Test drive: Opel Astra Sports Tourer 1.4 Turbo CVT
The fifth generation of the Opel Astra was updated in 2019 with a new look, but mostly a technological upgrade. Thus, digital instruments and a new interface for connected satellite navigation were partially adopted. In addition, the premiere of an induction charger for Astra smartphones, as well as a new Bose audio system and a camera that tracks AEB and recognizes pedestrians, took place.
Inside, despite the tweaks and upgrades, our compact Opel looks like a "classic" at best. And if you're a bit of a modern guy, the right word is boring. There's still plenty of room for four or five if needed, and the front seats offer great support (even with the massage function).
As for the trunk, here we are dealing with the Sports Tourer, a station wagon and the most unpopular version of the Astra in our country. So let's stay here a little longer, as anyone who chooses this, even a corporate one, will do it for the sake of this quality. The classic 5-door Astra Hatchback has a 370 liter trunk, the price is average in the category. But what does he do as a station?
Let's start with a wheelbase that extends to 2,7m, only for the larger Peugeot 308 SW (2,73). All other competitors are lagging behind, the closest of them is the Octavia Sports Wagon with a height of 2,69 m.But unlike the leader in the luggage category, Skoda, the Opel Astra Sports Tourer has a trunk that is 100 liters less! Which Opel is noticeably longer than the Czech car: 4,70 m versus 4,69 m. The standard loading volume of 540 liters thus places it at the bottom of the classification for this category.
But of the advantages of the car, one cannot particularly mention the rear seat, which folds into three parts, 40:20:40, for an additional 300 euros. And also a button on the driver's door, which can limit the height of the electric tailgate.
The petrol engine is now 3-cylinder in three power options: 110, 130 or 145 horsepower. All three are mated to a six-speed manual transmission. But if you do not want to move the lever yourself, then your only choice is 1400 cc, also a 3-cylinder, 145 horses, but exclusively combined with a CVT. Note that both the 1200 hp and 1400 cc engine are from Opel, not PSA.
Permanently variable drive transmissions are often accused of constantly vacuuming their acceleration like vacuum cleaners. Something completely natural, because under load this type of gearbox constantly pushes the engine to increase the revs. In fact, in combination with small, low power gasoline engines, this phenomenon is exacerbated. Surprisingly, the Astra Sports Tourer does not suffer from this disadvantage. You see, with 236 Nm already from 1500 rpm, you can keep an eye on the flow of cars in and outside the city, without the 3-cylinder engine exceeding 3500 rpm, which completes the maximum torque range.
This time, the problem is at the other end of the tachometer. When hunting for a gram of CO2, the electronic control always selects very low speeds in relation to the driving speed. The variator belt is constantly balanced at the ends of the pulley, so the engine spins just above idle even at 70 km / h! It goes without saying that as soon as you demand power by placing your foot on the accelerator pedal, the transmission burns inevitably.
This low RPM also gives the impression that the engine is completely shut down, which you hear and feel with various vibrations from the entire car to the steering column. In short, it is a very unnatural experience. You can, of course, put the lever into manual mode, where the control mimics classic gears, but again, everything is not fixed properly: the levers work in the “wrong” direction - they rise when pressed - and there are no paddle shifters.
The key question, of course, is whether all these sacrifices will pay off and whether the Astra's thirst for gas is as low as engine revs. The average consumption of 8,0 l / 100 km is considered good for its kind, while the up to 6,5 liters we saw, of course, helping non-existent traffic, is a very good result. A similar result provides an excellent compromise between dynamism and comfort: strong traction, precise yet firm feel, and good bump absorption. Damping, which could be better when filtering at low speeds or large bumps at any speed, with more stiffness than standard 17 '' 225/45 tires.
When you get out of Engine Saver and drive this Astra Sports Tourer at a slower pace, don't be impatient. Stable, well balanced and with a comfortable progressive suspension. If there is anything to complain about it is the multi-turn steering wheel (three turns from end to end) and its lack of consistency. Feedback. But we understand that these are small letters about the character of the car.
The Astra Sports Tourer 1.4T CVT is available from € 25 in the rich Elegance version. This means it has a Multimedia Navi PRO system with an 500-inch touchscreen, six speakers and a digital rear-view camera. The Visibility Package with rain sensor and auto light switch with tunnel recognition is also standard. On the safety side, the Opel Eye Driver Assistance Package comes standard and includes on-board distance display, forward collision warning, imminent collision detection with low speed collision limitation, and lane departure and lane keep assist. Other equipment worth mentioning is the 8-way electrically adjustable driver's seat with massage function, memory and adjustment, as well as the fact that the two front seats are ventilated. For more information about the hardware follow the link here ...
The Astra Sports Tourer 1.4T CVT isn't upside down in the compact trunk category in terms of trunk space - on the contrary, it's one of the tails in that area. However, it has a very spacious living room, combined with high performance and enticing consumption. The latter, however, comes at the expense of running the engine, which spins at disproportionately low speeds with the speed of travel, which means when you ask it to return its power. CVT may not match 3-cylinder architecture with drums…
Specifications Opel Astra Sports Tourer 1.4 Turbo CVT
The table below shows some of the vehicle's technical specifications.
| Price | From € 25.500 |
| Characteristics of a gasoline engine | 1341 cc, i3, 12v, 2 VET, direct injection, turbo, forward, continuously variable CVT |
| Performance | 145 hp / 5000-6000 rpm, 236 Nm / 1500-3500 rpm |
| Acceleration speed and maximum speed | 0-100 km/h 10,1 seconds, top speed 210 km/h |
| Average fuel consumption | 8,0 l / – 100 km |
| Emissions | CO2 114-116 g / km (WLTP 130 g / km) |
| dimensions | 4702x1809x1510mm |
| Luggage compartment | 540 l (1630 l with folding seats, up to roof) |
| Vehicle weight | 1320 kg |
