Holden Astra SRi Turbo 2006 review

The car is based on the very good-looking Astra two-door hardtop coupe with hatchback – a low-roof shape that looks sporty even with the garden variety 1.8-litre normally aspirated engine.

Dressed in spoilers, wings, side skirts, big wheels, low-profile tyres, serious grille and lowered suspension, the Astra SRi Turbo version of the coupe is even meaner.

On that score alone, it has the "looks" advantage over pocket-rocket rivals which are all hotted-up conventional high-roof hatchbacks (VW Golf, Ford Focus, Mazda3, Renault Megane and Mercedes-Benz A-Class).

Explore the 2006 Holden Astra range

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• Holden Astra SRi Turbo 2006 review
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• Holden Astra 2006 review

Yet Astra coupe retains reasonable space for rear passengers.

However, Astra Turbo makes do with an older engine, the two-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged job first seen here three years ago in the then-model Astra three-door and convertible.

It gives 147kW power at 5400rpm and 262Nm of torque at 4200rpm. Those figures are not to be sneezed at in a small car but rivals with more recently designed engines do better. For example, Golf GTI $39,990 has 147kW/280Nm, Focus XR5 $35,990 has 166kW/320Nm, Mazda3 MPS at $39,990 has 190kW/380Nm, a coming Megane RS $37,990 gets 165kW/300Nm, making the Benz A200 Turbo look expensive at $44,400 for its 142kW power.

But the Astra SRi Turbo counter-punches not only with looks but also with value. It's listed at $34,990, which is less than any of these rivals, and it has an impressive list of technology and equipment.

This includes cruise control, power windows, climate-control airconditioning, leather facing on seats and steering wheel, front seats that have three-stage heating, six-stack Blaupunkt CD player and seven-speaker sound system with steering wheel audio controls, plus graphic information display for sound system and trip computer.

Outside are modified radiator grille with larger air inlets, an integrated rear spoiler, fog lamps, modified rear bumper panel and the sized wheels and tyres normally expected on a V8 large car – 18in alloys clad with 225/40 asymmetric tyres (Dunlop SP Sport 01 on the GM Holden test car).

Then comes the Astra SRi Turbo technology and safety: ESP, traction control, ABS brakes, six airbags (including front side and curtain airbags), the double overhead camshaft and turbocharged engine and six-speed gearbox. Particularly interesting is the "adaptive interactive driving system". This reads the road conditions and vehicle movement, and constantly adapts the shock absorber behaviour.

Then there's the sport mode. Press the Sport button on the fascia and it instantly changes the mapping of the throttle to make the engine seem more eager and responsive. It also ups the electro-hydraulic steering for an even sharper feel and the whole package seems more firm and racy.

Not to say it's a softie in normal trim. You're aware it's a sports chassis car but the seat is comfortable and the ride tolerable for this sort of machine.

My now tiresome Astra gripes remain: lack of cup holders, lower fascia controls hard to decipher and still no engine temperature gauge. The rear window gives restricted view but parking sensors are an option.

This model has a steel spare wheel limited to 80km/h. And it needs premium fuel. The six-speed manual gearshift is a beauty, slightly notchy as expected in a performance car.

It's not a peaky, popping turbo engine although the exhaust has been engineered to allow a rorty sound. This Astra's happy at 1700rpm at 60km/h in fifth gear and sits on 2700rpm at 110km/h in sixth gear.

Our fuel economy was 10 litres/100km. Obey the speed limits on a country drive and you'll better 8 litres/100km. Use the lower gears and a heavy right foot in the Hills and, well ...

Lift the bonnet (self-supporting on gas struts) and hooray, there's no engine cover, so you can see all the plumbing for the turbo and intercooler. And the satisfying "Made in Germany" tags on engine bits (plus the occasional "Made in Slovakia").

This is a fun car to drive. It's easy to embarrass and surprise a few drivers of larger "muscle" cars – and that's before you get to the twisty bits. Astra's ESP helps control the problem of a lot of power going through the front wheels on tight corners, especially in the wet. ESP can be switched off.