We review the Vauxhall Antara from price to economy and all its features
I’M up to my shins in sludge, it’s lashing with rain, it’s -5°C, and as the new Antara hurtles towards me on a special off-road see-saw it crashes down and soaks me from head to toe in thick muddy water.
Who said this job was glamorous?
Soaking it up ... Phil tastes Vauxhall's not so soft roader
This is the down-to-earth part of a new vehicle launch which has cost Vauxhall more than £1million. After their previous Antara turned out to be a bit of a damp sales squib, they are pulling out all the stops to ensure this new version makes a splash in the showrooms.
That means building a 4x4 off-road course to prove that the Antara is a bit more than just a soft-roader. In the SUV market, it certainly won’t be a soft-touch anymore.
Unfortunately I’m a bit of a wimp at manual labour, so it was a case of mud, sweat and tears as we put the SUV through its paces. It turned out to be a dirtier weekend than Katie Price going horse riding with her polo chums.
Vauxhall are not billing it as a Land Rover Discovery rival — this is mainly for going to the offy, not off-roading.
However, they do want to point out that the Antara is much improved in its ride comfort and driving experience.
I helped Vauxhall’s talented crew set up the course which tested the intelligent all-wheel-drive system.
The adverse camber section emphasised how the AWD adapts within milliseconds to give whichever wheels are on the ground the most traction — and the Antara somehow clambered out of every sticky situation.
The see-saw dramatically proved the incredible grip and control of the Hill Start Assist (HSA) and new high- performance ABS brakes. I put my trust in those brakes as the Antara dropped within millimetres of my head — and the car stopped immediately. Thank God.
Meanwhile the 90-degree angle hurdle underlined how the outstanding traction and improved chassis delivers.
However, these are not obstacles most Antara drivers face on the school run. Although some of the potholes on our roads seem to make every trip an off-road adventure.
For most 4x4 buyers it’s all about style, economy and practicality, and the good news is that the midlife spruce-up has made the Antara more dynamic.
The boxy previous model has been galvanised with the grille stolen from the Astra, a new badge and double helpings of mesh.
It also gets new fog lights (with chrome surrounds on SE models), a choice of new 19in alloys, and modified tail-lights.
Inside, the Antara gets a new centre console with more storage and revised materials. While the gearshifter housing is chrome-lined and glitzy, the new model doesn’t get the Astra interior.
more motors
That means the fake aluminium dash remains — it’s smart but not as desirable as their latest cockpits.
But it feels spacious compared to other compact 4x4s — and there’s excellent legroom in the back of 946mm for adults. The boot holds 402 litres of luggage which increases to 795 with the back seats folded down.
There’s loads of new technology to enhance safety alongside HSA and ABS.
They’ve added Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ARP (Active Rollover Protection), CBC (Cornering Brake Control), DCS (Descent Control System), AOD (Active on Demand) yaw control to minimise understeer or oversteer, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Engine Drag Control (EDC). That’s more than enough to keep you safe on the way to Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
There is also a crucial addition to the engine line-up, with a 2.2litre turbodiesel with either 163bhp or 181bhp. The lower-powered option is available with front-wheel-drive and a manual gearbox, or four-wheel-drive with either a manual or an automatic. The 181bhp unit has four-wheel-drive and the same transmissions.
The 163bhp is expected to account for 75 per cent of their anticipated 15,000 sales this year and it’s a very decent performer with 0-60mph in just a shade under 10 seconds, 44mpg and 167g/km.
The most aggressive part of the revamp is the price. The 2.2 front-drive Exclusiv entry-level model now starts at £19,995, almost £3,000 less than the outgoing base variant.
It also undercuts the Antara’s sister vehicle Chevrolet Captiva — the 2litre diesels start at £20,595 while the Ford Kuga starts at £20,495 and the VW Tiguan at £20,515.
Cheaper and better in every department, Vauxhall are adamant they’ve got the formula right. Where there’s muck, they now have class.