General Motors G/B (TS) Astra Review

See also the main fact sheets for the General Motors G/B Astra.

High Points

• Great styling
• Tight, rattle-free body
• Good corrosion protection
• Zippy four-cylinder motor
• Miserly fuel consumption

Low Points

• Clunky gearshift
• Cam belt problem

Performance and Handling

With the European-designed chassis, the ride is firm but is excellent for road-holding abilities with minimum body roll. The hydro/electic power steering is precise and offers good road feel.

Safety

The G/B Astra underwent EuroNCAP crash testing and earned 25 points out of 32 (4 stars) for occupant protection but scored 7 points (1 star) for pedestrian safety.

EuroNCAP 1999 Opel/Vauxhall Astra Result

The Holden Astra was offered 4 stars and is less likely to cause harm to other motorists according to the Used Car Safety Rating.

UCSR Safety Report: 1998-2006 Holden Astra

Reliability and Maintenance

G/B Astras are generably reliable and not many faults have been reported. However, a design fault of the cam belt tensioner can cause the belt to become loose, skip a tooth or two or break. It's recommended that the timing belt should be changed every 60,000 kilometres (32,500 miles).

Styles and Options

Holden Astra

City

• Adjustable (tilt/reach) steering column
• Dual front airbags
• 8 speaker Blaupunkt stereo system with CD Player

CD

• 15 inch Alloy wheels
• ABS
• Dual airbags
• 8 speaker Blaupunkt stereo system with CD Player
• Suede-appointed seats

SRi

Main Competitors

• Toyota Corolla
• Mazda 323
• Citroёn Xsara
• Fiat Bravo
• Volkswagen Golf
• Ford Focus (International)
• Nissan Almera/Nissan Pulsar (Australasian market)

External Links

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