Vauxhall Antara se 2.0 cdti - Do you want a 4X4 but your conscious is getting the better of you? Well it’s not surprising with the diehard’s banging on about the environment and if you have children, the way this planet is going, do you want them forced to drive electric cars, or worse, have to endure our appalling public transport system?
But on the other hand driving a 4X4 gives you better visibility being higher up, therefore give you a more secure feeling especially if the children are in tow, and lets be honest, enhanced street cred. Well, help is now at hand thanks to those very clever people in the Vauxhall camp. For they have launched thier new 4X4, the Antara, that combines very handsome looks, with brilliant handling, heaps of equipment as standard, penny saving fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions all on a very reasonable price tag.
The Antara is available on three trims E, S and top of the range SE, mated to either a 2.4 litre petrol engine or a 2.0 litre CDTi diesel. The latter also comes with either a five-spped manual - or automatic gearbox that is becoming increasingly popular with a diesel engine. Unfortunately, I had to work at this car for I had the five-speed manual, which at times felt it could have done with a sixth. However with prices starting from just over 19K rising to £27,795, this minor point rather blends into insignificance. My test car costs £26,320 that initially you think ‘wow’ but when you see all the toys on board as standard, the Antara is great value for money with the added factor that there are no hidden extras apart from metallic paint at £400 and the new Flex-Fit out later this year which, for any cyclists out there, is a very clever bike rack that simply pulls out of the rear bumper like a drawer to accommodate two bikes. This costs £475 that is only a tad more than the traditional bike carrier.
The Antara’ s exterior looks will certainly cause a stir at the school gates with its rugged masculinity oozing out of every pore. Not often do you see sleek lines on a 4X 4, but you do here on the Antara. Compliment these with the long lush bonnet, tasty looking light clusters, large central grille and the lovely chrome bumper with integrated fog lights and this car is a head turner all right. The huge 18-inch alloy wheels sit under the flared wheel arches adding presence while the most unusual air vents at the side really sends off a macho scent. Silver effect roof bars, plus body coloured electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors are a hint to the practical nature of the Antara.
18-inch alloy wheels sit under the flared wheel arches adding presence while the most unusual air vents
Stepping up into the Antara and a very pleasing practical interior greets the occupants with height adjustable leather steering wheel with remote controls for the radio /six CD disc interchanger and cruise control while the height adjustable leather and heated drivers seat also has excellent lumber support for those longer journeys. Electronic Climate Control will keep the children less fractious while helping Mum at the wheel is automatic light control, rain sensing wipers, a heat reflective windscreen, electro-chromatic anti dazzle rear view mirror, a tyre pressure monitor and front plus rear ultra sensitive parking sensors, so sensitive they drove me mad. The SE trim gains a satellite navigation system with coloured monitor which always keeps the children amused, a mobile phone system with Bluetooth plus Xenon headlights with headlight washers. That’s a pretty impressive list of equipment.
No family car is complete without millions of storage solutions and the Antara rises to this challenge with door pockets, elasticated nets behind the front seats, a drawer under the passenger seat, sunglasses holder, a parking ticket holder, compartments in both front and rear centre armrests. Then there is the luggage area that offers 370 litres of boot space increasing to 865 when the rear bench seat is folded down and up to 1420 if fully loaded to the roofline. The Antara has the FlexOrganiser system under the load floor that is a combination of nets, dividing walls, rod and hooks allowing the boot to be separated into different sections as well as storage bins over the wheel arches.
So that’s all the bits and pieces taken care of and kept safe, but that’s not all for under the Antara’ s bonnet is a host of equipment to keep you and your precious cargo - the children - very safe. Standard across the range is intelligent four wheel drive giving the driver optimum handling, further enhanced as this diesel engine comes with automatic self -levelling rear suspension. For those who tow, there is a trailer stability system that increases safety when towing if you opt for the factory fit towing pack. The speed dependant power steering will glide you not just round the bends but in and out of those parking bays with confidence yet stiffens on the open road giving reassurance.
Anyone who has to endure steep declines will be happy to hear that Descent Control System is in place guiding the Antara safely down at a constant 6 mph by braking the front wheels. The ESP is switchable that means if either the front or rear of the vehicle starts to slide, ESP gently applies corrective braking to the appropriate wheel thus controlling the slide. The ABS system has Cornering Brake Control that helps if braking on corners, but really you should have done all your braking before the corners, shouldn’t you? Keeping all occupant safe are driver, passenger airbags, front seat side impact airbag, and front plus outer rear seat full size curtain airbag along with the usual seatbelt pretensioners and ISOFIX mountings in the rear. Securing the Antara is an engine deadlock immobiliser, remote control ultrasonic security alarm, and remote control two stages central deadlocking hence the Antara SE 2.0 CDTi falls into insurance group 13E.
So savings there and more savings as the 2.0 litre diesel engine achieves a remarkable 37.2-mpg on a combined cycle without compromising on performance with a top speed of 111 mph, and 0-62 taking just 11.1 seconds. CO2 emissions are 198g/km that is not too damaging.
The Antara has put the cat among the pigeons in the giddy world of 4x4. I would recommend you look at the entry E level, as the list of equipment is very impressive and nearly 7K cheaper than my top of the range SE.
Enjoy!
FemaleFirst Jackie Violet
Vauxhall Antara se 2.0 cdti - Do you want a 4X4 but your conscious is getting the better of you? Well it’s not surprising with the diehard’s banging on about the environment and if you have children, the way this planet is going, do you want them forced to drive electric cars, or worse, have to endure our appalling public transport system?
But on the other hand driving a 4X4 gives you better visibility being higher up, therefore give you a more secure feeling especially if the children are in tow, and lets be honest, enhanced street cred. Well, help is now at hand thanks to those very clever people in the Vauxhall camp. For they have launched thier new 4X4, the Antara, that combines very handsome looks, with brilliant handling, heaps of equipment as standard, penny saving fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions all on a very reasonable price tag.
The Antara is available on three trims E, S and top of the range SE, mated to either a 2.4 litre petrol engine or a 2.0 litre CDTi diesel. The latter also comes with either a five-spped manual - or automatic gearbox that is becoming increasingly popular with a diesel engine. Unfortunately, I had to work at this car for I had the five-speed manual, which at times felt it could have done with a sixth. However with prices starting from just over 19K rising to £27,795, this minor point rather blends into insignificance. My test car costs £26,320 that initially you think ‘wow’ but when you see all the toys on board as standard, the Antara is great value for money with the added factor that there are no hidden extras apart from metallic paint at £400 and the new Flex-Fit out later this year which, for any cyclists out there, is a very clever bike rack that simply pulls out of the rear bumper like a drawer to accommodate two bikes. This costs £475 that is only a tad more than the traditional bike carrier.
The Antara’ s exterior looks will certainly cause a stir at the school gates with its rugged masculinity oozing out of every pore. Not often do you see sleek lines on a 4X 4, but you do here on the Antara. Compliment these with the long lush bonnet, tasty looking light clusters, large central grille and the lovely chrome bumper with integrated fog lights and this car is a head turner all right. The huge 18-inch alloy wheels sit under the flared wheel arches adding presence while the most unusual air vents at the side really sends off a macho scent. Silver effect roof bars, plus body coloured electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors are a hint to the practical nature of the Antara.
Stepping up into the Antara and a very pleasing practical interior greets the occupants with height adjustable leather steering wheel with remote controls for the radio /six CD disc interchanger and cruise control while the height adjustable leather and heated drivers seat also has excellent lumber support for those longer journeys. Electronic Climate Control will keep the children less fractious while helping Mum at the wheel is automatic light control, rain sensing wipers, a heat reflective windscreen, electro-chromatic anti dazzle rear view mirror, a tyre pressure monitor and front plus rear ultra sensitive parking sensors, so sensitive they drove me mad. The SE trim gains a satellite navigation system with coloured monitor which always keeps the children amused, a mobile phone system with Bluetooth plus Xenon headlights with headlight washers. That’s a pretty impressive list of equipment.
No family car is complete without millions of storage solutions and the Antara rises to this challenge with door pockets, elasticated nets behind the front seats, a drawer under the passenger seat, sunglasses holder, a parking ticket holder, compartments in both front and rear centre armrests. Then there is the luggage area that offers 370 litres of boot space increasing to 865 when the rear bench seat is folded down and up to 1420 if fully loaded to the roofline. The Antara has the FlexOrganiser system under the load floor that is a combination of nets, dividing walls, rod and hooks allowing the boot to be separated into different sections as well as storage bins over the wheel arches.
So that’s all the bits and pieces taken care of and kept safe, but that’s not all for under the Antara’ s bonnet is a host of equipment to keep you and your precious cargo - the children - very safe. Standard across the range is intelligent four wheel drive giving the driver optimum handling, further enhanced as this diesel engine comes with automatic self -levelling rear suspension. For those who tow, there is a trailer stability system that increases safety when towing if you opt for the factory fit towing pack. The speed dependant power steering will glide you not just round the bends but in and out of those parking bays with confidence yet stiffens on the open road giving reassurance.
Anyone who has to endure steep declines will be happy to hear that Descent Control System is in place guiding the Antara safely down at a constant 6 mph by braking the front wheels. The ESP is switchable that means if either the front or rear of the vehicle starts to slide, ESP gently applies corrective braking to the appropriate wheel thus controlling the slide. The ABS system has Cornering Brake Control that helps if braking on corners, but really you should have done all your braking before the corners, shouldn’t you? Keeping all occupant safe are driver, passenger airbags, front seat side impact airbag, and front plus outer rear seat full size curtain airbag along with the usual seatbelt pretensioners and ISOFIX mountings in the rear. Securing the Antara is an engine deadlock immobiliser, remote control ultrasonic security alarm, and remote control two stages central deadlocking hence the Antara SE 2.0 CDTi falls into insurance group 13E.