HERE ARE two of the most important new cars for the Irish car market in 2010.
Following on from 2009, which was a devastating year for the Irish motor industry, the introduction of a car scrappage scheme might just inject some new life into the car market and, if nothing else, might give people the feeling that it is okay to be seen to buy a new car.
Here are two new models that are likely to feature high up on Irish buyers’ shopping lists in 2010.
The Volkswagen Golf has been a big seller on the Irish market for decades now and this latest generation is cleaner and leaner than ever before and comes better equipped too.
Opel’s new Astra has just gone on sale here too, and while there remains a little uncertainty surrounding the company’s managerial future, the success of this new Astra is vital to the company.
This new Astra has to do something special in what is a hugely overcrowded segment, but its predecessor was a massive success across Europe.
Both of these cars are better value than before and crucially, both will qualify for the car scrappage scheme by virtue of their clean diesel engines.
So where should you be investing your scrappage allowance and your increasingly hard-earned money next year?
VW Golf
Engine: 1,598cc four-cylinder diesel
Power: 105bhp, 250Nm torque
Transmission: five-speed manual
0-100km/h: 11.3 seconds
Top Speed: 189km/h
Economy: urban – 5.7l/100km (49.6 mpg), extra-urban – 3.9l/100km (72.4 mpg), combined – 4.5l/100km (62.8 mpg)
CO2 emissions: 119g/km
CO2 tax band: A (€104 per annum)
Boot capacity: 350 litres
Price: €23,750
Engine: 1,686cc four-cylinder diesel
Power: 110bhp, 260Nm torque
Transmission: five-speed manual
0-100km/h: 10.4 seconds
Top Speed: 181km/h
Economy: urban – 5.7l/100km (49.5 mpg), extra-urban – 4.1l/100km (68.8 mpg), combined – 4.7l/100km (60.1 mpg)
CO2 emissions: 124g/km
CO2 tax band: B (€156 per annum)
Boot capacity: 370 litres
Price: €22,995
STYLING
Golf Astra
Straight away, your eye is drawn to the new Astra over the Golf for two reasons. The first is that the new Astra has changed so dramatically from the previously dull-door version and the second is that the new Golf has changed so little compared to the previous version.
The Astra has gone for drama, with the front and rear ends of the car gaining dramatic improvements. This is a world away from the previous car, with a much more coupé-like appearance, which is in keeping with the style of the three-door version.
A new model three-door will not appear until next year, but this five-door version is arguably as good-looking.
The Astra is most certainly the more sporty-looking of the two by some degree. The Golf has that familiar look we all know – and many love – and in this latest generation they haven’t gone crazy with the crayons when it came to the styling refresh, as aside from changes to the front grille and more dramatic changes to the lights and tailgate, you might be hard-pressed to spot that it is the new one at all.
But for many, this is just what is required, as the often-conservative Golf customer might take none too kindly to their beloved Golf getting too much surgery.
RELIABILITY and QUALITY
Golf Astra
What is most notable here is the dramatic improvement to the cabin of the Astra, which used to be a world away from the Golf when it came to quality but has caught up quickly, with a cabin that is largely lifted from the larger Insignia model.
The new Opel has a really well designed interior, with much better quality materials used throughout and what really impressed us is the attention to detail that appears to have been paid, with nice lighting and, when you press the ‘Sport’ button on the instrument panel, the lighting on the dials switches from blue to red.
The Astra has not always done brilliantly in reliability surveys, and the previous five-door version did suffer from some niggling complaints, but from the initial experience of this one, this should no longer be an issue.
The Golf has also improved its quality – not that it had much to improve, as the last model was well built and perhaps just a little drab on the interior. The new cabin has improved, both in terms of how it looks and feels, and there is a more airy feel to the cabin compared to the slightly stuffier versions we were previously used to with the Golf.
Volkswagen’s Golf hasn’t done much better in reliability surveys, but as much as there is room for improvement in both cars, we must also assume that these cars put up with a lot more abuse than others.
DRIVING
Golf Astra
The new Astra gets a 71mm longer wheelbase than before, with front and rear tracks rising by 56mm and 70mm respectively. The car is also 43 per cent stiffer in torsion and 10 per cent in bending. It has also taken the McPherson strut layout at the front from the Insignia and at the rear, rather innovatively, Opel has combined a compound crank rear axle with a Watt’s link to help with lateral forces while cornering.
While it’s not really important what all this means, what is important is that the car is much improved, dynamically. The new Astra is also available with FlexRide electronic adaptive dampers, which continuously adapts to changes in driving style and cornering speed.
The Astra is definitely better to drive than before, but can still feel a little on the fidgety side around town. The steering is much improved, though, as it is much better weighted and more precise.
All this talk of the new Astra might distract you about just how good the Golf has become. While the Astra feels more geared towards sporty driving, the Golf feels a little better suited to a range of conditions right out of the box. The car feels solid and well planted on the motorway and is also precise on twisty stuff.
The Golf felt better on a variety of surfaces and, although FlexRide works well in the Astra, it is an option few will choose. What lets down the Astra is the rather raucous 1.7-litre diesel, which doesn’t feel as refined as the Golf’s 1.6-litre – but more on that at a later stage.
ERGONOMICS and PRACTICALITY
Golf Astra
With these cars being such key rivals, it is hardly surprising that they have such similar dimensions. There isn’t much difference between the two when it comes to interior space, but there is some.
The Astra’s shape would suggest a lack of rear headroom, but, happily, this isn’t the case. Head- and legroom are generous in both the front and back, and because the cabin is quite wide it means there is also quite good shoulder space.
The luggage space is generous too, with 20 litres more than the Golf. The Golf sits on a shorter wheelbase than the Astra and has less front legroom than the Astra, but identical rear legroom, although it still beats the Astra on rear headroom.
As you can see though, it is almost impossible to differentiate between these two cars, from a space and practicality perspective.
ENGINES
Golf Astra
The two engines you see here are likely, initially at least, to be the most popular choices within their range as they are the best value and low-emission and they will both qualify for the Government scrappage scheme in 2010.
The Golf has a 1.6-litre diesel putting out 105bhp. This engine has been tuned to get the lowest possible emissions and it has done just that, managing 119g/km. Performance is not blistering with 0-100km/h taking 11.3 seconds and a top speed of 189km/h, but it never feels too jaded and, crucially, isn’t too noisy either.
The Astra’s 1.7-litre might be slightly more powerful on paper and a little quicker to 100km/h but is certainly noisier and this makes the car feel much less refined than the Golf at this level. The Golf also has the edge when it comes to fuel economy over the Astra.
However, there is a 1.3-litre diesel coming in the first quarter of 2010 which might be more appealing to some buyers, although it is only €50 cheaper than the 1.7.
RUNNING COSTS (ECONOMY, ROAD TAX, DEPRECIATION)
Golf Astra
There is little difference between the two when it comes to fuel economy and the Golf – while cleaner and sitting in a lower tax band – only saves you €52 per year in road tax although, as we know, every little helps.
Where the real difference is likely to be is in terms of depreciation. The Golf enjoys a much stronger reputation when it comes to residual values and this is likely to be a benefit to the Golf buyer at trade-in time.
The Astra has had shaky enough residuals at times and this is unlikely to be helped by the slightly uncertain situation that surrounds the brand currently.
For this reason, many buyers conscious of the future value of their car would be playing it safe by buying the Golf.
EQUIPMENT and SAFETY
Golf Astra
The new Astra comes with a whole host of safety equipment as standard, with Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), drivers, passengers, side and full-curtain airbags (with the front passenger airbags having an off switch to facilitate the fitting of a front child seat), active-safety front headrests, all-round seatbelt warning system, a pedal release system, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and Isofix on two rear seats.
This is an impressive array of safety equipment as standard fit. Equipment is also pretty generous in other areas, with all models getting air conditioning, auxiliary port for MP3 players, remote central door locking and daytime running lights.
The SC model we feature here gets 17” alloy wheels, cruise control, steering wheel mounted audio controls and this is seriously impressive for the price.
The Golf has also improved greatly when it comes to standard kit and the Comfortline version now boasts air conditioning and ESP is now standard fit, but there are still no alloy wheels as standard on Comfortline, which seems a little mean in this day and age. If you want 16” alloy wheels, tinted windows and foglights, it will cost you €550 as a Style pack in the Golf.
VERDICT:
Volkswagen Golf
This was very close, but the Golf still shades it for us. While the Astra now looks very good and has an impressive array of standard equipment, the Golf just feels like the more complete car, although it is likely that the Astra will become a very strong contender in 2010. The Golf is a little mean still on the standard equipment but the 1.6-litre diesel engine is better and the Golf’s rock-solid residuals and impressive quality swayed us.