Vauxhall Astra ECO4 1.7 dti > Reviews > Beat the Chancellor (but not the boy racer)!

Author's product rating:   

Safety	Good
Comfort	Good
Road Handling	Satisfactory
Security	Good
Looks	Good

Advantages:	Reliable, Extremely economical, practical and functional .  ECO4, Low CO2 emissions
Disadvantages:	Slow, slow, not so quick, slow !  Plus what is that under the bonnet, a sewing machine?

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have run this car from new, supplied in May 2003, by the organisation I work for. Now covered 35k miles.

I did expect it to be a decent car to drive as I was used to the old model Isusu engined 1.7 turbo diesel. Having spent 100k miles in that. A bit of a flyer too!
This model is the 1.7 LS EC04 model. No not built in 2004 this is a special.
A special edition (as far as I am concerned) which is very different to the standard 1.7 tdi diesel.
The differences are.
Spoiler, not for going faster I can assure you.
Undertray (covering the chassis) to improve aerodynamics.
Longer 4th and 5th gear than standard, to lower revs at cruising speed. ie. in 5 th gear just 2k revs at 65 mph.
Low CO2 emmisions to lower Tax implications. The figure of 119 CO2 rating is one of the lowest around.

The other noticeable features are: Anti Stall facility. Let your foot off the clutch without needing the accelerator! Great for traffic queues. At least something can be great about traffice queues!

Now all of that should mean extra economy right?
Good news it does, "exactly what it says" in the brochures.

I average 65 mpg. I know, I know, that does not mean much when I might be the driver from hell. But I average about 20k a year and have never seen this thing drop lower than 60 mpg even in the winter months when engines are not as efficient.
I would say that the ECO4 version is probably the most economical form of transport in it's class.
I also enjoy the addition of AirConditioning. Not seen on LS models of the last shape Astra.

My gripes with the car, just to balance the arguement are.
The engine sounds like a B & D electric cylinder mower. Plus the Anti-stall function creates parking mayhem (slight exageration).
For example you are reversing into a parking spot and touch the accelerator to move forward slightly.
The engine revs to 2.5k making pedestrians shoot out of the way. Leaving them thinking (youv'e guessed it) I am the driver from hell.
I went straight into the Vauxhall dealership with that example, which is how I found out about the Anti-stall function.

My only other negative point is that the engine has been so tweeked for emission compliance that it feels underpowered. A difficult statement to justify as it is good up hills. Just bad at everything else. Overtaking is best left to dual carriageways!

There is so much to discuss about cars.
Most people choose their vehicle based on looks. Apart from Fiat Multipla owners obviously, (sorry couldn't resist). They are great MPV's.
The Astra ECO4 will always be remembered fondly, for saving me 25% on every fill up compared to my previous Astra 1.7TDi.

Possibly the faces of passers by when I am parking too.