HOLDEN has understood for many years that going Opel mining delivers rich rewards.

Unfortunately, the price of ‘gold’ delivered from GM’s European subsidiary was ascending at a decent rate during the previous decade, causing sales of the popular Astra small car to dwindle and forcing Holden to turn to the South Korean- then Australian-made Cruze – with mixed results.

Some manufacturers have confessed that it has been a struggle to import a European-built car to Australia and have it wear a mainstream pricetag, particularly in the cut-throat small-car segment.

Somehow, however, Holden has delivered the new Astra with competitive $22-33K pricing.

Arguably, the middle-spec RS and RS-V have lobbed as more convincing value than the entry-level R, but perhaps this five-door hatchback is now good enough to court buyers further up the range.

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