Holden Astra Hatch

Step into the cabin of the Holden Astra Hatch, and one will be pleased to experience the big car feel. The cabin feels wide and at the same time, has great levels of fit and finish, thus making it feel very rich and plush.

The driver’s cockpit looks distinctive with a very differently styled T-shaped steering wheel with thin spokes, with a comprehensive looking instrument console with colored MID screen in the middle of it. The U-shaped centre console, with vertical AC vents on either sides, buttons below and touchscreen infotainment system in the middle of it, looks unique too. There is also a nice piano black finish around the buttons of automatic climate control in the lower centre console.

What enriches the experience within the cabin even further is the sufficiently long list of features, which includes leather upholstery, heated and auto-folding rearview mirrors, 6-speaker audio system, heated front seats, ambient lighting, sunroof, and dual-zone climate control. And given the large proportions, the Holden Astra Hatch is big on space on the inside too.

The Holden Astra Hatch looks pretty sleek and curvy for a hatchback, and this very coupe-like profile makes it look very attractive, despite its positioning as an entry-level vehicle.

The Astra Hatch has a wide stance to it, with a stretched grille design, and curvy headlamps with LED inserts, thus giving it an upmarket feel. The sloping bonnet which has almost the same angle as that of the front windshield gives it an aerodynamic stance.

The side profile of the Holden Astra Hatch has a low slung appeal to it, due to low ground clearance and roofline as well as large alloy wheels, thus giving it a very sporty stance. There is a nice kink adjacent to the blackened C-pillar, which gives it an effect of floating roof, a common design element in many new-generation cars.

The rear design of the Holden Astra Hatch looks quite sleek with horizontally laid boomerang shaped tail lights and clean design for the boot lid.

The Holden Astra Hatch is built with Macpherson struts at the front and compound crank suspension with Watts link at the rear, which feels solid enough to soak all types of uneven surfaces. The disc brakes setup on all four wheels feel capable for the job as well, however, the steering feels too light and lacks feedback, especially at higher speeds.

One can have the Holden Astra Hatch in one of the two engine options, both of which are naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol-powered. While the smaller 1.4-litre engine pumps out 150 PS of power and 240 Nm of torque, the larger and zestier 1.6-litre engine delivers 200 PS of power and 280 Nm of torque. Also, the 6-speed automatic gearbox is common to both the engines, while the 6-speed manual gearbox is exclusive to 1.4-litre mill only.

The Holden Astra Hatch packs in all the essential safety features for a premium hatchback, like front, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, hill hold assist, traction control, lane keep assist, blind-spot alert, forward collision alert, automatic headlamps, electric parking brake, and adaptive cruise control.

With a sturdy build quality and sleek design, the Holden Astra Hatch feels very premium and well built and designed, similar to other European cars. The hatchback feels special and practical at the same time, with great fit and finish as well as a spacious cabin.