2009 Opel Astra

In 1991 Opel launched the new model Astra. It replaced the old Opel Kadett model. Opel, sold in Australia, had another name in the past – Holden. Nowadays it is also called Vauxhall in the UK.  The latest model Astra has been in production since 2009. You can find more information about it in this article.

(*Holden company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer but in 1908 it was transformed into an automotive company. Today, Holden is a sub-brand of GM and sells GM models on the Australian market.)

Present Astra model can be easily distinguished from the previous one. The two models have nothing in common.  The design of the headlights, front grill, bumpers, doors and taillights is different from the old one. I like the new model more. There are changes in the interior - the shape of the dashboard, middle console and steering-wheel is new. I consider the interior of the previous model stiff - the steering-wheel and the dashboard are too simple. But the new one looks more modern and luxurious.

But not only is the design of the interior new. The same can be said about the exterior. The headlights resemble eagle eyes. The front grill is small but very stylish - there are chrome elements in the shape of an airplane. This helps the emblem to stand out. The turn signal lights are placed in a chrome frame in a low position on the bumper. I think that they could be seen with difficulty. Actually, the headlights make significant impression on people while driving, walking or whatever doing in the traffic. If the turn signals are near to the headlights, they will be more noticeable. Having of a side view of the new Astra I can only say – Beautiful! It looks glamorous especially with the chrome elements surrounding the windows. There are two lines on the rear bumper which begin from the left and finish to the right taillight. Actually, the backside of the new Astra looks tacky. The producer offers 17 types of rims from steel with rim covers to alloy models. The tire sizes can be: 205/60 R16, 215/60 R16, 215/50 R17, 225/50 R17, 225/45 R18, 235/45 R18 and 235/45 R19. Also the OPC line packet is available as additional equipment.

Interior looks really brilliant. The new steering-wheel is more stylish than the previous one. There are buttons on it for cruise control, sound control, etc. The middle console has a lot of buttons for the climate control, sound system, navigation system, etc. Astra offers four levels of equipment without OPC version. The levels are Esenta, Enjoy, Active and Cosmo. The tested Astra had Cosmo equipment. The most interesting features here were the multimedia and the navigation system.

The driver’s seat is comfortable and there is good visibility. The driver and passenger’s seats have manual adjustment. The space is enough for the driver and the passenger next to him. The navigation system is placed on the top of the middle console. It is very easy to follow it while driving. The navigation system in VW Golf 7 is placed lower in the middle console in comparison with the Astra. 

Behind the steering-wheel there is a classical instrumental cluster. There are two big circles for tachometer and speedometer and two small circles with indicators for water temperature and fuel. All of these four circles are surrounded by chrome rings. Among these circles there is a board computer. You can be aware of the current speed; fuel range (kilometers to the next fuel reload) and current fuel consumption.

As usual the backseat is designed for two passengers. The space is narrow and the back doors are short. If there is fifth passenger who has to sit in the middle, the space on backseat will be narrow. It would be a real punishment for all the passengers. ISOFIX seats can be set as well.

Astra’s trunk has Flex Floor which means that the floor in the trunk can be adjusted as you want. There are three positions: down, center and upper. At the upper position the floor is at the level of the trunk opening. This will help you to load heavy baggage. The backseats rest can be fallen down as well.

The tested Opel Astra has a petrol engine 1.4L with turbo charging. The power is 120 hp (88 kW), max torque 200 Nm @ 1850 – 4200 rpm. This engine has a power; the car is agile and easy to drive. The only drawback is that the six-speed manual transmission is too tightened.  

This is a list of engines and transmissions available for Astra hatchback (on Bulgarian market).

Petrol engines:

1.4 100 hp / 74 kW @ 6000 rpm; max torque 130 Nm @ 4000 rpm; 5-speed manual transmission (MT);

1.4 120 hp / 88 kW @ 6000 rpm; max torque 200 Nm @ 1850 – 4200 rpm; 6-spped MT;

1.4 140 hp / 103 kW @ 6000 rpm; max torque 200 Nm @ 1850 – 4900 rpm; 6-spped automatic transmission (AT) or MT;

1.6 115 hp / 85 kW @ 4000 rpm; max torque 155 Nm @ 4000 rpm; 5-spped MT or 6-speed AT;

1.6 170 hp / 125 kW @ 4250 rpm; max torque 280 Nm @ 1650 – 4250 rpm; 6-spped MT or 6-speed AT

1.6 180 hp / 132 kW @ 5500 rpm; max torque 230 Nm @ 2200 rpm; 6-spped MT

Diesel engines:

1.7 110 hp / 81 kW @ 4000 rpm; max torque 280 Nm @ 1750 – 2500 rpm; 6-spped MT

1.7 130 hp / 96 kW @ 4000 rpm; max torque 300 Nm @ 2000 – 2500 rpm; 6-spped MT

2.0 165 hp / 121 kW @ 4000 rpm; max torque 250 Nm @ 1750 – 2500 rpm; 6-spped MT or 6-speed AT.

Some of the Opel s’ engines have EcoFLEX technology. This technology is a combination of a few sub-technologies used for petrol or diesel engines. The first one is VVT (Variable Valve Timing) which changes phases of distribution of intake and exhaust valves. This system optimizes the fuel burning. Another system manages the air flow in the intake collector. When the engine works at low rpm (the car is not moving, but the engine is working, for example) the speed of air flow is increased by a valve in intake collector. When the engine works at high rpm the air flow passes through the shortest loop with the largest diameter. This technology is used in petrol and diesel engines as well. Turbocharge with variable geometry is a turbine system which has adjustable vanes. These vanes are managed by electromagnetic valve (in principle). When the engine works at low rpm the exhaust gas flow is small so the vanes of the turbocharger are slightly opened. When the engine works at high rpm the exhaust gas flow is large and then the vanes are more opened. This helps us to use turbocharge at low rpm and there is not turbo lag in comparison with the old turbo system where the turbo is available above 2000 rpm of the engine (it depends on the engine).  Common Rail system for diesel engine is available as well. Burning in closed cycle – this is a diesel system which follows the pressure in the cylinder by mounted sensors on the heating sparks. This helps for the precise control over the injected fuel and it adjusts the process of burning in a closed cycle.  Thus the fuel consumption, CO2 and noises are decreased.

The most interesting thing for me was the technologies used in the car. I’ll try to give more information about the abbreviations like AFL. For the last several years light system has been the most updated technology. It will probably be the same in the feature. One of the headlight technologies is AFL+ which can automatically adjust the direction and illumination of the head lights. If the car is driven up to 30 km/h (~18 mph) the light beam is widened with 8 degrees to the left and right. Other light options are: ‘urban lights’, ‘extra-urban lights’, ‘highway lights’, ‘bad-weather lights’ and ‘higher high beam lights’.

First option is for driving at low beam lights from 30 to 55 km/h (~18 - 35 mph). The light beam illuminates wider and lower than usually, depending on the speed and the street illumination.

‘Extra-urban lights’ is used from 55 to 115 km/h (~35 – 71 mph). The light beam illuminates wider and higher than usually. The range of the illumination is up to 70 m (~230 ft.) in front of the car.

German engineers created a ‘highway lights’ system, available above 115 km/h (~71 mph). The light beam is increased up to 140 m (~459 ft.). Here I have to mention that the light system is created not to bedazzle the incoming traffic. If you think that that’s all about the light system applied in 2009 Opel Astra – you are wrong.

‘Bad-weather lights’ is a system, activated by a rain-sensor and it improves the lights at wet weather.

‘Higher high beam lights’ - due to Bi-Xenon technology the high beam lights increase the illumination and its range by 15%. The front lights can change angle up to 15 degrees in turns. This system is activated depending on the angle of turning and the speed of the car. The last light system, which can be very useful in the city, is a ‘static lights for turn’. These lights can illuminate up to 90 degrees to the car.

ACC is Adaptive Cruise Control system which works with Frontal Crash Assistant (FCA). It can activate the brakes in a potential collusion (CIB). Actually, all of these systems work together. You can set the speed and the computer will keep safety distance from the front vehicle. If you catch up another vehicle too fast you will receive a message on board computer and a sound warning. If you do not start to slow down, CIB will activate the brakes and eventually stop the car. The FDI system shows the distance in front of the vehicle and can calculate the time to the collusion. Now I realize why we used to solve mathematical problems connected with distance, velocity and time (as you know: S=V*t) at school.  The greatest thing here is that you can drive a car with equipment as a premium car like Mercedes S 500 , which has similar safety system but at lower price – if you do not care about the prestige.

‘Opel Eye’ is a system which can recognize the traffic signs even the temporary and electronic ones (Traffic Sings Assistant). The producer says that this system is upgraded and can ‘read’ most of the traffic sings in different countries. Another function, which belongs to ‘Opel Eye’, is LDW system. It warns when the car leaves the line. The car has also a system for blind side zone (SBSA) which activates light in the relevant side mirror.

The tested Astra was equipped with RVC which is a rear view camera. But if you use the conventional way of parking - just like me – it will take you time to get used to looking at the camera. If you are a person who likes technologies Astra offers APA system. It is an Automatic Parking Assistant. My opinion is that this system will slow you but if you have time for APA – use it. While I was driving the car, I noticed something important. When I pulled off at incline the HSA system (which is a Hill Assistant) kept the brakes up to 2 seconds after the release of the pedal. This system is very sensitive and it is not hard to notice it.

Opel Astra reached 95 % safety for adult occupants at EuroNCAP tests, 84% for child occupants, 46% for pedestrians and 71% for safety assist. The car is equipped with eight airbags.

Opel Astra has a lot of systems supporting and protecting you while driving. The equipment of Astra is so huge that you have the freedom to design your own car as you like. This will help you to express yourself in the best possible way. There are a lot of engines with different power. So, you have an option to choose the perfect one for your needs. For people who like sport driving the sport flexible suspension is available as well. The entertainment system will give you a real pleasure on a long trip. You can put a stands for tablets on a driver and passenger backside seats for backseat passengers’ entertainment. I noticed only one drawback - the six-speed manual gearbox. It was too tightened and it was too hard for me to shift the gears.  Maybe one can adjust to it. It just needs time.  That is all about 2009 Opel Astra model. Are you ready for next one?