2003 Holden Astra 5 Doors 1.4L 5MT FWD (90 HP)

Vehicle Overview

General Motors already knew the perfect recipe for a badge-engineered car, and in 2005, it introduced the fifth generation of the Holden Astra for the Australasian market.

While the first two generations of the Holden Astra were based on Nissan vehicles, starting with the nameplate’s third iteration, it was switched to GM products. The 2005 Holden Astra 5 Doors was the rebadged version of the European Opel/Vauxhall Astra. Furthermore, the car was built in Europe and then shipped to Australia. It was probably not the optimal solution, but it worked well until 2009, when Holden stopped importing them during the world financial crisis that badly affected GM’s finances and when Opel was on the brink of extinction. From the design point of view, it was a clear departure from the previous generation of the vehicle. Furthermore, it boasted a higher level of protection, even though it was not the best in the segment. But still, it featured four-disc anti-lock brakes, dual airbags, and available ESP.

At the front, the automaker created large, rhomboidal-shaped swept-back headlights. They flanked a broad grille adorned by a body-colored horizontal slat, which was replaced by a chromed one in late 2005 for specific grades. The 2005 Holden Astra 5 Doors featured a V-shaped profile on the center part of the plastic wrapped-around bumper that created a visual connection between the upper grille and the one installed in the apron, which featured three horizontal slats.

When Opel designed the Astra, it made it fit the requirements of European customers. As a result, the five-door hatchback had a short nose and a tall greenhouse. Its flared wheel arches on both ends made the compact vehicle look sporty. The doors sported a body-colored plastic element that protected them from shopping carts and other small bumps. Unfortunately, the C-pillars were wide at their lower area, limiting the driver’s visibility on the rear three-quarters. Then, finally, at the back, the 2005 Holden Astra five-door had a slightly tilted-forward tailgate adorned on its upper side by a roof spoiler. Depending on the trim level, the hatchback was available with a choice of 15-, 16-, 17-, or 18-inch steel or light-alloy wheels.

Inside, the automaker focused on offering more to its customers than most of its competitors. Fronting the driver was a fresh-looking instrument cluster featuring a display placed between the large dials of the speedometer and the tachometer. Atop the center stack, the automaker offered an option for a color display for the navigation system, which was uncommon for a compact-sized vehicle. The buttons on the three-spoke steering wheel also improved the driving experience since the driver didn’t have to take their hands off the wheel to change the radio or adjust the volume of the sound system. At the front, the bucket seats had some bolstered areas to keep occupants in place during high-speed cornering. In the back, the 2005 Holden Astra had a split-folding (60/40) bench seat that increased the trunk space.

Under the hood, at the sales start, the 2005 Holden Astra was available with gasoline engines. In the following year, the automaker added the 150 PS (148 hp) turbodiesel variant that combined excellent fuel efficiency and quick acceleration times for its class. However, the top performer was the 200 PS (197 hp) HSV variant that transformed the car into a hot hatch.