Super TestCar reviews - Holden - Astra - 5-dr wagon rangeHolden modelsOverviewHolden's new Astra wagon offers more usable space than many older mid-sized wagons28 Jul 2005 HOLDEN has decided to put its pitch in for the paltry three per cent of wagons that make up small-car sales in Australia. The AH Astra is in with a good chance, and not just because it’s newer than the aging Toyota Corolla and Mitsubishi Lancer wagons, and cheaper than the Peugeot 307 Estate – although that’s available with a nifty turbo-diesel option. No, the Astra is as big and refined as you might expect a mid-sized wagon, like the old Camry, to be - and fun to boot too. The only real stumbling block – in this era of the 2.0-litre small car – is the 1.8 badge. Model release date: 1 July 2005 to 1 March 2007 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 modelInitially Holden and Isuzu of Japan – co-conspirators on the Opel Kadett-based rear-drive T-car Gemini sedan and coupe released in March 1975 – didn’t bother with the wagon version, probably because it was only engineered as a two-door. But minds obviously changed when the TD Gemini facelift arrived three years later, because there it was – along with a low-roof two-door van variant. Two models – a base and better-equipped SL – were available, both powered by GM’s venerable 61kW single-cam Family One four-cylinder engine. Power dropped with the TE of 1979 (50kW), but at least a five-speed manual became on option to the regular three-speed auto or four-speed manual. Australians were discovering hatchbacks by the late '70s so the Gemini wagon vanished with the now-49kW TG range in December 1984. |
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