Chevrolet Astra

Chevrolet Astra: which version to buy and why

If you are choosing a Chevrolet Astra rather than reading a model overview, the data collapse to one generation (2003–2011, sedan) and nine versions whose names repeat: two 1.8 MT at 110 hp and seven 2.0 MT that must be told apart by power (111, 128, 136, or 101 hp) and by whether engine location is recorded. Every version is Manual, 5 gears, FWD. Fuel consumption is not measured on any of them.

If you are choosing a Chevrolet Astra rather than reading a model overview, the data collapse to one generation (2003–2011, sedan) and nine versions whose names repeat: two 1.8 MT at 110 hp and seven 2.0 MT that must be told apart by power (111, 128, 136, or 101 hp) and by whether engine location is recorded. Every version is Manual, 5 gears, FWD. Fuel consumption is not measured on any of them. Wheel sizes are not measured. Prices are not in this catalogue. The choice is therefore power, torque, 0–100 where it exists, mass where it exists, and diesel versus gasoline.

Chevrolet Astra generations compared (there is only one)

Generation 1 ran from 2003-01-01 to 2011-12-31 as a Sedan with 9 versions. There is no second generation in the data, so a “later generation” cannot buy you a different body, a different gearbox, or AWD. Modification dates on the versions themselves run 1998-01-01 to 2011-12-31; the generation window used for the model card is 2003–2011. Searches for Chevrolet Astra 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2011 all land on this same generation and this same Sedan list. Hatchback does not appear as a body type here.

What did not change across the nine versions: 52-litre tank, 130 mm ground clearance, Independent, spring front and rear, Disc front brakes, Drum rear, FWD, Manual 5. Those figures cannot decide the purchase.

Chevrolet Astra specs: nine versions, exact names

Engine location is Front, transverse on five of the nine versions and not measured on the other four. That is a documentation split, not a second drivetrain.

Chevrolet Astra hp and power per litre

Specific output (hp ÷ displacement in litres):

• 1.8 MT 110 hp, 1796 cc: 61.2 hp/l
• 2.0 MT 111 hp (both 83 kW and 82 kW records): 55.6 hp/l
• 2.0 MT 128 hp: 64.1 hp/l
• 2.0 MT 136 hp: 68.1 hp/l
• 2.0 MT 101 hp Diesel, 1995 cc: 50.6 hp/l

The 136 hp 2.0 MT is the densest gasoline tune: 26 hp more than the 1.8 MT 110 hp (+23.6%) and 25 hp more than the 111 hp 2.0 MT (+22.5%). The 128 hp 2.0 MT sits 18 hp above the 110 hp 1.8 MT (+16.4%) and 17 hp above the 111 hp 2.0 MT.

The 111 hp 2.0 MT is the odd gasoline buy: 202 cc more than the 1.8 MT 110 hp for only +1 hp, and the worst gasoline specific output (55.6 hp/l versus 61.2). Displacement here does not buy power; it buys 15 Nm more torque (170 versus 155) arriving at 2400 rpm instead of 4800.

Valves per cylinder split the gasoline 2.0 pack: 2 valves on both 111 hp 2.0 MT records and on both 1.8 MT 110 hp records; 4 valves on both 128 hp and both 136 hp 2.0 MT records. Compression is 9.2 on the 2-valve gasoline engines and 9.6 on the 4-valve 128/136 hp engines. Bore × stroke is 84.8 × 79.5 on 1.8 MT and 86 × 86 on gasoline 2.0 MT. The Diesel 2.0 MT 101 hp is 84 × 90 with compression 18.5 and Turbo; every gasoline version has Boost: No.

Performance: 0–100 and top speed (mpg not measured)

City, highway, and combined consumption: not measured on all nine versions. CO2: not measured. Eco class: not measured. Do not infer mpg.

0–100 km/h:

• 1.8 MT 110 hp: 9.6 s (both records)
• 2.0 MT 111 hp / 83 kW: not measured
• 2.0 MT 128 hp (no location listed): not measured
• 2.0 MT 136 hp: 9.1 s (both records)
• 2.0 MT 111 hp / 82 kW, Front, transverse: 10.6 s
• 2.0 MT 128 hp, Front, transverse: 9.8 s
• 2.0 MT 101 hp Diesel: 12 s

Arithmetic on the measured sprints: the 136 hp 2.0 MT is 0.5 s quicker than 1.8 MT 110 hp (9.1 versus 9.6), 0.7 s quicker than the Front, transverse 128 hp 2.0 MT (9.1 versus 9.8), 1.5 s quicker than the Front, transverse 111 hp 2.0 MT (9.1 versus 10.6), and 2.9 s quicker than the Diesel 2.0 MT 101 hp (9.1 versus 12). The Front, transverse 128 hp 2.0 MT at 9.8 s is 0.2 s slower than the 1.8 MT 110 hp at 9.6 s despite 18 extra horsepower — so if the timed 128 hp record is the one you can verify, the 1.8 is not the slower car.

Top speed:

• Diesel 2.0 MT 101 hp: 188 km/h (lowest)
• 1.8 MT 110 hp: 189
• 2.0 MT 111 hp (both): 190
• 2.0 MT 128 hp (both): 198
• 2.0 MT 136 hp (both): 203 (highest)

The 136 hp 2.0 MT is 15 km/h above the Diesel, 14 above the 1.8 MT, 13 above the 111 hp 2.0 MT, and 5 above the 128 hp 2.0 MT. Peak power rpm: Diesel 4300, 111/128 hp gasoline 5200, 1.8 MT 5400, 136 hp 5600. Peak torque rpm: Diesel 1950, 111 hp 2400, 128/136 hp 4000, 1.8 MT 4800.

Torque ranking is not the same as horsepower ranking. Diesel 2.0 MT 101 hp: 230 Nm. Gasoline 128 and 136 hp 2.0 MT: 188 Nm. 111 hp 2.0 MT: 170 Nm. 1.8 MT 110 hp: 155 Nm. The Diesel has 75 Nm more than the 1.8 (+48%) and 42 Nm more than the 136 hp gasoline (+22%), at 1950 rpm versus 4000–4800. If the question is low-rpm pull, the 101 hp 2.0 MT Diesel is the strongest version in the table even though it is last in hp, last in 0–100 among measured figures, and last in top speed.

Dimensions, weight, and kg per hp

Kerb / gross:

• 1.8 MT 110 hp (both): 1000 / 1520 kg
• 2.0 MT 111 hp (both): 1100 / 1610 kg
• 2.0 MT 128 hp (both): not measured / not measured
• 2.0 MT 136 hp (both): not measured / not measured
• 2.0 MT 101 hp Diesel: not measured / not measured

Ground clearance 130 mm and tank 52 litres on all nine. Wheel sizes: not measured on all nine.

Weight per horsepower where both numbers exist:

• 1.8 MT 110 hp at 1000 kg: 9.09 kg/hp
• 2.0 MT 111 hp at 1100 kg: 9.91 kg/hp

The 1.8 is 100 kg lighter at kerb (1000 versus 1100) and 90 kg lighter at gross (1520 versus 1610). That extra 100 kg on the 111 hp 2.0 MT is +10% mass for +1 hp (+0.9%). Payload implied by gross minus kerb is 520 kg on the 1.8 MT 110 hp and 510 kg on the 111 hp 2.0 MT. You cannot compute kg/hp for 128, 136, or Diesel because kerb is not measured.

Which Chevrolet Astra version to choose

If the goal is the highest measured speed and the shortest measured 0–100: 2.0 MT 136 hp (100 kW @ 5600, 188 Nm @ 4000, 203 km/h, 9.1 s). Same 188 Nm as the 128 hp 2.0 MT, but 8 hp more (136 versus 128, +6.3%) and 5 km/h more top speed. Both 136 hp records share those performance figures; one lists engine location as Front, transverse and one leaves it not measured. There is no Automatic and no other drive, so this is the top of the only ladder.

If the goal is 4-valve 2.0 gasoline without the 136 hp peak: 2.0 MT 128 hp. Same 1998 cc, same 188 Nm @ 4000, same 9.6 compression, same 4 valves as 136 hp. You give up 8 hp and 5 km/h. The Front, transverse 128 hp record is the one with a 0–100 figure (9.8 s); the other 128 hp record has 0–100 not measured. Against 1.8 MT 110 hp, the timed 128 hp is 18 hp up but 0.2 s slower to 100 and 9 km/h faster (198 versus 189).

If the goal is the lightest kerb and the best measured kg/hp: 1.8 MT 110 hp (1000 kg, 9.09 kg/hp, 9.6 s, 189 km/h). Both 1.8 MT records match on power, torque, 0–100, top speed, tank, and mass; one lists Front, transverse. Versus the 111 hp 2.0 MT, the 1.8 is not a “smaller slow car”: it is 1 hp down, 15 Nm down, 1 km/h down on top speed where both are measured, 100 kg lighter, and 1.0 s quicker than the only 111 hp record that has 0–100 (9.6 versus 10.6). Specific output favours the 1.8 (61.2 versus 55.6 hp/l).

If the goal is a 2.0-litre gasoline with torque at 2400 rpm: 2.0 MT 111 hp. Distinguish the two records: 83 kW with 0–100 not measured, and 82 kW Front, transverse with 0–100 10.6 s. Both: 170 Nm @ 2400, 190 km/h, 2 valves, compression 9.2, 1100 / 1610 kg. This is the slowest measured gasoline sprint. It is not the 2.0 people mean when they search Chevrolet Astra 2.0 for power.

If the goal is torque and Turbo, not horsepower: 2.0 MT 101 hp Diesel (230 Nm @ 1950, Turbo, Diesel fuel, 12 s, 188 km/h). It is the only Turbo and the only Diesel. Versus 1.8 MT 110 hp: −9 hp, +75 Nm, +2.4 s to 100, −1 km/h. Versus 2.0 MT 136 hp: −35 hp (−25.7%), +42 Nm (+22.3%), +2.9 s, −15 km/h. Fuel consumption is not measured, so “Diesel for economy” is not supported here.

What extra displacement does not buy. Moving from 1.8 MT 110 hp to 2.0 MT 111 hp adds 202 cc and 100 kg and does not add a useful power step. Moving from 111 hp to 128 hp 2.0 MT is the first 2.0 step that changes the engine (2 valves → 4 valves, 9.2 → 9.6, 170 Nm → 188 Nm, 190 → 198 km/h). Moving from 128 to 136 hp keeps 188 Nm and adds 8 hp and 5 km/h.

What this catalogue cannot use as a tie-break: mpg, CO2, eco class, wheels, prices, for-sale listings, hatchback body, reliability, and problems — none of those fields are measured in the source data. Gearbox and drive cannot split the field: all nine are Manual 5 and FWD.

Short ranking by the numbers that exist

1. Fastest measured: 2.0 MT 136 hp (9.1 s, 203 km/h). 2. Same 2.0 4-valve family, one step down: 2.0 MT 128 hp (198 km/h; 9.8 s on the Front, transverse record). 3. Lightest, strongest kg/hp among weighed cars: 1.8 MT 110 hp (1000 kg, 9.6 s, 189 km/h). 4. Low-rpm torque: 2.0 MT 101 hp Diesel (230 Nm @ 1950). 5. Last among measured gasoline sprints: 2.0 MT 111 hp (10.6 s on the 82 kW Front, transverse record; 9.91 kg/hp).

There is no generation-to-generation upgrade path. The buy decision is which of these nine rows matches the job: 136 hp 2.0 MT for the peak figures, 1.8 MT 110 hp when mass is recorded and you want the lowest kg/hp, Diesel 2.0 MT 101 hp when 230 Nm at 1950 rpm matters more than 0–100.