The 1.4 stands out for its refinement. Revved out to 4000rpm it can still barely be heard from inside the cabin. At these engine speeds it feels enthusiastic, too, though it’s unfortunately a little underwhelming lower down, lacking gusto, as well as any real character.
The 1.6 is noisier than the 1.4, but also significantly punchier and more versatile, pulling well from low down and feeling far stronger through its mid range. For these reasons, it’s likely to resound more with Australian buyers.
With no automatics available to test on the European launch, we sampled only the manual and found it to be a clean shifter with a nice, light feel to the clutch pedal.
Holden’s engineering team will get the opportunity to develop unique steering and suspension tunes for the Astra, and our early testing suggest there’s work to be done to suit Australian driving preferences and conditions.
There’s play in the steering around the straight-ahead position at anything beneath Autobahn speeds. It lacks the precision and engagement of the more dynamic cars in the class such as the Ford Focus and Mazda 3.
The benefits of its diet are obvious, however, with the Astra feeling nicely light and nimble â€" significantly more so than the hefty GTC coupe.
There’s also room for improvement in terms of ride comfort. Rolling on 17- and 18-inch wheels with 45- and 40-aspect tyres respectively, the Astra felt busy over the patchy roads of Bratislava that aren’t too dissimilar from those found throughout Sydney’s inner-city suburbs. Bumps tend not to jolt the cabin, but affect it enough to make the Astra feel frumpy.
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