| Manufacturer | Nissan (1984–1989) Opel (1996–2009) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1984–1989 1995–2009 |
| Successor | Holden Cruze Opel Astra |
The Holden Astra is a compact car that was marketed by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. Spanning five generations, the original, Australia-only Astra of 1984 was a derivative of the locally-produced Nissan Pulsar, as was the 1987 Astra. It was succeeded by the Holden Nova in 1989—another unique to Australia model line, Holden in 1995 reintroduced the Astra for the New Zealand market. This was merely a badge engineering exercise, as the Opel Astra, from which the third generation Holden Astra was based, had been sold there since 1993. The following year, 1996, Holden discontinued the Nova line in favour of the Opel-based Holden Astra. This strategy has been in place ever since, with fourth and fifth generations launched in 1998 and 2004 respectively. During August 2009 Holden discontinued the Astra and replaced it with the Cruze, released two months prior.
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| Also called | Nissan Pulsar (N12) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1984–1987 |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
The original Holden Astra, introduced in August 1984 as the LB series was a badge engineered Nissan Pulsar (N12). The Pulsar, a Japanese designed model, sold alongside the unique to Australia Astra line-up. The Pulsar for Australia was essembled in Clayton, Victoria; however, for the Astra the body panels were pressed at Holden's Elizabeth, South Australia facility. Unlike its Nissan counterpart, the Astra was only offered as a five-door hatchback, with the three-door hatchback and four-door sedan body styles omitted from the range due to fears they would overlap with Nissan's own Pulsar range. However, Holden's continuation of the Gemini sedan range was the nearest equivalent of this in the range.
The only engine available was a Nissan-designed 1.5 litre engine, locally manufactured, this engine produced 52 kilowatts (70 hp) and 115 newton metres (85 ft·lbf) of torque. Transmission options were a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic.
Compared to the N12 Pulsar, the Astra LB sported a distinctive grille, the work of Australian stylist Paul Beranger housing the Holden lion insignia in the centre, Also unique were Astra-only tail lamps, badging and decals.
A revised LC model was released in March 1986. Unleaded-fuel requirements uprated the engine displacement to 1.6 litres, power by 0.6 kilowatts (0.80 hp) and torque to 124 newton metres (91 ft·lbf). Model and trim changes were also apart of the update, including a new grille insert, and the addition of an SL model positioned below the SL/X and SL/E levels.[1]
The Used Car Safety Ratings, published in 2008 by Monash University, found that first generation Astras (LB/LC) provide a "significantly worse than average" level of occupant safety protection in the event of an accident.[2]
Two trim levels, the SL/X and the SL/E were offered in the LB Astra series, although a basic SL model arrived in 1986 with the LC upgrade.
| Also called | Nissan Pulsar (N13) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1987–1989 |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
For the second generation LD Astra, the Nissan Pulsar was again used as the basis, this time using the latest N13 series. Unlike before, the LD was the result of a proper joint venture development programme. That is, Nissan provided the bodywork and Holden supplied powertrains for fitment in both applications. Launched concurrently in July 1987, both the LD Astra and N13 Pulsar were offered in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles. Outside of Australia though, three-door hatchback and station wagon body variants of the Nissan were also available.
Both 1.6 (55 kilowatts (74 hp); 135 newton metres (100 ft·lbf)) and 1.8 litre (79 kilowatts (106 hp); 151 newton metres (111 ft·lbf)) displacements of Holden's Family II engine were offered in the Astra-Pulsar models. Badged as "1.6-" and "1.8 injection", respectively, the term injection denoted the utilisation of fuel injection. In 1989, all associations with Nissan were severed and a new agreement between Toyota was formed. This relationship, known as the United Australian Automobile Industries (UAAI) was a continuation of the Austraian Government's Button Plan that started with Nissan. Nissan continued to use the Holden engines until 1991 before replacing their N13 Pulsar line with the N14, while at the same time entering a new model sharing alliance with Ford.
The Used Car Safety Ratings evaluation from 2008 found that LD series Astras provide a "worse than average" level of occupant protection in the event of an accident.[2]
Of the three trim specifications offered, the SLX and SLE nameplates no longer featured the "/" symbol, as in SL/X.[3] Besides this anomaly, the LD range mirrored that of the LC Astra:
| Also called | Opel Astra Vauxhall Astra |
|---|---|
| Production | 1995–1998 |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door hatchback |
In 1995, Holden began selling the Astra again in the New Zealand market as a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. Imported from Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire, England, this third-generation Astra model known as the TR series, was derived from the Opel Astra F in Germany; Opel being another General Motors subsidiary. However, this was merely a rebadging of the existing Opel model that was marketed in New Zealand since 1993 as the Opel Astra.
Holden in Australia did not recommence the selling of Astras until 1996, after the dissolution of Australian Government Button car plan. This resulted in the collapse of UAAI, the Holden-Toyota alliance, and as result Holden opted to return to marketing rebadged General Motors vehicles. Between 1989 and 1996, the Astra's role was fulfilled by the Nova, Holden's version of Toyota's Corolla (E90 and E100). During this period of badge engineering in Australia, General Motors New Zealand had used Opel as one of its main marques alongside Holden and Isuzu. Because the Button plan or local equivalent never existed in New Zealand, the two initial generations of Holden Astra (LB/LC and LD) were thus never available in that market.
Like the two previous generations, TR Astras were assessed in the 2008 Used Car Safety Ratings, and shown to provide an "average" level of protection.[2]
| Also called | Chevrolet Astra Chevrolet Viva Opel Astra Vauxhall Astra |
|---|---|
| Production | 1998–2005 |
| Body style | 2-door coupé convertible 3-door coupé 4-door sedan 5-door hatchback |
In 1998, the Astra was replaced again with a German Opel-engineered, Belgium-built version. Known as the TS Astra, it was equipped with either a 90-kilowatt (120 hp) 1.8- or a 2.2-litre petrol engine and was offered in City, CD, CDXi, the SXi and SRi specifications. The SRi was three-door hatchback only, and the standard Astra was only available with a 1.8-litre litre 16-valve engine. The TS Astra was similar to the Chevrolet Astra of the South American market, although only the latter received the sharper facelift — the European and Australian versions retained the softer curves of the original body. Models with a 5-stud wheel pattern have the ABS option factory-installed.
The TS Astra model change followed that of the Opel Astra G range, including the sedan, hatchback and convertible. However, the Coupé by Bertone was not offered with a Holden badge. The drivetrain was identical to other cars in in the Astra lineup, and as such, was not a bona-fide sports car. Like the Astra A, the Astra B was available as a wagon in New Zealand, but not Australia. In 2003, a 147-kilowatt (197 hp) 2.0-litre Turbo engine became available. The standard Astra was only available with a 1.8-litre 16-valve engine, and lived on until 2005 as the Holden Astra Classic, alongside the new model. The philosophy behind this was for Holden to remain competitive in the market until the cheaper Viva model was introduced.
In accordance to the Monash University's 2008 update to the Used Car Safety Ratings, TS Astra models were rated "better than average" in the field of crash safety protection.[2]
Limited Editions
| Also called | Chevrolet Astra Opel Astra Saturn Astra Vauxhall Astra HSV VXR |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–2009 |
| Body style | 2-door coupé convertible 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 5-door station wagon |
| Wheelbase | 2,614 mm (102.9 in) (5-door hatchback) |
| Length | 4,249 mm (167.3 in) (5-door hatchback) |
| Width | 1,753 mm (69.0 in) (5-door hatchback) |
| Height | 1,460 mm (57 in) (5-door hatchback) |
The fifth generation AH Astra, based on the Delta-platformed Opel Astra H came in September 2004 as a five-door hatchback only, manufactured in Belgium, selling alongside a now Polish-built Astra TS sedan, hatchback and convertible . The sedan and hatchback TS Astra models carried "Astra Classic" badges, but were finally dropped in late 2005, replaced by the Holden Viva, a rebadged Daewoo Lacetti. Between 2003 and 2004, the Lacetti was marketed in Australia as a Daewoo before Holden withdrew the brand from Australia due to unsustainable sales.
Like the previous generation, the AH series was found to provides a "better than average" level of safety according to the 2008 Used Car Safety Ratings.[2] At launch, AH Astras came with front- and side-impact airbags as standard inclusions, allowing the Astra to receive a four-star ANCAP crash safety rating. Higher-specified models were able to achieve the full five-stars due to the addition of standard safety equipment.
Holden suspended importation of the Astra on 20 April 2009, citing currency fluctuations and commodity price issues.[5] Holden's import cessation, which resulted in no Astras arriving during June and July 2009, coincided with the introduction of the Holden Cruze, reported to be the direct replacement for the Holden Viva.[6] On 31 August 2009, Holden confirmed that the cessation of Astra imports will remain of a permanent basis, with no intention of further imports of either the then current AH series or the next generation car. Holden stated their small car efforts would be focused on the Cruze.[7]
Special editions
The Opel Astra OPC was marketed in Australia as the HSV VXR by Holden Special Vehicles from 2006 to 2009.
| List of Holden vehicles † HQ–WB Statesmans not marketed under the "Holden" brand, but rather the separate "Statesman" brand. |