Photo: Holden
The Holden Astra, otherwise known as the Opel Astra with another set of badges, has finally been priced in Australia this week. It starts from AUD $21,990, and most people are saying that's too much for a compact.
There's no denying it looks good. The Holden version of the hatchback is being sold as standard with what the Europeans know as the OPC Line body kit, which adds side skirts and much sportier bumper.
But the point is that the Astra is being pitched against the Hyundai i30, one of the most popular cars in Australia, and that one starts at under $20k.
By adding a body kit and positioning the Astra above the i30, Holden admits it's playing for something other than overall sales. As we've said in one of our previous stories, the base Astra engine is the 1.4, turbocharged to the tune of 110 kW (150 PS) and 230 Nm of torque.
It's accompanied by a manual gearbox in the entry-level R trim level, as well as six airbags, 17-inch wheels, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, projector headlamps (halogen) with LED daytime running lights and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and DAB+ radio.
The automatic version (R auto trim) seems a bit too expensive at AUD $24,190. That's why we'd skip that one and move onto the powerful Astra RS, which can almost be considered a hot hatch thanks to its 1.6 turbo producing 200 PS (147 kW) and 280 Nm of torque (300 Nm on overboost). It starts from AUD $26,490 with a manual and $28,690 as an automatic. Standard equipment includes lane departure warning, blind spot alert, and a semi-automated parking system.
And finally, there's the flagship RS-V model with heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, LED lights and an 8-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and navigation. When the auto gearbox is taken into consideration, the Holden Astra can be as expensive as AUD $33,190.
But we're not done yet, because the $3,990 Innovation Pack added to the RS-V model includes IntelliLux adaptive LED matrix headlights, adaptive cruise control and a powered sunroof.
But the point is that the Astra is being pitched against the Hyundai i30, one of the most popular cars in Australia, and that one starts at under $20k.
By adding a body kit and positioning the Astra above the i30, Holden admits it's playing for something other than overall sales. As we've said in one of our previous stories, the base Astra engine is the 1.4, turbocharged to the tune of 110 kW (150 PS) and 230 Nm of torque.
It's accompanied by a manual gearbox in the entry-level R trim level, as well as six airbags, 17-inch wheels, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, projector headlamps (halogen) with LED daytime running lights and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and DAB+ radio.
The automatic version (R auto trim) seems a bit too expensive at AUD $24,190. That's why we'd skip that one and move onto the powerful Astra RS, which can almost be considered a hot hatch thanks to its 1.6 turbo producing 200 PS (147 kW) and 280 Nm of torque (300 Nm on overboost). It starts from AUD $26,490 with a manual and $28,690 as an automatic. Standard equipment includes lane departure warning, blind spot alert, and a semi-automated parking system.
And finally, there's the flagship RS-V model with heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, LED lights and an 8-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and navigation. When the auto gearbox is taken into consideration, the Holden Astra can be as expensive as AUD $33,190.
But we're not done yet, because the $3,990 Innovation Pack added to the RS-V model includes IntelliLux adaptive LED matrix headlights, adaptive cruise control and a powered sunroof.
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