A Small Car War – Holden Astra R v Subaru Impreza 2.0-L Comparison Test
This is a comparison test between the Holden Astra R and Subaru Impreza 2.0i-L. While that much might be obvious, more importantly this is not a test involving a Mazda3, Hyundai i30, Toyota Corolla or Volkswagen Golf.
The Holden via Europe, and the Subaru from Japan, are both all-new entrants to the sub-$25,000 automatic-equipped small hatchback segment, and from different sides of the globe they join together with similarly high specification for the price.
Where the Mazda3 and Corolla are in the second half of their model lifecycles, the i30 will in a few months switch to a new generation, and the Golf will likewise cop a mid-life update, the Astra and Impreza (for now) shine as the new stars of the class.
We know their competitors very well; but how do these latest hatchbacks shape up?
TESTEDHolden Astra R ($22,490 plus on-road costs)
Subaru Impreza 2.0i-L ($24,490 plus on-road costs)
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OVERVIEW
We may have the Astra R on test, but the optioned-up Astra R+ is a better indication of spec comparison here. Holden recently lowered pricing of its new hatchback and that results in the ‘plus’ pack now being cheaper than the former base model was.
Priced from $23,740 plus on-road costs, the R+ adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, forward collision alert with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assistance, auto-dim rear-view mirror and auto-on/off wipers for $1250 over the R.
Those latter trio of features aren’t available on the $24,490 (plus orc) Impreza 2.0i-L, and even Holden’s base R further includes a digital radio, auto-on/off headlights and rear parking sensors with cross-traffic alert, all of which are missing from its rival.