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comment_article_add | article_comments: (0) Opel Astra IV 1.6 Ecotec Cosmo - a European hit from Gliwice – test (2010-07-21)

For more than a decade, Opel tried to approach the popularity of its compact-class model for its biggest competitor, the VW Golf. For the race to become the leading C-segment over a decade ago with great success joined his very successful Ford Focus model. Is the new fourth generation Astra has a chance to receive the crown of the most popular among drivers, the segment C?.

The financial crisis which engulfed the world economy at the end of 2008 particularly affected car manufacturers in North America. Even in 2009, GM's future was uncertain, and its most advanced factory in Gliwice in Europe threatened to shut down. The biggest engine of any car company is the compact class. After the premiere of the new Corsa and Vectra successor, the Insignia was already known that Opel has completely changed the design philosophies of their own models. At the European consumer does not make any impression technological innovations reserved for higher class models appearing in the C-segment cars. Customer choosing compact wants to feel as if it sat in the car at least middle class. New models need to surprise their future users. And, that seems to be the Astra IV, which becomes the driving force of American concern.

Produced in Polish Opel factory in Gliwice fourth generation Astra hit broke into the European market for CDs. Already after only five months of production Opel announced that it received over 150 thousand orders from the Old Continent to the new Astra with the Silesian factories. What led up to it so popular?. Does it have a chance to win the primacy of priority in the compact class with the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus? The tested model of the Opel Astra 1.6 Ecotec 115KM version of Cosmo. In our test, we will try to find not only the advantages of which we all write, but also the drawbacks and weaknesses, "childhood" of the new Astra.

 

[FILM]

 

The body and interior

Previous models of the Opel Astra is not anything in particular stand out from the crowd of hundreds of CDs circulating on European roads. Astra IV generation is a dynamic shape with low, raked windshield, a robust bumper, headlights that occur deep in the front fenders and grille with chrome grille visible from afar with the Opel logo. Front of the car completely broke with the "angular" inserts the previous model. Even more interesting looks behind the new hatchback. Were it not for the Opel badge on the rear trunk is never reminded me it was from this model. Astra finally gained its own character, and the whole suggests to us that, it stands before us a car full of vigor and temperament. Most, however, I was interested in the quality of fit of all elements of the bodywork. Already in a few other producers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany found the new models, especially with the first phase of production referred to as MVBs, inaccuracy of their folding. Carmakers selecting the locations of their factories with our southern neighbors can only look with envy at the Polish qualified personnel. All slots in the Astra are fitting with particular care, even the headlights and rear lights have been perfectly assembled with elements of the body, but I'm looking further because the "ideals" I do not believe even a Mercedes or VW to slip. I appreciate the professionalism of staff Opel factory in Gliwice, but recalling the crackling bodywork grandfather PRA PRA tested fourth generation Opel Astra and Opel Kadett D series, which utilized the early 90s I think I know where I can find something else. We look inside. I opened the door and ... ... ..

I suggest the next buyer Astra IV, never to look at photographs of its interior. Model we tested is a version of Cosmo, and it is a word which perfectly reflects the climate he found me seated in the driver's seat. So refined cockpit design in the C-segment car unveiled several years ago in the final model Honda Civic, and the newest model of Astra's largest competitor, the Golf is presented in comparison with its extremely spartan. Once we place on ergonomic sports seats, which is regulated in six directions and to maintain correct posture, have 4-position adjustable lumbar support, lateral support and the ideal sliding seat cushion support for the legs (found so far in the D-class cars Premium), is a long-distance journey through the stoppered national roads will not be tiring. These great seats are available as standard only on the Sport version, while in the test version of Cosmo 1950 PLN require subsidies, but certainly worth it. On the front seats have enough space but the rear passengers can travel comfortably only when the front rank of the person cheap. Despite the comfortable rear seat legroom for tall people is definitely not enough.

Let us return to the cockpit. Borrowings from Insignia Astra IV came out for good. Everyone watching the interior of the new Opel kompaktu agreed that "the most beautiful design in this class." The dashboard is made of soft and pleasant material and is perfectly folded. Multimedia, leather-covered steering wheel feels right in your hand, and deep-set round clocks with chrome rantami compounded by an exclusive interior. The effect of visual surprise on the night grows when a driver sees the beautifully illuminated cockpit, and the red glow of the basis for engaging the jack gear doors, and bacon is an amazing gadget design. Despite the massive amount of buttons as on a car this class everything is clear and intuitive. I thought that here I find something illogical, although I must stipulate that a retired elderly man may have difficulty in moving around used in the Astra IV, innovative products available in the car menu, but what are the end of the XXI century granddaughter. And what happened here, you can attach??. The new car manufactured in the Czech brothers from the south I found a propagated crack in the dashboard of 1 to 3 mm. Astra IV, all the fit is quite standard, and materials used safely fit in the car class. The thought came to me but my honest, creaking in the middle of the "communist" road Opel Kadett D with over 20 years. Completely lowered the music, I caught the upper housing indicators and gently touched up and down, upsssss ,,,,,,,

Cracks of the plastic could be heard. When driving up a bumpy road with no sounds of this place came to me, but what will happen after 4-5 years of driving on our roads? The tested model was the initial production phase. I went to the nearest salon Opel and pretending to be interested in buying a new Astra I decided to see if the ailment, which in time can be burdensome for the driver, I find in each new model. From 3 to 7, it appeared that the upper housing when they move counters seem unpleasant, rasping sound.

 

  There is considerable likelihood that such a car after a course of 120-150 thousand km sounds of the housing indicators will begin to bother the driver. Clearly, this element is to improve the fit in the new Astra IV. May be to blame for the fact that only 75% of installed separately as overlays on the clock timers you can hear the cracks in their movement, which does not mean that it can not be eliminated already at the stage of assembling the car.

The engine and driveability

Astra tested was equipped with 1.6-liter engine with a power 115KM and torque to 155 Nm at 4000 rpm. According to the manufacturer's model, the engine accelerates to 100 km / h in 11.7 seconds. Driving this car in city traffic the driver marked by a lack of power at low speed. We must push for a healthy gas pedal keeping the engine above 2500 rpm to sense acceleration declared by the manufacturer. It will definitely driver who, after passing to the Astra engine to discourage this model. For them, GM was prepared turbocharged versions 1.4 and 1.6 140km 180km. I mentioned earlier that in the early 90s utilized Opel Kadett. I did not mention that in the years 2002 - 2006 very hard to operate the Astra G is the Ecotec engine. Although my 4 year old "curse" on the dynamics of this engine after all these years I pay tribute to her and apologize for my repeated frustration when you press the gas pedal. When he was selling had driven 340 thousand km of which more than 200 thousand on the gas installation. The only failure is a replacement EGR valve and stepper motor. Systematic timing, fluids and filters (of course only branded manufacturers), this result was undamaged in the 1.6 ECOTEC engine, long-distance service life. For the driver who wishes to buy a car for years and does not have a "heavy foot" it was the Astra, the engine may not be cost-effective solution. Why not Diesel? Let me point out a modern diesel engine which does not make its owner the problem after driving distance of 150 thousand. Let us return to test Astra IV. 1.6 115 hp engine is definitely dedicated to peaceful, sustainable road drivers, and what is the suspension and steering?. Most new construction in the car bothers me electric power steering. Simulation game will leave the kids. Astra IV, however, positively surprised me. The response to movements in dynamic driving wheel is quite exemplary. Kept the car stable during the crossing of sharp turns. The wide wheelbase of 2685mm with a rather large weight on its own as the class of car makes driving experience as we have the upper class. We owe the term used felt comfortable in the rear suspension mechanism Watt, which reduces lateral movements of torsion beam in relation to the body and works at the time of the wheel lateral forces. When driving on undulating, yet "post-communist" asphalt, softly tuned connections on the back of the pendulum beam effectively suppress these inequalities. Only in the front suspension felt asphalt driving age. Knocking was not bad, but you can feel and hear.

 

Combustion

 

Opel in the official brochure gives the following values

 

Highway L/100km 5.1, City 8.3 L/100km City Cycle Mix 6.3 l/100 km

These figures are very difficult to obtain by the average driver, especially on hot days when air conditioning turned on, which substantially burden on the engine. The results presented in our test are obtained by drivers who prefer different styles of driving.

1. The driver of a woman driving one year, knows the rules Eco Dryving, distance 23.9 km, the cycle of city / trail: 80/20, 17.00 pm start of the test, air-conditioning turned on, the average traffic volume, average fuel consumption 8.2 l/100 km , the average speed of 42 km / h.

 

2. Male driver, 15 years driving, distance and route, as above, start the test at 17.30, turned on air conditioning, the average traffic - average fuel consumption 9.3 l/100 km, average speed 49 km / h.

 

 

3. Male driver, 25 years after driving EcoDryving course, distance and route as above, starting at the test the next day. 16.30, included air conditioning, traffic flow, more perceptive than the previous day - average fuel consumption 7.4 l/100 km, average speed of 45km / h. We did not have the technical capacity to verify the secondary combustion flights highway, but we tested the Astra IV on the popular "gierkówce" where there is very many restrictions to 70km / h and both red lights at intersections crossing "express road"

4. The driver of the distance of 100 km point 3 very large volume of traffic, air-conditioning turned on, without any rules EcoDriving. Friday at the start of the test. 17.00 - 7.1 l/100km average fuel consumption, average speed 77.8 km / hr. Astra IV 1.6 115KM from the engine is not a speed demon, but has an excellent audio system with seven speakers. I decided to test the same route again with the principles EcoDryving the excellent concert by Chris Botti (I recommend to all distressed sales representatives in a speeding car missions rhythms of music based on three chords).

 

5. Beginning, as before, air-conditioning turned on. Starting the test Friday (next week), hours. 15.00, slightly less intensity than in the previous test - average fuel consumption 5.9 l/100 km, average speed 84.8 km / h 98.6 km distance.

Summary

Opel Astra IV generation is certainly the most important model for GM's car. Very good quality materials, interior and exterior parts (I found only one error of fit) indicates a serious turn of a new model from Gliwice in the struggle for primacy in the compact class. A very wide range of engines, four petrol 100 hp, 115KM, 140km, 180km and four diesel 95km, 110km, 125km, 160 HP gives prospective purchasers a wide choice of suitable motor with their own needs and skills. Is this the new C-segment king on the European market? Results show that sales for 2010. Personally, I just keep our fingers crossed for that model of car manufactured in factories in Silesia.

 

Specifications - Key elements

- Electric, heated door mirrors in body color

 - Daytime running lights

- Power Windows

- Active steering

- ABS - Stabilization system ESP ® Plus

- Folding the rear seats in a 60:40 ratio

- Front and side airbags for driver and front passenger

- A system of submission of the pedals (PRS)

Cosmo only version

- Elements of the lenses tinted rear lights

- Overlay on the front internal thresholds

- Special lighting indicators

- Dual-zone automatic climate control

- Electrically operated parking brake

- Hill Start Assist system on slopes

- On-board computer with a "check control

" - Cruise Control - Leather steering wheel with control buttons

- 17 ˝ alloy wheels, many

Option

- Upholstery / seats

- Lace / Atlantis - 1 950 PLN

- Cosmo Plus Package 1 100 PLN rain sensor, ext. photosensitive mirror, fog lights, automatic light control with ambient light sensor (tunnel)

- Techno Pack 3 600 PLN car antenna (shark fin) with antenna to diversify on the glass, electric rear windows, the portal to a mobile phone (Bluetooth), radio CD/MP3 800 NAVI navigation system and USB audio system Premium 7 speaker, graphic display between the dials, color display 7, output line / IN

- Flor Flex 3 - the levels of load floor 250 PLN

- The central rear headrest 150 PLN

- Parking sensor front + rear 1700PLN

 

Pawel Pietrzak

Test and photos motolokalizator.pl

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