Review: Opel Astra Sport Tourer - Trish Whelan, Irish Car

My latest Opel press car was the Sports Tourer version of the Opel Astra hatchback which I have already reviewed in its BEV powertrain format. 

It has everything you’d ever want in a car; top styling, big interior comfort, oodles of luggage space and roof rails to carry a load, not to mention the remarkable frugality of the 1.5 diesel engine which should be a boon for those who travel a lot or for rural drivers. It was also great not to have to worry about recharging a battery as is normal when I test drive an electric car as the Astra’s 52 litre tank holds over 1,000kms of fuel. 

I’m at a loss to understand why more families don’t opt for an estate car, especially families with teenagers who need to carry a lot of their ‘stuff’ with them, or for a family’s camping or other holidays. 

While my car looked good from every angle with its sharp, muscular style - it’s certainly got attitude - the Black Pack is not what I'd choose myself as I felt it didn’t do justice to the lovely sleek styling and also prevents the black Opel logo from standing out. The car sits low to the ground which means tall people have to bend their heads quite a lot when getting in and out. 

The modern and stylish interior has really nice fit and finish but is perhaps a bit on the dark side. That said, I liked the black fascia and those nice trim inserts and believe the fittings and upholstery will wear well. The central console is angled towards the driver and features a 10-inch touchscreen, with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and a same-sized digital driver instrument cluster. Both appear to merge together within the glossy black surround. Heating controls are via up and down arrows, buttons are for things like front seat heaters, heating the steering wheel, a handy Home button, A/C etc and there’s a knob for volume control. 

Seats, in black Alcantara suede, were extremely comfy. My seat could be heated, had 4-way seat adjustments and two memory seat settings. There’s a huge storage area below the twin butterfly doors of the front armrest, a good sized glovebox and pretty decent door bins. A small C-type USB port and a wireless charging pad are offered in my top GS trim. You have the option of having a received text message translated into a voice message which I found very helpful when driving. 

Those in the rear enjoy good knee and head space even seated behind a tall person in front; the knee room is aided with knee indents on the backs of the front seats. The spec includes an ISOFIX child seat anchor on both outer rear seats. My Astra Sports Tourer had a high manual opening tailgate for added practicality; the boot can hold 608 litres of luggage that can expand to a whopping 1,634 litres (to roof) with the rear seats folded down - but you’d have to leave the teens at home for that space. There’s a moveable load compartment floor to help fit items you need to take with you but you can have a high boot floor level with the sill; and full marks to Opel for providing a temporary spare wheel instead of a puncture repair kit. 

There was good all round visibility. Parking aids included front and rear parking sensors, and a 180 deg rear view camera allowing views of around your car when parked, and an excellent reversing camera that at night lit up the road behind my driveway almost as if it were daylight. As with many Stellantis produced cars, there’s just a small red blind spot monitor at the far end of each side mirror. The automatic transmission gear shifter is located on the centre console and includes a B mode for one- pedal driving. It’s always good to find this Stellantis flick-switch selector in a test car as it’s so easy to use. 

Trims are SC, Elegance and GS. Engines are a petrol 1.2 110hp with a 6-speed manual transmission (from €31,295), and a 1.5 turbo diesel with 130hp matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission (from €39,995). My diesel GS spec is from €43,195. Annual road tax is from €200 to €210. 

Standard safety items on my car included Hill Assist, Forward Collision Alert with Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Auto Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, keyless entry and start, and Hill Start Assist. Yet Astra received just a 4-star rating from Euro NCAP out of a possible 5 stars when tested in 2022. I found the 1.5 turbo diesel very quiet and refined on the road as well as being highly efficient for fuel consumption making it ideally suited for those who travel long distances or for those rural owners who want to stick with diesel. They will also be interested to hear that the Astra ST has provision for a tow bar attachment. Priced from €31,295; €43,195 for my car.

 

New D-Max will show in restructured Irish Isuzu network

A revised Isuzu D-Max pickup arriving on the Irish market will headline a restructuring of the brand's distributor Harris Group's Isuzu sales network, writes Brian Byrne.

The Euro6e D-Max comes with improved emissions and a number of enhancements, including a move to automatic transmission only. There's a new front end design, new taillights and interior changes.

Karl Haughton, who has previously worked on Harris Group’s Maxus and Bus & Coach divisions, has been appointed as Head of Sales and Dealer Network for Isuzu. In this capacity, he will be responsible for overseeing sales operations and managing the fleet division for the Isuzu brand in Ireland. 

The Isuzu line-up includes N-series and F-series trucks, offering heavy and light trucks ranging from 3.5 tonnes to 11 tonnes. In 2025 Isuzu will launch its first battery electric vehicle (BEV) which represents a significant step for the pickup market. 

Toyota bz4x review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

Although deservedly best known for developing effective petrol-hybrid powertrains, which have been rolled out in most of their passenger vehicle lineup, Toyota has nontheless been working on alternatives, writes Brian Byrne. The fuel cell Mirai is one, essentially powered by hydrogen and emissions free. But still really in the pilot marketing stage, not least because in most places there’s not a supply network for the fuel. Then there’s their sole dedicated battery electric model, the bz4x, which I have come to a little late.

Never late than better, mangling an aphorism to the point that it only means what I think and not the gibberish it comes out as. What I should have said was the bz4x has been worth my waiting for. If only because that gave me time to practice rolling out the extremely odd name more easily than it reads. I’ve found the most comfortable way is to use the American pronunciation of ‘z’, ‘zee’, which smoothens the vocal result.

All of which has little to do with the car itself. In size a little smaller in all dimensions than the RAV4 SUV which would be its combustion engine equivalent. With a wheelbase similar to that in the larger Toyota Highlander promising — and giving — really good interior space for a C-segment crossover.

Parked outside my house it looked ... well, imposing. The style of the large wheels helped. A bird of prey look to the headlights. The sloping bonnet is shovel shaped, which sounds crude but looks good. Some impressive sculpting in the profile cleverly mixes curves and angularities. A clean and coherent design at the back is exemplary.

Inside, the cab-forward design provides a deep dashboard space, which is used in the driver instrumentation to give an above the steering wheel view of essential information. The style means no need for a head-up display because the info is already very close to the eye-line of a driver doing what they should do, concentrate on the road ahead.

The centre infotainment screen is what we now expect from Toyota, with sensible graphics and menu management. There are standard and wide screen options depending on grade — needless to say my review car had the larger. My CarPlay preference for navigation Bluetoothed seamlessly. I do miss the rotary knob for radio volume control which Toyota seems to have abandoned in favour of pressing + or - buttons.

The bz4x did surprise me in a couple of ways. Having driven its Subaru twin earlier in the year, I was pleased to find a full-charge range of 418km when I picked up the car. The Subaru’s predicted and actual range had been disappointingly less, possibly because the battery was feeding two motors in their AWD car. Toyota advertises the WLTP rating of 505km for the bx4x, but in my time with it the original 400-odd kilometres estimation proved to be close to real. It’s worth saying here that the WLTP system used in Europe is really not fit for purpose for electric vehicles, while the more restrictive US EPA rating is actually pretty close to real world.

The other surprise was the drive experience. This EV SUV has perhaps the best balance of any in its class that I’ve driven to date. The weight effect of the low battery, usually trumpeted as good for handling but in reality offering sometimes a lumbering feel, didn’t do that latter in the bz4x. It was a most pleasant and a very comfortable car in all the time I drove it.

Toyota may have come late to the full-BEV car business, but typically they used that extra time to get it pretty right. They have a number of other EVs promised in short order under the bz label, so I’m keeping an eye on them with anticipation.

PRICE: From €42,950. WHAT I LIKED: That Toyota, once again, doesn’t disappoint. 

Two performance cars from BYD's Yangwang brand

The performance car and luxury SUV segments in Ireland look set for a shakeup in the next year when Chinese carmaker BYD launches two new vehicles from their Yangwang division, writes Brian Byrne.

The U8 SUV and U9 supercar have been shown to Irish dealers and motoring media by MDL, importers of BYD cars here, following their European debut at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed. Though no arrival date for RHD versions, nor their prices, are yet available, the importers are promising a competitive offering.

The U8, sized similarly to a long-wheelbase Range Rover, is a highly-appointed large SUV with electric motors on each wheel offering a total of 1,200hp via a 49kWh battery in turn charged by a 2.0 turbocharged petrol engine. Total range is in the region of 1,000km, and the claimed performance is a 3.6s sprint to 100km/h. Weighing a massive 3.5 tonnes, the U8 is nevertheless designed to be able to 'float' on water for up to 30 minutes, propelled by its wheels at around 3km/h.

The U8 is built on the same BYD platform but is a 2-seater supercar with space-age looks and a fully electric powertrain. Again, a motor on each wheel and a total output of 1,300hp, the car has Formula 1 performance to 100km/h of less than 2.4s. The claimed range is 450km. Technology includes an automatic adjustment of ground clearance at different speeds.

Originally a battery manufacturing company, BYD now employs 700,000 people in China. In Ireland, MDL has appointed six dealerships for the brand, and more are on the way.  

Review: Ford Kuga - Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Ford’s Kuga SUV has been a big hit with customers since it was first launched in 2008. This practical car remains a family favourite with some 513 units already sold this year vis a vis the 565 sold for the whole of 2023. And that’s before the 2024 revised Kuga arrives here around mid-May which will have a fresh look, a refreshed model line-up and four powertrains that include two hybrids and a plug- in hybrid. 

The PHEV version has been a best-seller in Europe for some years now and Ford say it will continue to play a key role inspiring drivers to embrace the company’s electric future. The car looks well from every angle, especially from the side view. Size-wise, it is longer and higher than key competitors Kia Sportage and a tad longer and lower than Toyota’s RAV4. 

Also available in a 1.5 EcoBoost petrol engine, and a self-charge hybrid petrol that can travel for up to 900kms on one tank of fuel, my review car was the PHEV version, in the sporty ST-Line X grade. This included a full body styling kit with a unique front and rear fascia and bumper design, body coloured rear diffusor and front skid plate, dark mesh grille and ST-Line badges. The exterior in Solar Silver colour had contrasting black pillars and roof rails, and ST-Line badges indicating the sporty nature of the car as did the red brake callipers. There are six exterior colours to choose from. 

Kuga is a tall car which makes getting in and out a lot easier than in lower styled cars. You sit nice and high and have a good view out of the road ahead. The front pillars are quite thick and I found this restricted forward/side view coming up to roundabouts. The same can be said for the thick rear pillars when reversing the car. However, Kugas come with both front and rear parking sensors and an excellent rearview camera. 

I was able to get a really comfy driving position with the 12-way power adjustments on the ST-Line sports seat. Seats were a mix of suede/leather type upholstery with lots of red stitching. The 12.3-inch digital instrument display has good graphics and shows the important driving info you need, including the state of battery charge and current speed, while the stand-alone 8-inch infotainment touchscreen works well but looks a bit dated. Apple and Android phone connectivity is standard. There are physical buttons for climate control and the circular gear shifter is located on the flat of the central console. You can charge your phone with the wireless charging pad and there are two USB ports in the driver area. 

There’s space enough in the back for three average adults who will have good head and leg room. Rear seats can slide forwards or backwards to boost legroom or to provide additional boot space. These seats can be folded in a 60/40 split. There’s an area below the floor for charging cables and a tyre sealant kit. The tailgate is power operated. 

Standard features are 18-inch alloys, full LED headlamps, front LED fog lights with front cornering, and B&O premium audio system with 10 speakers and subwoofer. A Driver Assistance pack includes a front camera, Adaptive Cruise Control, Intelligent Speed Assist, and Active Park Assist while a Winter Pack provides heated front and rear seats and heated steering wheel. 

The Kuga PHEV is powered by a 2.5 petrol engine that combines with an electric motor to deliver up to 225hp. The engine is matched to a CVT automatic transmission that I found to be smooth and capable which added greatly to my enjoyment of driving the car. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 9.2 seconds. My average fuel consumption was 6.7 L/100kms. The cabin was quiet as I drove main roads and motorways. The car also proved agile enough about town with a 11.4m turning circle. I really enjoyed driving this Kuga and would have no problems having it as my everyday car. 

Charging the PHEV battery will take 3.5 hrs from a 7kW home wall-box or over double that if you have to use a three-pin domestic plug. The hybrid battery comes with an 8-year or 160,000km warranty. The entry Titanium model is priced from €46,340; ST-Line X PHEV from €48,830. Options took the price to €51,357, plus delivery and related charges.

 

VW goes avant-garde stylish, for China

This is the Volkswagen ID. UNYX, and you're not going to see it in Europe, writes Brian Byrne. The electric car is produced in China only for that market by VW, claiming to be the most successful European-based brand there. China is the biggest EV market in the world, accounting for 60pc of global electric car sales.

The ID. UNYX is a sub-brand of high-end and stylish vehicles and will include four more models over the next three years in the company's plan to introduce no less than 34 new models in China by 2030.

The range for the 286hp single motor version is claimed at up to 621km from the 77kWh battery in the China Light-Duty Test Cycle (CLTC), which is considered to be even more optimistic than the WLTP when compared against the arguably more real-world ratings of the US EPA. An AWD version will have an output of 340hp.

The avant-garde styling of the ID. UNYX includes gold VW badging which is associated with high quality, reliability and safety of a Volkswagen in China.