Road TestCar reviews - Holden - Astra - SRi 3-dr hatchHolden modelsOverviewDirect-injection four and slinky three-door body give Holden's Astra SRi Coupe legs3 Aug 2007 By CHRIS HARRIS HOLDEN’S AH Astra SRi Coupe is out to win your heart before you’ve even slipped into the driver’s seat. The low-slung roofline, 25mm lower than the five-door hatchback model, has been beautifully integrated into the already-slick Astra shape and subtle detail tricks like the slightly longer nose and subtly re-drawn grille and front air-intake define it as something a little more than just a regular, practical hatchback. New to the Astra is a direct-injection version of the familiar 2.2-litre engine option that adds power, torque and improved efficiency. Coupled to the six-speed manual gearbox, this gives the eye-grabbing little coupe the extra sparkle that is always welcome in a sporting-oriented car. For a touch more than $30,000, the Astra SRi coupe offers an eminently satisfying drive, as well as a level of street credibility well beyond the price. Just remember that it is not, and was never intended to be, a family runabout. Model release date: 1 April 2007 to 1 March 2010 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelHolden’s TS Astra three-door hatch was little more than a family Astra hatch with a couple fewer doors. But, because it was based on a nicely-Euro hatchback design, it was an appealing, slightly personalised alternative to the five-door and, in SRi form, offered the benefits of the bigger, torquier 2.2-litre engine. Gearbox choice was a five-speed manual or a four-speed auto. Being based on an already-respected formula, the SRi offered what were arguably the best dynamics in its class, although the interior suffered the drabness that afflicted the TS Astra generally. |
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