
I called Vauxhall and had a chat with a spokesman for the company, citing our Real MPG findings, as well as Michael's and my well run-in example. I explained that although the car is an excellent all-rounder that I'd not hesitate to recommend, the fuel consumption isn't where it ought to be. 'Remember that these are comparative figures and not delivered in the real world,' he said. 'The Astra does have the potential economy. Remember that it is also a 119g/km car, which introduces significant taxation benefits.' And in the latter, he's right.
But although most cars will fail to meet their claimed combined consumption in real world driving (I ran a Golf BlueMotion for 12 months in 2009 and averaged 55mpg), amazing fuel figures can be coaxed out of them if you try (I saw an easy 78mpg on a hypermiling run down to Monaco in the same car).
So with that in mind, I took the Astra on a gentle 100-mile cross-country run to see what it could do using those same hypermiling techniques. So, coasting down hills, maintaining momentum at all costs, making sure I'm in the right gear at all times (using the in-built gear change indicator) and keeping to below 60mph, I tried to eke the absolute maximum out of the Astra.
And by journey's end, I'd manage to average 59.8mpg. The computer had - for a moment or two - displayed an average of 60.1mpg, but settled back down at the merest sight of a hill. It was an exhausting run and because I'd not managed to hit that all important 60mpg average, rather unsatisfying. Especially as I was late for my appointment. And all this, as I've said before, is a crying shame because in just about every other way, the Astra's a very satisfying car to own and drive.
I'll put this rather average performance at the pumps down to its common-rail 16-valve Ecotec engine, a Polish-built engine made in a Joint Venture with Isuzu that's been around since the late 1980s, even though it's received a fair raft of updates along the way. I suspect that the same car with the impressive new 2.0-litre 16-valve Ecotec engine will beat it handsomely in the real world. On paper it's close - 124g/km and 60.1mpg combined (with stop-start). But on the road, with all that additional power and torque, it's going to be a whole lot more effortless to drive. And more economical at the pumps.
Size really does matter...
The old expression 'there's no substitute for inches' is rather unfashionable these days, with car manufacturers downsizing. But it rings true if you own an Astra.
Date: 13 December 2012 | Current mileage: 12,905 | Claimed economy: 62.8mpg | Actual economy: 47.7mpg
Regular readers will recall me giving my Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer a bit of a kicking for its less-than-impressive fuel returns in my previous report. It's not as if fuel consumption in the high-forties is actually that bad for a near-4.7m long estate car, but for a car wearing an 'eco' badge that supposedly averages a claimed 62.8mpg, I was expecting a little more.
I concluded that this disappointing fuel consumption might be tempered by making an alternative engine choice - and that in real-word driving, an Astra Sports Tourer powered by the far more impressive 2.0 CDTi might well trounce what the 1.7-litre car is achieving. So, I arranged to borrow a facelifted 2.0 SE from Vauxhall, and drive it in exactly the same way - and in the same conditions - as my own car, just to see if it really is true that size matters in this instance.
The first thing I noticed is how just a few minor styling tweaks have really sharpened the appearance of the Astra. The slimmer chrome grille bar and more stylised fog/indicator lamps, as well as larger intake add character to what was already quite an attractive design. Inside, there are very few changes, but the old-fashioned manual handbrake was a bit of a surprise after the electronic item on my SRi - but it transpires that the more traditional type is a no-cost option. The Ecoflex display is more comprehensive on the newer car, also - something I'd come to appreciate during the coming week. As was the stop-start system.
This SE had been well optioned. In addition to the normal climate control system, this car was fitted with a pair of seat heaters and a heated steering wheel. Both of these were much appreciated during the cold snap that we had during the test.
Being an SE (as opposed to my SRI), the 2.0 CDTi has a standard ride height and softer suspension settings. During the week I had it, I noticed no loss of handling, but certainly did appreciate the more compliant ride and less stiff damping. On British roads, the non-sporting Astra is very capable indeed - and it has me wondering again why on earth so many people choose sports suspension and large wheels on cars such as this? They're far nicer to live with in standard form. Especially as pothole season approaches.
But down to brass tacks. Fuel consumption, performance, and all-round drivability. When you fire-up the 2.0 CDTi it's a little bit more vocal at idle than the 1.7, but pulling away, throttle reponse is so much better. And unlike the smaller-engined car, you're not saddled with too much throttle lag or the same marked off/on boost transition. Driving around town, this additional drivability and low-down torque manifests itself into a far more relaxed and pleasurable drive.
Overall gearing seems to be pretty much identical to the 1.7-litre car - so once up to motorway speeds, there's little difference in terms of engine noise. And to be fair to the smaller car, it doesn't actually feel any slower in these circumstances either. But get the 2.0 CDTi onto a typical A-Road and the additional torque means you're changing gear far less regularly, and just enjoying the swift progress that a full-sized diesel gives you.
So the 2.0 CDTi is quicker and drives more nicely, but how about fuel consumption?
The first test was the same 100-mile hypermiling trip. This incorporated 100 miles of mixed A and B-Roads as well as a stretch of clear motorway. The end result was 66.1mpg (compared with 59.8mpg from the 1.7-litre car), which is far more in keeping my expectations. And in the real world, driving it in traffic without paying too much attention to parsimonious use of the accelerator, I saw an average fuel consumption of 54.7mpg. Considering that my own 1.7 CDTi has yet to better 50mpg, and that this 2.0 CDTi isn't even run-in yet, showing just over 1000 miles on the clock, this is a very good result indeed.
The conclusions are easy to draw here. The Astra's a fine (and some would say unfairly ignored by too many people) all-rounder, which in Sports Tourer form is actually rather handsome. But whatever you do, if you have some say in the decision, try and make a bee-line for the 2.0 CDTi over the 1.7. If you're budget limited, trim your options and take the engine over the gadgets. You'll be rewarded by a car that's better to drive and quicker, and you'll be visiting the petrol stations a little less often.
And isn't that a good thing?
