VAUXHALL ASTRA 1.6 SXi DIGITAL LIMITED EDITION
Vauxhalls Astra 1.6 SXi Digital Is The First Car In Its Class To Offer Digital Radio As Standard. Steve Ghosley Reports
Ever longed to here Beethoven without buzz, Whitney Huston without hiss or Credence Clear Water Revival without crackle? If so, then your prayers may have been answered with the arrival of the
Vauxhall Astra 1.6-litre SXi Digital limited edition. This new model in the Astra range offers buyers the very latest in DAB digital radio entertainment as standard equipment.
With a price of £14,345 for this Astra 1.6-litre SXi Digital limited edition, it is an outlay that may prove irresistible for those who find the need for the very latest in musical gadgetry. The audio equipment levels of the SXi Digital include an impressive CDC40 infotainment system, which incorporates a six-CD changer, a seven-band graphic equaliser, and a seven-speaker system. The Astra SXi Digital limited edition also gets twin front and side airbags, ABS brakes, electric windows, remote central locking, air conditioning, electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors, as well as hide trim on the steering wheel, As befits its sporting nature, this SXi features lowered suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, sports instruments, front fog lights and a matt chromed centre console.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
 |
| Economy |
|
| Equipment |
|
| Handling |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
|
| Styling |
|
| Value |
|
With 105bhp on tap, youre not going to detach your retinas through sheer acceleration in this Astra 1.6-litre hatch, but theres enough pep there to entertain. The sprint to 60mph is dispatched in 11.3 seconds and a top speed of 115mph is attainable if you have an airfield or can plead diplomatic immunity from prosecution.
More appropriate figures are the 43mpg overall fuel consumption figure and the meagre 158g/km of CO2 thats emitted from the tailpipe every kilometre. "It may prove irresistible for those who find the need for the very latest in musical gadgetry..." One thing that
Vauxhall trust will be immediately apparent is the Astras ride quality courtesy of an advanced suspension system. Its the first car in its class to feature Continuous Damping Control (CDC), electronically controlled shock absorbers that continuously adapt to the road surface and the drivers style. Its all part of what Vauxhall dub the Astras Interactive Driving System (IDS) that can integrate all of the electronic functions in a way thats a good deal cleverer that you might think. For example, the ESP stability control system now beefs up the damper forces first before applying the brakes to the front wheels during extreme cornering manoeuvres making for a more sensitive and less intrusive intervention.
Despite all of these high tech touches, the Astra still uses a relatively simple beam axle at the back instead of the sophisticated multi-link layouts used by
Volkswagen and
Ford. The SXis lowered and stiffened suspension may raise a few eyebrows as we've had stiff suspension set-ups on Astras before giving a ride that shook the fillings out of your teeth. Here, thankfully, its different. In fact, the SXi's ride is arguably class leading, thanks to the way it handles poor surfaces with accomplished ease. The impressive levels of refinement augment the ride quality and, along with the superb audio installation, make this limited edition a very enjoyable car to drive. Cornering roll is minimal, which encourages you to throw the car into corners with greater gusto. You can do so later too, thanks to meaty brakes, which are so powerful, youll thrill at their bite.
Watch other road users apply their brakes and then sail past them, relying on the SXis impressive powers of retardation. Gearboxes are not a Vauxhall strongpoint and this example certainly could be slicker. It is however, one of the company's better efforts. The steering is responsive too, with plenty of feedback when you want it, yet usefully light when you don't. The driving position helps in this regard, second to none in the class, with height adjustment on both the driver's
seat and a height and reach-adjustable leather-trimmed chunky three-spoke steering wheel. The pedals are perfectly aligned and the sports seats supportive, with bucket-like side bolsters. Clever packaging and a long wheelbase have helped to maximise the Astras interior space, helped in no small part by the fact that the exterior tale of the tape shows the Astra is one of the biggest cars in its class. That sloping roofline looks as if itll pinch rear headroom but look a little closer and youll notice the sloping line that catches the eye is but a chamfer and the actual roofline arcs higher.
Rear headroom is in fact better than the outgoing car and legroom and shoulder room is in another league. A Vauxhall spokesman claimed that the interior of the new Astra fitted like a glove, but as few people we know are shaped like hands, this would seem to present certain problems. Not so. Big doors and surprisingly upright side windows give an airy feel to the interior, although anybody familiar with the look and feel of the latest Vectras cabin wont find much to excite them with the Astras fascia.
The Astra 1.6-litre SXi Digital limited edition has a lot going for it. Superior build quality, neat design, a no-nonsense powerplant, keen pricing, excellent vehicle dynamics and a superb sound system. The Astra is now a car that can be compared with the very best in its class and not to be found wanting in any category.
Models like the Astra 1.6-litre SXi Digital limited edition offer an opportunity to own a vehicle at the forefront of the latest technology before the rest of the market has had time to catch up. Being wired for sound, however, doesnt automatically mean that the Astra 1.6-litre SXi Digital limited edition comes with the latest Cliff Richard CD.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Vauxhall Astra 1.6 SXi Digital limited edition
PRICES: £14,345 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 6
CO2 EMISSIONS: 158g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 11.3s/ Max Speed 115mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 43mpg (combined)
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5-door] length/width/heightmm: 4249/2030/1460
<< Back to Vauxhall car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Vauxhall Cars For Sale UK
