2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
At Opel, too, the engineers elicited ever more power from ever smaller engines - with interesting results. The two expansion stages of the newly introduced 1.7-liter diesel unit in the new Astra reveal completely different characters.
By Michael Langenwalter
Opel held back the two high-volume engines for the new Astra for the market launch in February. Which made perfect marketing sense. The Rüsselsheim-based company can now explicitly focus on the 1.7-liter CDTI unit with its two expansion levels, 81 kW / 110 PS and 92 kW / 125 PS - regardless of the external appearance of the Golf competitor. After all, the visual changes on the face-lifted Astra are extremely discreet compared to the previous model: more chrome here, retouched lights there. You have to be poked at it with the nose to see the subtleties.
“Downsizing” is the motto
Understandable. Because with the new Astra, it's what's inside that counts. But the revised interior and new colors are only one side. The actual innovation in the new edition is hidden under the bonnet, especially when it comes to the diesel variants. In addition to the 1.3 CDTI entry-level diesel, Opel has given its volume model two new diesel engines with a displacement of 1.7 liters. Here, too, this manufacturer is now consistently following the trend that is known in modern German as “downsizing”.
The car engineers outdo each other in the art of getting more and more power out of increasingly smaller cubic capacities by charging as skilfully as possible. And that with less consumption and ever better exhaust gas values, which is a not inconsiderable sales argument for a diesel engine these days. According to Opel, consumption should decrease by 0.5 to 0.9 liters per 100 kilometers.
Predecessor engines have had their day
The engines are not really new developments. The two 1.7-liter CDTIs, which, like all Astra diesels, have a maintenance-free soot particle filter, come as derivatives of an output engine from Isuzu production. Its predecessors, which drew their power from 1.9 liters of displacement, were derived from this. However, the new, smaller engines offer 20 and 40 Newton meters more torque than the 100 and 120 hp 1.9-liter CDTIs - and that with significantly reduced emissions. As a result, Opel will soon be removing the larger engines from its range. But not quite. Since the new Astra with the new engines is only available in conjunction with a six-speed manual transmission, the 120 hp 1,9 CDTI for the combination with the six-speed automatic from Opel still a grace period, but for other models from the group shelf.
Shift wild or drive lazy
But back to the current adaptation. After all, the actual diesel target group, major customers and fleet buyers, also want to be adequately served with the current Astra. And here it is up to the executives whether they want their employees to work properly on the gear lever in their service Astra or whether they want to enable them to drive more leisurely. In the 125 PS expansion stage, you can drive in a relaxed, lazy way. The engine has enough pulling power in the entire speed range, while with the little brother you have to turn up the gears so that the Astra really gets going. When you step on the accelerator, a moment of thought creeps in in the lower speed ranges before the engine then dies - if the driver continues to diligently use his right arm. In the higher ranges, the small diesel does not have these problems and is only slightly louder than the more powerful version.
Opposing types
The driving values on paper differ only insignificantly. 260 Newton meters for the weaker diesel and 280 Newton meters of torque are each available at 2300 revolutions. The top speed is 185 to 195 km / h. The manufacturer specifies the consumption and CO2 emission values as 5.2 and 5.4 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers and 140 and 146 grams of CO2 per kilometer - here too the difference is negligible. The different character actually only emerges in the acceleration values from 0 to 100 km / h. The stronger version is 1.1 seconds faster with 10.9 seconds. And that also makes them interesting for private customers who are on the move a lot and want to be sporty but also economical on country roads.
Special offer
But in the end, the decision whether 110 hp or 125 hp should work under the hood, of course, remains a financial question. The weaker diesel hits as a five-door in the basic equipment with 20,305 euros. At first glance, the 92 kW / 125 PS version with the higher-quality catch-me-now equipment is more expensive by 2095 euros. But speaks for the higher quality equipment - and thus the more powerful engine - a price advantage of 2950 euros, which Opel promises. Automatic air conditioning, radio system including navigation device and an on-board computer are already included. This more than compensates for the difference. And the employees should be worth it to the boss.
