Over the years Volkswagen’s Golf has become the staple of the C-segment and has, arguably, become the benchmark for any new vehicle that is set to stake a claim within this group. With its combination of solid build quality, brand cachet and a strong turbocharged four-pot engine, the Golf 1,4 TSI is undeniably one of the best in the segment. Can Opel’s equivalent match the credentials of its German sibling? I recently spent some time in the turbocharged 1,4-litre model to see what it’s about.
When you compare old with new it’s easy to see that previous model’s sharp lines and creased bodywork have made way for a complete new look with softer lines and a more curvaceous shape. It’s less aggressive than before, but no less appealing. If anything, the overall look is more universally appealing than before and should date better than the previous-generation car.
If you’ve spent any time in recent GM vehicles then the interior will look familiar with the clean layout and much of the switchgear being similar to that of its stable mates. Although there are a lot of buttons on the facia, it doesn’t take long to familiarize yourself with the layout. Ample seat and steering column adjustment makes it easy to find the desired driving position.
The interior of this particular model features dark materials that could come across as dull, but the ambience is lifted by a silver-coloured centre hangdown section and touches of aluminium-effect trim dotted about the cabin. Some hard plastics are obvious, but overall the cabin materials are of a good quality.
But what impresses most about this model are the driving dynamics. There is enough feel in the steering to know what the front wheels are doing and this inspires you with sufficient confidence to push on and throw this 103 kW model around a bit. The steering is precise and, teamed with a slick gearbox, it makes for a very well balanced package.
With 200 N.m of torque available from 1 850 r/min there is enough thrust available from early on to get the vehicle going, and accelerating and overtaking can be done with a satisfactory amount of confidence. It’s not a hot hatch – a warm hatch sums it up nicely – but it offers suitable driver satisfaction in everyday use and enough of a fun factor to make the occasional blast on back roads a pleasure.
The suspension set-up combines MacPherson struts and an anti-roll bar up front with a torsion beam, coil springs and Watt’s link at the rear. It’s a well-balanced set-up that proved well damped and absorbent enough to deal with the uneven road surfaces around Cape Town whilst keeping body-roll to an acceptable level when pressing on through twisty sections.
The list of comfort and safety features is fairly extensive with steering-wheel mounted controls for the MP3-compatible audio system and cruise control, air-conditioner, ABS with EBD, ESP, dual front, side and curtain airbags and central locking. There is an AUX input for the audio system, but this type of system is rather dated and I would prefer USB capability.
Whether or not this vehicle can compete with the likes of the VW Golf and Audi A3 in terms of sales remains to be seen. Opel has, however, given the Astra a fighting chance by creating a well-packaged vehicle that offers a balance of entertaining dynamics and comfort at a price of R236 900, setting it pretty much between the Trendline and Comfortline versions of the Golf 1,4 TSI.