Holden Astra 2004 Review

While Leyland's salesmen were praising the worth of a fifth door, Volkswagen was poised to deliver its 1975 Golf – a hatchback that hit the market, smothered interest in the Morris Nomad and became the one by which all others were judged.

So it came as no surprise that the latest Holden (nee Opel) Astra is shaped somewhat like a Golf, has similar on-road poise to a Golf, and on a one-on-one equipment level basis, is similar to the Golf in price.

Released a couple of months ago in Australia, Holden has taken the unprecedented step of selling the old Astra alongside the new Golf-clone Astra.

Aside from the appearance, the old model is called the Classic. The old and new share the same drivetrain but the bodies are different – the latest version is longer, wider, about 75kg heavier and, subjectively, a bit messier looking.

In fact, the Astra CDXi, the top of the wozza model tested, was so unlike the old Astra's shape we've loved for years that more than a handful of bystanders asked the make of car.

Though it's bigger and heavier, the latest Astra has more confident road manners. It sits more firmly at highway speeds, the steering is lighter and more accurate, and the handling is crisper thanks to its more rigid body.

This translates into a small car with the competent nature generally found in much bigger European saloons. There is a lot of the BMW, Audi and VW's road character in the Astra.

Because it's bigger, there's good room in the rear seat for two adults. The boot is impressive, with its boxy shape and ample proportions, and the floor hides a full-size spare tyre (none of that useless space-saver rubbish).

The dashboard is clean and simple, with plenty of things to play with and to justify the CDXi's price tag.

On the road the handling masks what is otherwise a good engine/gearbox package.

Holden has used the same drivetrain as the old model and though it's good, time has started to dull the shiny lacquer and its rivals, the Mazda3 is a case in point, are now better.

Yet it still can get up and bark, with brisk acceleration and a slick manual gearbox of tall ratios to maximise fuel economy.

This is a nice hatchback. It is stylish enough to attract a broad audience, more comfortable and perhaps easier to drive than its predecessor, the indicator switch is now conveniently on the right, and the economy is respectable.

It's made in Germany, so the quality is there, but the price is steep compared with its Japanese competitors. One for the more discerning motorist.