R O A D    T E S T

It was around two years ago when we last stepped into an Opel.  As competent as the Astra was, back then we concluded that the Honda Civic and the Ford Lynx—our top two for the 1.6-liter segment had nothing to fear from this diminutive German car.  (Editor’s note: if you want to read more about that test, you can view it  here).  However, much like enjoying a good French wine, a single two-hour sitting may not do enough justice to this car.  So this time, we’re taking a four-day affair in the hopes of confirming our original findings—or else swallow our pride and admit  that we made some booboos before.  

Stylishly Bland Skin 

The Opel Astra’s exterior is an oxymoron, much like the rest of the car’s attributes.  From the outside, it is stylishly bland.  It blends well into Philippine roads especially in anonymous silver or black.  However, the nicely chiseled body is break from the swooping Japanese curves that have swarmed our roads for years.  The thick C-pillars also give the Astra a good solid line and a more substantial stance.  It is also rich in detail especially in the way the creases all blend together, especially around the hood and the trunk. 

However, as good as the details are, the Astra fails to tickle the taste buds of the typical motorist.  The short and low body coupled with small looking wheels (they are actually 15-inchers), don’t do this German a lot of favors in the aesthetics department.  More so, the Japanese and even the Americans are getting good in creating delightful details as could be found in the latest Ford Lynx, Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla Altis.    

The body panels are consistently tight and are probably the best thing that this car offers.  Opel claims that this car uses thicker metal panels than the competition—a quality all too evident from the confident and muffled door ‘thunk’. 

Standard German Inside 

Inside, the Opel Astra is a mixed bag.  At first glance, this is the best Opel yet with a consistently finished cabin.  Although it does not have leather or wood as standard, the Opel contains, what could be termed as, ‘standard German’.  By this, we would mean that everything feels bank-vault solid. 

However, being solidly built doesn’t mean that the interior is all praiseworthy.  In fact, the quality of plastics is quite similar in feel to household appliances: smooth, hard and cold.  Though the major switchgear such as the power windows feel all right, the Astra lacks the cuddling feel of even the coldest Japanese 1.6-liter car—the Honda Civic. 

Thus though this car may look small and cutesy from the outside, don’t expect the same treatment from the interior, especially after a long day’s drive.

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