Turbocharging a smaller 1.4 engine to replace an old 1.8 of the same power, as Vauxhall has done with the new Astra, is an example of what many car makers are doing in cutting engine size and CO2 without harming power.
The 1.4 emits 139g/km with economy of 47.9mpg compared with the 1.8’s 172g/km and 39.2mpg. That propels it into fleet’s consciousness, especially as petrols don’t suffer from the 3% BIK hike that diesels do. The car is also over £600 cheaper than the same trim level with a 125hp 1.7-litre diesel. The 1.7 is, though, below 121g/km, saving drivers in the lower BIK tax band around £8 per month.
While there’s certainly nothing there to put off prospective drivers, the engine is good but not outstanding. For those not doing huge mileages, however, it’s the significant falls in CO2 that make smaller turbocharged engines like this increasingly worthy of consideration.
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