Opel Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2012 and 2013 Opel Insignia as a used buy

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

The Astra was a star in the House of Holden for years, starting in 1984 with the Australian-made five-door model also sold, with some changes, as the Nissan Pulsar.In 1996 this first Astra was replaced by an Opel-based model from the German division of General Motors that, as the Holden Astra sold here in large numbers until it was replaced in 2009 by the Daewoo-based but later locally-built Holden Cruze.Now the German automobile maker is running its own race in the Australian market. Opel has reclaimed the name, with the latest Astra being launched here in a number of petrol and diesel-powered variants.Topping off the range is the $42,990 Astra OPC 2.0-litre turbocharged three-door hatchback. The hero car, based on the Opel Astra 1.6-litre GTC turbo, ploughs a new sports furrow for the European-sourced hatch.A shopping list of chassis modifications is designed to cater for the significant boost in performance of the hot engine, which produces 206 kW of power and 400 Nm of torque.With the legendary Nurburgring 20.8-kilometre Nordschleife race circuit – the Green Hell – running past the front door of the Opel Performance Center is it any wonder OPC tagged sports cars can be relied on to dish up a wild ride? The Astra is no exception with 10,000 kilometres under race conditions on the track, equal to around 180,000 road kilometres, under its tyres.While the OPC owes much of its exterior styling to the GTC, visual characteristics have been taken to the extreme, with specially sculpted front and rear bumper, side skirts, aerodynamic roof spoiler and twin bumper-integrated tailpipes. Wheels are 19-inch alloys with 245/40 ZR tyres standard fitment. Twenty-inch versions are available as an option.Inside the cabin is a cross between a smart city hatch and a track-day toy. Focus is a flat-bottom steering wheel, its diameter reduced from 370 mm to 360 mm compared with other Astras, making the steering feel even more precise and direct. A stubby sports stick adds to the effect, while alloy-plated pedals incorporate rubber studs for greater shoe grip.There’s no excuse for the driver not to get comfortable, with a quality Nappa leather seat having a manually extendable leading-edge cushion and electric lumbar/side-bolster adjustment providing 18 different seat settings to choose from.Mounted 30 mm lower than in the standard Astra Hatch, both front seats are aimed at giving occupants closer sensory connection with the car’s chassis. With average build occupants up front, rear legroom is adequate; headroom not so accommodating.Under hard acceleration, the Astra OPC sets off to the exhaust accompaniment of a pack of barking dogs out for the kill. A target of travelling at 100 km/h is reached in just six seconds.Thanks to the removal of one of the GTC’s three silencers, there’s a great burble at idle, all emanating from twin parallelogram shaped tailpipes integrated into the rear bumper.Clever technology has cut fuel consumption by 14 per cent over the previous model, down to a combined urban / highway cycle 8.1 litres per 100km, and has reduced emissions to 189 grams per kilometre. However, we used 13.7 litres per 100 kilometres with the test car running around town and 6.9 litres on a motorway trip.To provide a level of racy ride and handling rarely found in a road-going vehicles, engineers have worked their magic, the Astra OPC coming under the ‘spell’ of Opel’s HiPerStrut (high performance strut) system to improve steering feel and help reduce torque steer and FlexRide adaptive damping system.The latter offers a choice of three chassis settings which can be selected by the driver at the push of dash-mounted buttons. ‘Standard’ delivers all-round performance for a range of road conditions, while ‘Sport’ stiffens the dampers for reduced roll and tighter body control.‘OPC’ amplifies throttle response and alters damper settings, ensuring the wheels quickly regain contact with the road after hitting a bump, giving the car a soft landing. This ‘all-singing-and-dancing’ system cheekily announces itself to the driver by switching the instrument backlighting from white to red.Motorsport was never far from the mind of Astra OPC engineers who developed a race-bred limited-slip differential to optimise traction under acceleration through bends or over changing cambers and surfaces.Even with the boosted LSD workings, retuned traction control and electronic stability control, wheel spin was not entirely eliminated with the test car in the wet. Good fun if you’re paying attention, potentially dangerous if you’re not...Simple – sit down, strap in and enjoy the ride. We certainly did.

The recent emergence of Opel in the Australian car market makes for interesting times for small car buyers. The car once sold here as the Holden Barina is back, this time carrying its original name of Opel Corsa.Opel, a division of General Motors since the 1930s, hopes to gain an image that’s European, thereby pushing itself further upmarket than the Asian produced small cars.Made in Germany and Spain, the Opel Corsa offers buyers the chance to own a sporty looking hatch - albeit with less-than-sporty performance. However, it’s a chance to own a European compact hatch at a competitive price.VALUEThere are three variants – Opel Corsa, Corsa Colour Edition and Corsa Enjoy; bright and breezy names to give it a different place in the overall scheme of small cars.Prices start at $16,490 for the Corsa three-door manual and top out at $20,990, plus on-roads, for the Enjoy five-door automatic. Our test car was the latter with manual transmission, which sells for $18,990.The Colour Edition comes standard with a black painted roof, 16-inch alloy wheels and is available in range of bright exterior colours, which are carried through to the interior where the colours and instrument panel patterns create a two-tone effect. A seven-speaker audio can be controlled via steering wheel-mounted controls, while USB connectivity has just been added to Bluetooth with voice recognition plus auxiliary input.Added appeal comes from Opel Service Plus, with the Corsa costing a reasonable $249 for standard scheduled services in the first three years of ownership. Also available is Opel Assist Plus, an Australia-wide 24-hour roadside assistance program for the first three years from registration.TECHNOLOGYThere is a choice of either five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions. No choice with the engine, though, just a 1.4-litre producing 74 kW of power at 6000 rpm and 130 Nm of torque at 4000 revs.  DESIGNThe Australian Corsa has been the subject of serious design upgrades recently in a move to give the hatchback more road presence. The lower of the double radiator grilles is expanded, giving width to the front of the car. The Opel Blitz (lightning) badge is incorporated in a sculpted chromed bar, adding to the assured appearance.The Corsa joins the rest of the Opel range by incorporating wing-shaped daylight running lights in the headlamps. Fog lamp units with integrated chrome blade complete the assertive character of the car.Black plastic surroundings and dark material seat coverings give the interior a utilitarian look, the only contrast being a matt silver centre stack panel. Analogue instruments are clear and simple to read, while audio, fuel, air-con and other information is displayed on a screen centrally located on the dashboard.With room for up to five occupants, shoulder space with three in the back is not the best and not up to the legroom, which is ample for the average-sized person. With power front windows only, the folk out back are left to twiddle the window winders by hand.At 285 litres with the rear seats up, cargo space is at a premium. However, fold the backs down and there’s 700 litres and up to a maximum of 1100 litres to take bulky items.SAFETYThanks to a rigid passenger cell with computer-modelled deformation zones and high strength steel sections in the doors, Euro NCAP awarded the Corsa the top rating of five stars for passenger safety.Restraints include two-stage front airbags, dual side airbags and dual curtain airbags. Opel’s patented Pedal Release System and front active headrests are standard throughout the Corsa range.DRIVINGWhile Corsa sets out to put on a sporty face, the performance falls short. Best kept in the upper rev range, the five-speed manual transmission calls out for the extra cog. A six-speed manual would make the car a much livelier, more appealing driving proposition.With a zero-to-100 km/h saunter taking 11.9 seconds, the five-speed manual test vehicle made its way through heavy traffic consuming more than eight litres of fuel per hundred kilometres, while stretching its legs on the highway the Corsa cut an economic dash at six litres per 100km.VERDICTNeat styling gives the Euro Opel Corsa a head up in the affordable car stakes. Anyone wanting more performance from an Opel Corsa – a lot more performance – can opt for the recently introduced Corsa OPC, the acronym standing for Opel Performance Center, which is to Opel models what HSV is to Holden.Opel CorsaPrice: from $18,990 (manual) and $20,990 (auto)Warranty: Three years/100,000kmResale: N/AEngine: 1.4-litre four cylinder, 74kW/130NmTransmission: Five-speed manual, four-speed auto; FWDSafety: Six airbags, ABS, ESC, TCCrash rating: Five starsBody: 3999mm (L), 1944mm (W), 1488mm (H)Weight: 1092kg (manual) 1077kg (auto)Thirst: 5.8L/100km, 136g/km CO2 (manual; 6.3L/100m 145g/km CO2 (auto)

Opel’s push for a foothold in Australia just took a turn for the better with the imminent arrival of a trio of performance models from OPC, Opel’s version of AMG. All were refined at the legendary German Nurburgring track where OPC has a test facility.Opel has been tweaking production cars for racing since the late ‘90s and has plenty of motorsport success including the silverware from a DTM, (German Touring Car) championship. But the brand has only been in Australia for about six months and is competing in some of the most competitive segments.OPC gives Opel instant cred’ with motorsport enthusiasts and this will undoubtedly flow on to the general community once the Corsa, Astra and Insignia OPC models hit the road. The Corsa OPC is up against the likes of VW Polo GTi, Skoda Fabia RS and soon, the Peugeot 208GTi and Ford Fiesta ST. Hot competition indeed.Astra OPC runs up against some real heavy hitters in VW Golf GTi (soon to go to a new generation Golf VII series), Renault Megane RS265, VW Scirocco, Ford Focus ST and even Mazda’s wild 3MPS. But the elephant in the room is Mercedes Benz’s new A250 Sport, possibly the best resolved front drive hatch available as of now.Insignia OPC sedan is more of a GT car for relaxed high speed cruising rather than for track days or corner carving. It has no direct competition being right on the luxury tax trigger and offering turbo 2.8-litre V6 power through an auto six speed transmission and all-wheel drive. The engine is courtesy of Holden.All three models hit the value button with generous levels of equipment and some high quality components from the likes of Brembo, Dresder Haldex and Recaro. Corsa OPC goes for  $28,990, Astra OPC is $42,990 and Insignia OPC is $59,990. While the latter occupies its own niche, the other two are right on the money with competitors possibly better when spec’ adjusted.Fixed price servicing is part of the deal as is roadside assist for three years. A clever OPC Power app for your phone adds a whole new element to "bench racing" sessions at the pub, dinner party or barbecue where OPC owners can spruik the talents of their car and, of course, the driver.The app records numerous technical details on cornering, braking, engine power and other info - into your phone. All three rate five star safety under Euro NCAP testing.This is possibly the best fettled of the trio from OPC’s garage and will undoubtedly be the most popular - on looks if nothing else. It’s a hottie - crouched ready to pounce with a powerful broad faced front and pumped out rear end.Astra OPC is a front driver with a healthy 206kW/400Nm output from its 2.0-litre petrol direct injection and turbocharged four banger. The turbo is a twin scroll unit designed for instant response six speed manual transmission only is available.That’s all very nice but the really good thing about this car is the way it steers and handles thanks in part to a front steering system called HiPer strut that places the steering axis away from the drive axis. No torque steer under full acceleration.Coupled with this is aggressive steering geometry that fires the Astra around corners like a race car. Impressive braking is then delivered by large diameter cross drilled discs with dual piston Brembo calipers.Three mode Flex ride offering Normal, Sport and OPC modes is fitted to this and the other two OPC models. It alters calibration for the suspension, brakes, steering and throttle response. A mechanical limited slip diff completes the traction/drive picture.Though a three door, Astra OPC can take five passengers and their luggage at a pinch. Auto stop start eco mode is fitted and the car can get as good as 8.1-litres/100km on premium. Leather, satnav, dual zone climate control auto headlights and wipers, electric parking brake - all included.This cheeky three door baby also heads the power game in its class by a significant margin, rated at 141kW/230Nm (260Nm on overboost) from a 1.6-litre turbo petrol four. Opel knows its market well and offers Corsa OPC with a swag of "branded" components inside and out.It gets Recaros inside, a digital radio, comprehensive instrumentation and subtle body add ons so people know you are driving something "special." It scores climate control, multiple wheel controls, auto lights and wipers, cruise and numerous OPC design touches.The two OPC hatches and the bigger sedan are like chalk and cheese - in every way. This is an auto only model, with all wheel drive and a Holden V6 2.8-litre turbo petrol engine. There’s nothing like it for sale unless you count the VW CC V6 4Motion but it’s more of a luxo-barge than a sporty sedan.Insignia OPC achieves 239kW/435Nm thanks to a range of technologies including direct injection, twin scroll turbo charging, variable cam timing and other trickery. It’s crammed with goodies like the adaptive all wheel drive system, Flexride, rear limited slip diff, 19 or 20-inch forged alloys.Like the other two OPCs, the Insignia has a specifically developed exhaust system to provide both performance gains and better aural quality.Corsa OPC can put away a 0-100kmh sprint in 7.2 seconds and sip premium at a rate of 7.5-litres/100km. Astra OPC nails the 0-100kmh sprint in 6.0-seconds flat, offers prodigious roll on acceleration from all speeds and sips fuel at a best rate of 8.1-litres/100km. Insignia OPC stops the clocks at 6.3 seconds and uses premium at 10.9.We were able to sample the Astra and Insignia OPC cars on the road and on the track and really like the Astra in both environments. The Insignia is pleasant enough but has a big price hurdle to overcome at 60K given Opel has pretty much no profile here at all.That will change over time and with hero cars like the Astra OPC running around. We only did one lap in the Corsa and really can’t comment. It feels pretty quick for a tiddler and looks OK as well as being well spec’d. But the story as far as we are concerned is all about Astra OPC.Is it as good as the Megane and the GTi? Answer, unequivocally yes. It’s a precise instrument spoiled only a tad by the swooshing exhaust that sounds like a vacuum cleaner under maximum throttle. We are sure owners will fix that pronto. It’s a dream to look at and has plenty of kit to keep you comfy and happy.Corsa? Can’t comment sorry. Insignia? Maybe, maybe not. Astra? Yes please.

Well that didn’t take long. General Motors’ German brand Opel has been in the country just six months and it has discovered Australians love hot hatches.About one-in-four Volkswagen Golfs sold locally are the GTI version – compared to a global average of just five per cent – so it makes sense Opel would expedite the arrival of its hi-po hatch.It comes to us with a familiar name, the Astra OPC (the latter standing for Opel Performance Centre), and a similar philosophy to the world’s best hot hatches: a lot of power in a pint-sized package.The last time we had a car like this from Opel it was called the Astra VXR and wore a HSV badge (2006 to 2009). But this one is an all-new model.The price of the Opel Astra OPC starts at $42,990 plus on-road costs, which is dearer than the five-door Ford Focus ST ($38,290) and VW Golf GTI ($40,490).Bravely, the Opel Astra OPC is even dearer than the starting price of the highly regarded Renault Megane RS265 ($42,640), the world’s fastest hot hatch judging by that global benchmark, the Nurburgring. With that in mind, you'd expect the Opel to come with the works – which it does in some areas but not others.It gets leather sports seats as standard, but metallic paints adds $695 (ouch) compared to $800 in the Renault Megane RS (double ouch) and $385 in the Ford Focus ST (that’s more like it).The Astra OPC’s turbocharged 2.0-litre engine (the class staple) has the most power and torque among its peers (206kW and 400Nm), but this doesn’t translate to quicker performance (see driving).The interior has a much more upmarket appearance than the Renault (although equal to the glossy materials in the Ford Focus ST) and its superb sports seats are a win.But the Opel’s buttons and controls are fiddly to use, like setting a radio station for example. Navigation is standard – but a rear camera is not available at any price. (A rear camera is standard on the Ford and optional on the Renault and Volkswagen). Rear sensors are standard but front sensors have not been designed for the OPC’s aggressive front bumper.However, the biggest consideration for value is what the car will be worth when you go to sell it. Depreciation is the single biggest cost of ownership after the purchase price.The Renault Megane RS and Ford Focus ST don’t have the strongest resale values either (the Renault because it’s a niche product and the Ford because it is still building its reputation with the new ST badge).But the wholesale trade says the Opel brand is still too new to forecast what the Astra OPC will be worth in a few years, which means they will initially play it safe and low-ball it at trade-in time.The Astra OPC has a suspension system it calls “Flexride”, but they could easily have called it “magic carpet ride”.Despite riding on massive 19-inch wheels and Pirelli P Zero tyres (the in-vogue performance tyre among all the thoroughbred brands) the Astra OPC glides over the worst roads that our respective state governments can throw at us – despite the trillions they take in tolls (sorry, wrong forum).It has a rather low-tech (but highly effective) mechanical limited slip differential which, Opel helpfully points out, drives the front wheels. This installation of a stronger, tighter lump of metal to help get power to the road is a welcome move at a time when some other manufacturers (we’re glaring at you, Ford and Volkswagen) try to convince us that electronics can do the same job.A mechanical limited slip differential, favoured by the Renault Megane RS and the Opel Astra OPC, helps drive power to the inside front wheel in tight turns.Electronically-controlled front traction systems (which I dare not call an electronic limited slip diff as some car makers do – glaring at Ford and VW again) are okay in normal driving conditions. But when corners start to tighten they’re all but useless – despite what the brochure says.So thank you Opel (and Renault) for avoiding technology in this instance. Need further proof a mechanical LSD is the way to go? VW will offer it as an option on the new Golf 7 GTI later this year.Stunning. The car is so well proportioned and so smooth you can’t help but admire it. You may even find yourself walking around it a few times before you get inside. As mentioned earlier, the interior is a cut above most of the competition with high gloss finishes, stylish lines and superb front seats.But good design needs to go all the way in my opinion and be functional. Unfortunately the Opel audio and air-conditioning controls seem more of a challenge than a welcoming invitation to the interior. Too many buttons that take too long to figure out.We drive more than 250 cars a year and if we need to consult the owner’s manual after 30 minutes of trying, that’s a fairly good sign that it’s not intuitive. Looks great guys, but make it easier to use next time.And, if I’m honest, the 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels on our test car looked a bit plain compared to the more dramatic-looking 20-inch wheels (a $1000 option and $1000 well spent).Six airbags, five-star safety and a three-stage stability control setting (depending on how brave you want to be). The Renault gets eight airbags (if you’re counting) but the crash score is the same.Good road holding also deserves credit here, and the Opel Astra OPC has that in spades. The Pirelli tyres are among the grippiest in the wet or dry on the road today. It’s why they’re favoured by Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari and others.The four-piston race-bred Brembo brakes are good but don’t have the same precise feel as the Renault Megane RS265 we tested back-to-back.The only blots on an otherwise impressive report card are the lack of front parking sensors or a rear camera – even as an option. A job for the facelift then.Opel has done a brilliant job of blending excellent grip and dynamics with tyres and suspension that won’t have you visiting the chiropractor every week. It’s definitely one of the better executions of ride comfort and handling prowess.In terms of outright pace, the Opel matches the Renault Megane RS265 with a 0 to 100km/h of 6.0 seconds – despite the Astra OPC having more power and torque. In reality, though, the Opel has a little more turbo lag – power delay – from low revs compared to the Renault Megane RS265, which makes the engine's awesome power less accessible.Opel likes to say its car is more capable around town than its hot hatch peers – but in addition to the turbo lag it has the broadest turning circle (12.3 metres, bigger than a Toyota LandCruiser Prado, which is 11.8m if you’re wondering).The Astra’s brake pedal travel is a little longer, as is the gearshift throw. Neither feel like a true performance car. In the Renault Megane RS265 each movement feels like you’re operating a pair of scissors, so precise are the responses.The sound of the Opel's engine sucking as much air as possible during hard acceleration is not as characterful as it is in other cars of this type. The Renault Megane RS265 rewards you with a subtle turbo whistle and crackle of the exhaust between gear changes. The Opel Astra OPC sounds like a cat coughing up a fur ball.The Astra OPC is a highly credible hot hatch – it’s just not quite as good, as complete or as affordable as the competition. If you want style and pace, buy the Opel Astra OPC. If you want the best hot hatch – for now, at least – buy the Renault Megane RS265. Or wait and see what the new VW Golf GTI is like when it arrives later this year.

Well that didn’t take long. General Motors’ German brand Opel has been in the country just six months and it has discovered Australians love hot hatches.About one-in-four Volkswagen Golfs sold locally are the GTI version – compared to a global average of just five per cent – so it makes sense Opel would expedite the arrival of its hi-po hatch. It comes to us with a familiar name, the Astra OPC (the latter standing for Opel Performance Centre), and a similar philosophy to the world’s best hot hatches: a lot of power in a pint-sized package.The last time we had a car like this from Opel it was called the Astra VXR and wore a HSV badge (2006 to 2009). But this one is an all-new model.The price of the Opel Astra OPC starts at $42,990 plus on-road costs, which is dearer than the five-door Ford Focus ST ($38,290) and VW Golf GTI ($40,490).Bravely, the Opel Astra OPC is even dearer than the starting price of the highly regarded Renault Megane RS265 ($42,640), the world’s fastest hot hatch judging by that global benchmark, the Nurburgring. With that in mind, you'd expect the Opel to come with the works – which it does in some areas but not others.It gets leather sports seats as standard, but metallic paints adds $695 (ouch) compared to $800 in the Renault Megane RS (double ouch) and $385 in the Ford Focus ST (that’s more like it). The Astra OPC’s turbocharged 2.0-litre engine (the class staple) has the most power and torque among its peers (206kW and 400Nm), but this doesn’t translate to quicker performance (see driving). The interior has a much more upmarket appearance than the Renault (although equal to the glossy materials in the Ford Focus ST) and its superb sports seats are a win.But the Opel’s buttons and controls are fiddly to use, like setting a radio station for example. Navigation is standard – but a rear camera is not available at any price. (A rear camera is standard on the Ford and optional on the Renault and Volkswagen). Rear sensors are standard but front sensors have not been designed for the OPC’s aggressive front bumper.However, the biggest consideration for value is what the car will be worth when you go to sell it. Depreciation is the single biggest cost of ownership after the purchase price. The Renault Megane RS and Ford Focus ST don’t have the strongest resale values either (the Renault because it’s a niche product and the Ford because it is still building its reputation with the new ST badge).But the wholesale trade says the Opel brand is still too new to forecast what the Astra OPC will be worth in a few years, which means they will initially play it safe and low-ball it at trade-in time.The Astra OPC has a suspension system it calls “Flexride”, but they could easily have called it “magic carpet ride”. Despite riding on massive 19-inch wheels and Pirelli P Zero tyres (the in-vogue performance tyre among all the thoroughbred brands) the Astra OPC glides over the worst roads that our respective state governments can throw at us – despite the trillions they take in tolls (sorry, wrong forum).It has a rather low-tech (but highly effective) mechanical limited slip differential which, Opel helpfully points out, drives the front wheels. This installation of a stronger, tighter lump of metal to help get power to the road is a welcome move at a time when some other manufacturers (we’re glaring at you, Ford and Volkswagen) try to convince us that electronics can do the same job.A mechanical limited slip differential, favoured by the Renault Megane RS and the Opel Astra OPC, helps drive power to the inside front wheel in tight turns. Electronically-controlled front traction systems (which I dare not call an electronic limited slip diff as some car makers do – glaring at Ford and VW again) are okay in normal driving conditions. But when corners start to tighten they’re all but useless – despite what the brochure says.So thank you Opel (and Renault) for avoiding technology in this instance. Need further proof a mechanical LSD is the way to go? VW will offer it as an option on the new Golf 7 GTI later this year.Stunning. The car is so well proportioned and so smooth you can’t help but admire it. You may even find yourself walking around it a few times before you get inside. As mentioned earlier, the interior is a cut above most of the competition with high gloss finishes, stylish lines and superb front seats.But good design needs to go all the way in my opinion and be functional. Unfortunately the Opel audio and air-conditioning controls seem more of a challenge than a welcoming invitation to the interior. Too many buttons that take too long to figure out. We drive more than 250 cars a year and if we need to consult the owner’s manual after 30 minutes of trying, that’s a fairly good sign that it’s not intuitive. Looks great guys, but make it easier to use next time.And, if I’m honest, the 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels on our test car looked a bit plain compared to the more dramatic-looking 20-inch wheels (a $1000 option and $1000 well spent).Six airbags, five-star safety and a three-stage stability control setting (depending on how brave you want to be). The Renault gets eight airbags (if you’re counting) but the crash score is the same. Good road holding also deserves credit here, and the Opel Astra OPC has that in spades. The Pirelli tyres are among the grippiest in the wet or dry on the road today. It’s why they’re favoured by Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari and others.The four-piston race-bred Brembo brakes are good but don’t have the same precise feel as the Renault Megane RS265 we tested back-to-back. The only blots on an otherwise impressive report card are the lack of front parking sensors or a rear camera – even as an option. A job for the facelift then.Opel has done a brilliant job of blending excellent grip and dynamics with tyres and suspension that won’t have you visiting the chiropractor every week. It’s definitely one of the better executions of ride comfort and handling prowess.In terms of outright pace, the Opel matches the Renault Megane RS265 with a 0 to 100km/h of 6.0 seconds – despite the Astra OPC having more power and torque. In reality, though, the Opel has a little more turbo lag – power delay – from low revs compared to the Renault Megane RS265, which makes the engine's awesome power less accessible.Opel likes to say its car is more capable around town than its hot hatch peers – but in addition to the turbo lag it has the broadest turning circle (12.3 metres, bigger than a Toyota LandCruiser Prado, which is 11.8m if you’re wondering). The Astra’s brake pedal travel is a little longer, as is the gearshift throw. Neither feel like a true performance car. In the Renault Megane RS265 each movement feels like you’re operating a pair of scissors, so precise are the responses.The sound of the Opel's engine sucking as much air as possible during hard acceleration is not as characterful as it is in other cars of this type. The Renault Megane RS265 rewards you with a subtle turbo whistle and crackle of the exhaust between gear changes. The Opel Astra OPC sounds like a cat coughing up a fur ball.The Astra OPC is a highly credible hot hatch – it’s just not quite as good, as complete or as affordable as the competition. If you want style and pace, buy the Opel Astra OPC. If you want the best hot hatch – for now, at least – buy the Renault Megane RS265. Or wait and see what the new VW Golf GTI is like when it arrives later this year.

Opel Corsa. To the average person in the street it’s just another new brand and model adding to the vast choice of cars available to Aussie car buyers.But, as car enthusiasts will already know, Opel is not only one of the world’s oldest carmakers, but has effectively been sold in Australia for more than 30 years disguised behind our best know brand, Holden. Corsa was sold between 1994 and 2005 as the Holden Barina, arguably our best-known small car nameplate.Holden’s decision to source most of its small to medium vehicles from GM Korea (formerly Daewoo) has opened up the opportunity for Opel to sell cars here in its own right. As well as the Corsa it released the small-medium Astra and the medium Insignia sedan.Though Opel’s corporate headquarters is located within Holden’s Melbourne head office, Opel is keen to sell itself as a semi-prestige Euro brand. To this end it has adopted a similar approach to Audi and Volkswagen by using a German slogan, “Wir Leben Autos” (We Love Cars).VALUEThe current Opel Corsa is the next generation on from the Corsa / Barina that was removed from the Australian market in 2005. It’s been around since 2006 albeit with regular facelifts to keep it up to date, with the next generation model not due until 2014.Price and looks are the two biggest factors in the youth-dominated small hatch market and Corsa’s styling is neat and contemporary with wide headlamps and grille, dipping roofline and a wide, square stance.While it doesn’t stand out from its crowd of competitors in appearance it does stand out in terms of price, but for the wrong reasons - it’s between $2000 and $3000 dearer than its main rivals.Opel has targeted Volkswagen as its main competitor and the 1.4-litre Polo sells for $2000 less than the Corsa.Although Opel Corsa is available as a three-door hatch ($16,990 with manual transmission) most buyers are now looking for the convenience of rear doors. The manual Opel Enjoy 1.4-litre five-door is priced at $18,990, three grand more than the South Korean sourced 1.6-litre Barina CD manual.There are three variants, the entry-level three-door model just called Corsa, three-door Corsa Colour Edition and the five-door Corsa Enjoy.Corsa comes well-equipped with all models getting six airbags, electronic stability control, daytime running lights, rear foglamp, Bluetooth connectivity (phone only, but with voice control), USB and auxiliary sockets and steering wheel mounted audio controls.There’s a $750 Sport Pack that increases the alloy wheels to 17 inches and in gloss black and lowered suspension.The dressed-up Colour Edition variant adds front foglamps, body-coloured door handles, gloss black painted roof and exterior mirror housing, sports alloy pedals, an extended colour range together with 16-inch alloy wheels (the standard Corsa has 15-inch steels). As well as the extra two doors the Corsa Enjoy gets leather-bound steering wheel, front foglamps, FlexFloor removable boot floor that provides secure storage below the floor.The latter test car was an automatic five-door Corsa Enjoy, likely to be the biggest seller although with the optional $1250 Technology Package included it’s going to cost around $25,000 to drive it away from the showroom.TECHNOLOGYAll are powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.4-litre 74 kW / 130 Nm petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual, with four-speed automatic transmission in the Colour Edition and Enjoy only.DESIGNThere’s good interior space with no headroom problems and a pair of adults can fit with reasonable comfort in the rear seats. The seats are firm and supportive with side bolsters that were a bit too tight for the wider buttocked road tester, but will be ideal for its typical (20-something) buyer.The boot takes up to 285 litres with the rear seatbacks (split 60/40) upright, extending to 700 litres when they’re folded.DRIVINGWe’ve been able to test drive Corsa on a variety of conditions, initially on the rural-based press launch program and more recently in more relevant urban conditions during our week-long extended test.Corsa is nicely balanced with safe and predictable handling. There’s a semi-sporting feel to the steering and the ride is surprisingly comfortable for such a small car. We were impressed by how well the suspension reacted to several unexpected potholes reflecting the car’s European background.The 1.4-litre engine is capable enough in the suburban environment and on the freeway but struggled in hilly conditions where we often had to use the manual override to drop down to lower gears. We’d certainly recommend a manual gearbox if you live in hilly terrain as this will overcome the inherent power losses of an automatic.VERDICTIt’s too early to tell if GM’s Australian Opel experiment, especially its pricing structure, will be successful but sales in the first three months have been modest to say the least. This could be from the normal hesitancy of buyers in accepting a ‘new’ brand or it could be because of that ‘Euro surcharge’.Opel CorsaPrice: from $18,990 (manual) and $20,990 (auto)Warranty: Three years/100,000kmResale: N/AEngine: 1.4-litre four cylinder, 74kW/130NmTransmission: Five-speed manual, four-speed auto; FWDSafety: Six airbags, ABS, ESC, TCCrash rating: Five starsBody: 3999mm (L), 1944mm (W), 1488mm (H)Weight: 1092kg (manual) 1077kg (auto)Thirst: 5.8L/100km, 136g/km CO2 (manual; 6.3L/100m 145g/km CO2 (auto)

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?This is the top of the range Opel Astra wagon with the diesel auto powertrain and all the fruit.Start price is $35,990 but this vehicle had options taking the price up to and over $40,000.Golf, Focus, Lancer, Mazda3, Corolla, you name it, they've got heads on them like white mice.Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbodiesel four with 121kW/350Nm output driving the front wheels through a conventional six speed automatic transmission.Remarkably well. With 350Nm of torque on tap from just 1750 revs, finding power to overtake is never a problem. Steering is tight with reasonable driver feedback and the brakes are excellent, with the auto gearbox providing nice engine braking to compliment the brakes.It's a diesel, so the answer is a big, smelly, noisy YES. That's a bit unfair, however, with the little diesel engine purring as smoothly as most petrol engines. Agricultural diesel engines appear to be a thing of the past for modern cars. Expect around 6.0 litres/100kms.In terms of fuel use, yes. Low carbon dioxide output too and the car would have a relatively green manufacturing process.Sure is. Along with a Five-Star ANCAP rating, it has six airbags, countless electronic safety devices and, for passive safety, the excellent brakes and handling keep it out of trouble.It's a tight-ish cabin, but very comfortable. Might be a little claustrophobic for those with larger frames. The load space is generous and expandable to huge. Access to the cabin is facilitated by decent size doors and the rear hatch open high and wide.Great. Certainly doesn't feel like a diesel, there's great steering feedback for a car of this kind and it has a suburb set of brakes. Steering is quite direct and the suspension tuned to give a nice balance of handling and comfort.It's a great kit, but perhaps not the greatest value for money given how many good deals are around and how cheap the near new secondhand market is.No. As enjoyable a drive as it is, at around $40,000 there's a lot of choice. If it was a little cheaper it would feature more prominently on our `wish list'. 

Immigrants have often found Australia an unusual settlement. Nothing bad, just different. Post-war citizens from overseas learnt that by working hard, and being patient, rewards can be substantial.Right now Opel - the German arm of General Motors that once made the Astra for Holden - must be quietly bubbling in its patience. It opened its doors on September 1 and, to the end of October, has sold 279 cars. In October it sold 105 cars - the same as Fiat.A bit like Audi's early life in Australia, in fact, but look at Audi now. If the economy stays warm and buyer confidence is buoyant, Opel has a chance. If its products correctly reflect German quality and offer value for money above a voracious pack of Japanese and Korean rivals, it will do well. Judging by the Astra, success is certainly possible.This is the Opel Astra Select CDTi - the mid-level turbo-diesel hatch that costs $33,990 with automatic transmission and an extra $2500 for possibly the car industry's most comfortable leather-trimmed, heated seats. The seat option is very expensive, especially considering all the work has gone into moulding the front two and the rear seat merely feels like a reskin.Standard kit on Select includes 17-inch alloys, sat-nav, electric park brake, dual-zone climatic aircon, front and rear park sensors, seven-speaker audio with iPod/USB connectivity and Bluetooth with voice control. Good news for doubters is the $299 once-a-year capped price service for the three-year warranty period.Externally, the Astra mirrors German functionality and efficient styling. It's more rounded in its shape than rival Golf, but that at least gives Astra its identity. The Australian Astra is the latest from the factory, introduced in Europe as a facelift in June.Aggressively slanted headlights look distinctive from the front but it's best view is the rear's boat-tail rear with its bowed window. There's room for four adults inside but rear seat legroom comes up a bit short. Boot space is class average, slightly more than Mazda3.Cabin design is attractive, well finished with soft-feel plastics and tight panel gaps, and simple to navigate. Even the myriad of centre-console switches are sized to fit human fingers and have logic in their arrangement.The turbo-diesel engine is relatively new to Astra. Based on a 2009-launched engine, it has power upgrades (now 121kW/350Nm) and stop-start for a claimed 5.9 L/100km. On my primary suburban test it achieved 7.2 L/100km. There's not a lot of skimping with chassis gear.The Astra has an additional Watts link in the rear suspension to maintain ride comfort while enhancing handling, electric steering and a six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode. The ergonomic AGR seats are superb, but an expensive option.Astra is a five-star crash-rated car with six airbags, electronic stability and traction control, active head restraints, a pedal release system in the event of a collision, heated side mirrors, auto headlights and wipers, and front and rear parking sensors. The spare is a space-saver.No masking the fact this is a diesel. The engine makes itself known at idle and audibly grumbles when pushed at low revs. But it's near silent at mid-range speeds when cruising or coasting and has a delightful surge of torque when called on at anything around 2500rpm.Personally it can be a fun engine but a the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol alternative is better, and $3000 cheaper. The auto suits it perfectly and even does a decent job of countering the low-speed turbo lag - though the manual mode of the gearbox is a better remedy.Though electric, the steering is very good both in feel and its positive input to the wheels, while the handling is good though tends to cater more for occupant comfort. It is not as firm as some rivals. Perhaps the optional seats did most of the cushioning and support. Rear vision is a weak spot but there are standard park sensors.Diesel may suit country folk but turbo-petrol 1.6 wins for city buyers. Very good hatch for individual buyers but has lots of hungry competitors.