1.4 turbo 150ps SRi auto Start+Stop 5dr Hatchback

An excellent British engineered and built car.

Having previously had 4 Astras, I was interested in the new one and the published fuel consumptions. They are virtually the same for the 1.4 turbo petrol 6 speed auto, the 1.4 turbo 6 speed manual, and the 1.4 non-turbo 5 speed manual models.
I bought the car new in February and have driven it for 2600 miles. It is refined, partly due to having high gearing. At 30 mph 5th gear is selected giving 1000 engine rpm, and in this state the car pulls surprisingly well up slopes. At 70 mph in 6th gear, the engine speed is 2000 rpm. Driven moderately, the engine speed hardly ever goes above 2000 rpm except up hills. The auto gearbox is of the torque converter type, controlled electronically. The characteristics are automatically altered according to driving style. Being new to an automatic, I appreciated the interlocks which prevent inadvertent moving off.
The wheels are 17 inch alloys with 225/45 profile tyres. The steering characteristics and tyre grip are excellent. The lower spec Design and Techline models have 16 inch wheels and narrower tyres which apparently give slightly better fuel consumption and quietness, and are less prone to kerb damage. However, these advantages are more than outweighed by the additional features of the Sri. I have found the windscreen camera feature particularly good. It recognises speed limit signs and displays the current speed limit on a small screen. Very occasionally, it will read a sign in a side street if it is angled wrongly. The camera also registers the closing distance of vehicles ahead and when necessary, warnings and braking are activated. When set to intermittent, the windscreen wipers operate when rain hits the sensor. I found that even at the most sensitive setting, the wipers don’t operate soon enough under light rain conditions. However, the interior auto dipping interior mirror and the auto exterior light switching work well.
The Onstar communication system is useful. By pressing a button, the operator answers promptly and will if requested, put a destination into the satnav. In the event of an accident, one can request assistance. If involved in a collision, Onstar will be automatically alerted. They will know the location, assess the severity of the accident and summon assistance. This service is free for the first year.
Over 1700 miles, much of it in in suburbia, I averaged 39 mpg. The stop/start system works well and helps minimise fuel consumption. It runs quietly on smooth roads and the seats are comfortable. It is compact and relaxing to drive. Overall, I am very pleased with the car.

Report as offensive