The Holden Astra is a compact class car produced by Holden since 1984 in seven generations. Through the generations, it was built in many body styles, including three and five-door hatchback, four-door sedan, five-door station wagon, as well as a two-door convertible. Its history is intertwined with Opel Astra, Nissan Pulsar, and Toyota Corolla, as many of the Holden's models were greatly inspired, or rebadges of these cars.
The First Generation (LB, LC; 1984-1987)
The first Holden Astra was sold alongside Nissan Pulsar, as its rebadged variant. Holden’s version was assembled in Clayton, Victoria, with body panels created at the factory in Elizabeth, South Australia.
It was offered as the LB series in a 5-door hatchback variant with a 1.5-litre engine available producing 52kW and 115 Nm of torque, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox or a three-speed automatic transmission.
Besides having two trim levels in the LB Astra series, SL/X and SL/E, the third one, SL, was offered in 1986 with the LC upgrade. The SL/X and the SL/E featured Alloy Wheels, Cloth Trim, Power Mirrors, and Radio Cassette with 2 and 4 Speakers.
The SL model was introduced in 1986 with the LC upgrade featuring power mirrors and radio cassette, and it was equipped with 1.6L petrol engine producing 52kW and 124 Nm of torque paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
According to the Used Car Safety Ratings, both series of the Astras in the first generation were rated poorly at occupant safety protection.
The Second Generation (LD; 1987-1989)
Revealed in 1987, the LD Astra was available in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback versions, once more using the Nissan Pulsar platform. This time, however, Nissan was responsible for the bodywork, while Holden manufactured the powertrains, in a co-production venture.
There were three trim levels offered SL, SLX, and SLE featuring the same equipment as the previous generation.
In 1987 in Australia, the SL, SLE and SLX came with 1.6L petrol engine producing 52kW and 124 Nm of torque paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 3-speed automatic transmission. But SLE also came with 1.8L petrol engine producing 79kW and 151 Nm of torque paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
In 1988 and 1989, SL and SLX came with 1.6L petrol engine producing 55kW and 125 Nm of torque, while SLE came with 1.8L petrol engine producing 79kW and 151 Nm of torque. Each trim level partnered with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
In 1988 the facelifted version of the LD Astra, HSV Astra SV1800, was revealed by Holden Special Vehicles, having the sedan shape.
The second generation did not prove itself any better than the first generation at the Used Car Safety Rating evaluation.
The Third Generation (TR; 1995-1998)
The third generation of the Holden Astra was based on the Opel Astra F and marketed as a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door wagon.
However, the Opel-based Astra was sold in Australia later in 1996. Therefore, between 1989 and 1996, the Holden Astra was substituted by the Holden Nova, which was a compact car manufactured by Holden Toyota.
The third generation of Holden Astra offered three trim levels City, GL and G Si.
Both City and GL include the same features, namely:
Airbag Driver, Central Locking, Power Steering, Radio Cassette with 6 Speakers, Fog Lights-Front, and Power Mirrors. Meanwhile, the G Si trim level adds Dual Airbags & ABS, Alarm System/Remote Anti Theft, Alloy Wheels, Power Windows Front, and Sports Seats
Engine options include:
- City, 1.6L petrol engine producing 74kW and 135 Nm of torque paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox
- GL, 1.8L petrol engine producing 85kW and 165 Nm of torque paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic transmission
- G Si, 2.0L petrol engine producing 100kW and 185 Nm of torque paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox
The third generation of Holden Astra showed an average level of protection at the Used Car Safety Ratings.
The Fourth Generation (TS; 1998-2005)
The TS Astra was introduced in 1998, once more changing its origin, now engineered by German Opel, and manufactured in Belgium, available in the sedan, hatchback and convertible versions.
Available trim levels include City, CD, CDXi, SXi, and SRi.
Both City and CD trim levels were available in 1998. Their equipment included:
Dual Front Airbags Package, Adjustable Steering Wheel - Tilt & Telescopic, Cruise Control, Central Locking Remote Control, Cloth Trim, Engine Immobiliser, Power Mirrors, Power Steering, Power Windows, Radio Cassette with 6 Speakers, Seatbelts - Pretensioners Front Seats, Airbag Driver, and Central Locking
In 1999, CD Olympic Edition and City Olympic Edition were introduced having the same basic equipment but added ABS, air conditioning, alloy wheels, and traction control system.
In 2001, the Convertible and Equipe were introduced and added the following:
Dual Front/Side Airbags, ABS, Air Conditioning, 16 Inch Alloy Wheels, Cruise Control, Compact disc player, Central Locking Remote Control, Electric Top, Fog Lights - Front, Heated Front Seats, Engine Immobiliser, Leather Accented Upholstery, Leather Steering Wheel, Power Mirrors, Power Steering, Power Windows, Seatbelts with Pretensioners (front), Sound System with 6 Speakers, Sports Suspension, Trip Computer, Traction Control System, and Vehicle Stability Control
In 2003, the Convertible Turbo and CDX were introduced with the same equipment as the previous versions. In 2004, the Convertible Ltd Ed added metallic paint and rear parking distance control.
In 1999 and 2000, CD, CD Olympic Edition, City and City Olympic Edition came with 1.8L petrol engine 85kW and 165 Nm of torque paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox.
In 2001, Convertible came with a 2.2L petrol engine producing 108kW and 203 Nm of torque paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox, while Equipe was introduced in the same year having 1.8L petrol engine paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission (90kW and 165 Nm).
In 2003, Convertible Turbo came with a 2.0L petrol engine of torque paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox (147kW and 250 Nm).
In 2004, Convertible Linea Rossa and Convertible Ltd Ed came with a 2.2L petrol engine producing 108kW and 203 Nm of torque paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The fourth-generation showed better than average ratings in the field of crash safety protection.
The Fifth Generation (AH; 2004-2009)
The fifth-generation, known as AS Astra, was revealed in November 2004 as a five-door hatchback. It was based on the Delta I platform and manufactured in Belgium with several trims available CD, CDX, CDXi, CDTi, SRi, and SRi Turbo which have the same equipment as the previous trim levels. Along with the fifth generation, the diesel engine was introduced in 2006 with a capacity of 1.9L producing 88kW and 280 Nm of torque paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
In 2007, the Twin Top came with a 2.2L petrol engine paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic transmission (110kW and 210 Nm).
In 2008, the 60th Anniversary trim came with a 1.8L petrol engine paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox (103kW and 175 Nm).
According to the UCSR, the AH series showed an average level of safety, while the Australasian New Car Assessment Program gave it a 3-star rating. Safety equipment includes front-impact and side-impact airbags, seatbelts with pretensioners for front seats, traction control system, and vehicle stability control.
The Sixth Generation (PJ; 2015-2016)
Based on the General Motors' Delta II platform, the PJ Astra was launched in 2015 as a 3-door hatchback, and it was available in GTC, GTC Sport, and VXR versions. Interestingly, this exact car was part of Opel's failed attempt to break into the Australian market between the years 2012 and 2013.
Each trim level featured:
Airbags (Dual Front/Head/Side), ABS, Air Conditioning, Ambient Interior Lighting, Antenna - Roof-mounted, Adjustable Speed Limiter, Adjustable Steering Wheel (tilt & telescopic), 18-Inch Alloy Wheels, Brake Assist, Body Coloured Exterior Door Handles, Body Coloured Exterior Mirrors, Cargo Cover, Central Locking Remote Control, Child Seat - ISOFIX Anchorage System, Cloth Trim, Digital Audio Broadcast Radio, Dusk Sensing Headlights, EBD, Heated Exterior Mirrors, ESP, Flip/Folding Key, Front Fog Lights, Hill Holder, High-Mounted Stop Light (rear), Engine Immobiliser, Leather Steering Wheel, Parking Distance Control (front and rear), Projector Headlights, Power Mirrors/Steering/Windows, Remote Hatch Release, Radio CD with 6 Speakers, Roof-mounted Rear Spoiler, Rain-Sensing Wipers, Rearview Mirror (auto-dimming), Rear Wiper/Washer, SatNav, Seatbelts load limiters and pretensioners (front), Spare Wheel, Trip Computer, Traction Control System
Optional features include:
Auto Climate Control (dual temp), Adaptive Damping Control, Alloy Sports Pedals, 20-Inch Alloy Wheels, Body Kit, Chrome Exhaust Tip(s), Electric Parking Brake, Floor Mats (front & rear), Heated Front Seats, Leather-Accented Upholstery, Performance Brake Package, Rear Lights - LED, Rear Spoiler, Performance Suspension, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Tyre Repair Kit
Engine options include:
- GTC, a 1.6L petrol engine mated to a 6-speed auto transmission or 6-speed manual gearbox (147 kW and 280 Nm)
- GTC Sport, a 1.6L petrol engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission (125kW and 260 Nm)
- VXR, a 2.0L petrol engine paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox (206kW and 400 Nm)
The Seventh Generation (BK, BL; 2016-2020)
Originally, Holden planned to release the Astra and Cruze alongside each other but ultimately decided to sell them under the same Astra brand, with the hatchback Opel Astra branded as the 'new Astra hatch'. In contrast, the 2nd generation Chevrolet Cruze was branded as the ‘new Astra sedan'. Holden has never imported the original Opel and Chevrolet models.
In December 2016, the seventh-generation BK Astra was launched with three available models R, RS, RS-V as well as R+ that represented autonomous safety pack.
The Australian models all feature the same equipment across all trim levels, differentiating only in engine options:
Automatic Air Con / Climate Control, Apple CarPlay, Alarm System, Android Auto, 17-Inch Alloy Wheels, Centre Console Box, Sliding Armrest, Digital Audio Broadcast Radio +, Drive Mode Selection, Electric Power Steering, Headlights (Auto On/Off), Halogen Headlights, Multi-Function Display, Power Exterior Mirrors (heated), Reversing Camera, Seatbelts with Pretensioners (rear), Sound System with 6 Speakers, Voice Recognition System
Engine options coming along with the BK trim level are:
- R and R+, 1.4L petrol engine producing 110kW and 245 Nm of torque paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission or 6-speed manual gearbox
- RS and RS BLACK EDITION, 1.6L petrol engine producing 147kW and 280 Nm of torque paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission
In 2017, a wagon and sedan variants were revealed as BL Astra model, offering LS, LS+, LT, and LTZ trim levels. Whilst the wagon was available in LS+ and LT trims with a 1.4L turbo engine teamed up with a 6-speed automatic transmission, the sedan was available in each trim level with a 1.4L turbo engine paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox only in LS version and 6-speed automatic transmission in all other versions.
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Author: Andrijana Pavlovic