Opel Astra Select vs Toyota Corolla Levin

The Select needs options to close the gap on Corolla. Heated, multi-adjustable leather seats are recommended at an extra $2500. The $695 for premium paint is steep. Standard kit is very good -- cruise, satnav, seven-speaker audio, 17-inch alloys and so on -- but consider the $35,490 Sport, which gets more gear.

Levin ZR is packed with features. Panoramic roof ($1500) and metallic paint ($425) are options. Standard kit includes cruise, satnav, touch-screen, leather, keyless entry and start. Capped price service and new Toyota guaranteed buyback price (when financed) make it a winner.

Multi-adjustable and cosseting leather front seats are a great option. Astra gets a good instrument layout and switchgear. Despite lots of buttons, clarity is excellent. Personal storage space is good and boot is much bigger than the Corolla's. But rear seat room is smaller and side glass is narrower.  

It's about 150mm shorter, slightly lower and wider (and much lighter) than the Astra yet it has more cabin -- not boot -- room. There's similar rear-seat knee room, much more foot room and slightly less headroom in the Corolla. Deeper side windows also give it the edge for visibility.

Driven through a six-speed auto, the 132kW/230Nm 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine is keen. It uses more fuel than the Corolla at 7.3 L/100km. The rear suspension is an up-specced torsion bar while the electric steering reduces fuel use and driver effort at low speed.  

A continuously variable transmission supersedes the conventional four-speed auto. It gets the 1.8's consumption back to 6.6L/100km. Output is 103kW/173Nm. The new body uses more high tensile steel so is rigid and, at 1310kg for this top-line Corolla, quite light.

Astra is a five-star crash-rated car with six airbags, all the electronic brake and chassis aids, heated side mirrors, front and rear park sensors, halogen headlights with daytime running lights, auto headlights and wipers. The spare is a space-saver.

Rear camera is welcome because the rear window is tiny. The five-star crash rating is maintained via seven airbags, electronic stability and traction control, cornering lights, auto high-beam dip and emergency flashing brake lights. The spare is a space-saver.

The turbo is more about smoothness than performance; power delivery is subtle but it always feels ready to jump. That's helped by the quality auto. Handling is good with excellent grip through tight bends. But the electric steering is vague.

Solid and secure but when you drive the Astra you see Toyota emphasises convenience and value over driver enjoyment. This old engine works well with the CVT. The electric steering is very good and the chassis is taut, though coarse bitumen produces tyre roar.