One of the most common types of cars in Russia is crossovers. These machines are gaining more and more popularity every year. And there are objective reasons for this: high ground clearance, roomy trunk and fuel consumption, which is not lower than that of an ordinary passenger car, but not higher than a real SUV. Almost all the world's automakers are engaged in the production of crossovers. The German Opel was no exception. So, in 2006, the new Opel Antara car was presented. The car immediately liked the public and became widespread. What is Opel Antara? Reviews, specifications and a review of the car - further in our article.
Appearance
The design of the car is very similar to the “Opel Vectra C” in front. Here is the same huge grille and elongated headlights. The contours of the roof are more like a Chevrolet Captiva crossover. However, the design cannot be called cohesive - the car has a kind of zest. It is not a copy of any other European crossover.
If we talk about appearance objectively, the car looks quite expressive. The Germans expanded the wheel arches and placed a plastic unpainted body kit around the entire contour of the body. Pretty practical made front bumper. There is a protective pad, and more than half of the surface is matte. Chips and scratches are not terrible for such a bumper, reviews say. Opel Antara has linzovannaya optics and the same fog lights. Despite the fact that the car is more than ten years old, it still looks fresh. The crossover has harmonious proportions of the body. By the way, depending on the configuration, alloy wheels for 16 or 17 inches are installed here. Any tuning for the Opel Antara is optional. Most owners are limited to:
- Installing deflectors and fly swatter on the side doors and hood, respectively.
- Tinted side windows and sticker athermal film on the windshield.
- Installing chrome pipes on the bumper and sills.
What else do the Opel Antara reviews say? The owners note that the body is well protected against corrosion. The metal is galvanized at the factory. However, there are still vulnerabilities here. This is the boot lid. Over time, “bugs” appear on the license plate mounting area. Otherwise, the quality of the paintwork and the metal itself is on top. In the secondary market you can find a lot of non-rotten specimens.
Dimensions, clearance
If we talk about the size, Opel Antara belongs to the class of compact crossovers. So, the length of the car is 4.57 meters, width - 1.85, height - 1.7 meters. Among the advantages, it is worth noting the large clearance of 20 centimeters, which, along with high bumpers, gives a good angle of arrival. The car copes with dirt and sandy road without any problems. Also, the car is not afraid of snow. The crossover is very difficult to “plant”, say the reviews.
Salon Opel Antara
The interior design is quite stylish and fashionable. Leather seats and brown door trim are immediately apparent. Three-spoke steering wheel with small buttons. On the center console is a simple radio for CDs and three duct deflectors. Above them is a digital multimedia display with navigation. It should be noted that the design of the steering wheel and radio is exactly the same as Vectra C. But this does not mean at all that the controls are somehow uncomfortable. Ergonomics in the "Opel Antara" is all right, and numerous reviews are proof of this.
The plastic on the front is quite soft to the touch. Soundproofing - at a decent level. At a speed, neither a rumble from tires, nor a roar of an engine can be heard. By the way, the upholstery in the basic trim levels is only fabric. But regardless of the version, sitting in these chairs is very convenient.
The second row is designed for three people. Each of them has its own headrest. A compact armrest extends from the center seat. Of course, the rear seatbacks do not have such a bright lateral support. But there is enough free space with a margin. Three passengers in this crossover will be comfortable. Among other features, it is worth noting the absence of a central tunnel. The floor is perfectly flat, which is a definite plus.
Trunk
The volume of the cargo compartment at the German crossover is 370 liters. If necessary, this volume can be expanded. For this, the manufacturer provided for the possibility of folding the rear seatback in different proportions. The result is a flat floor and a cargo area of 1420 liters.
Under the floor there is a niche for "dokatka", as well as a minimum set of tools.
Specifications
Versions for the Russian market can be equipped with one of two gasoline units. So, the base for the Opel Antara crossover is a 2.4-liter engine. This is a four-cylinder in-line unit with a 16-valve head and a multipoint fuel injection system. This unit develops a capacity of 140 horsepower. The torque is 220 Nm, which is realized at 2.4 thousand revolutions. The motor is paired with a manual or automatic transmission (both five steps). Acceleration to hundreds takes 11.9 seconds on the mechanics. In the case of the machine, the first hundred crossover dials a second later. The maximum speed is from 168 to 175 kilometers per hour (again, depending on the installed transmission). As for fuel consumption, the car spends from ten to twelve liters per hundred kilometers in a mixed way.
Top in the line is a V-shaped six-cylinder unit with a 24-valve timing mechanism and a distributed injection system. This engine with a volume of 3.2 liters develops a power of 227 horsepower. Torque at three thousand revolutions is almost 300 Nm. With this engine, the German crossover has a slightly better speaker. So, up to a hundred, the car accelerates in 8.8 seconds. The maximum speed is limited to 203 kilometers per hour. This engine works in tandem with a non-alternative automatic transmission in five gears. The combined fuel consumption is 11.6 liters. But as practice shows, this parameter is always higher than the passport norm. In real life, the car consumes at least 15 liters per hundred. On the highway, this figure is reduced to 11 with a passport of nine.
Owner reviews do not recommend purchasing a 3.2-liter engine due to the vulnerable timing mechanism. It is driven by a chain that wears out very quickly. Experts say that the reason for this is poor-quality hydraulic tensioners.
According to reviews, Opel Antara has the most economical consumption only with a diesel engine. However, this motor was not officially imported into Russia. If we talk about the characteristics of the diesel Opel Antara, reviews note good power (170 forces at 2.2 liters) and torque (350 Nm). Consumption - 10 liters in the city and 8.7 - on the highway.
Chassis
The German crossover is built on the Zeta front-wheel drive platform, in which the body itself plays the role of the power part, and the engine with the box is transversely. Front is an independent MacPherson strut. Rear - multi-link suspension, understaffed with anti-roll bar. Steering - rail with hydraulic booster. Reviews say that the rack and pinion mechanism is rather weak. On our roads, it crashes after 60 thousand kilometers. As a result, increased backlash and extraneous knocks with recoil into the steering wheel when passing bumps. The problem is solved by repairing the rail. This is a replacement for the shaft bearing and bushings. Changing the whole mechanism to a new one is not worth it. Firstly, it is expensive (about five times more expensive compared to repairs), and secondly, a rake from disassembly will not last as long as it was rebuilt on its own.
Another problem concerns the amplifier itself. In winter, the temperature of the GUR fluid is low, due to which its viscosity changes. If you start driving on an unheated car, increased pressure is generated in the system and the system hose may break. In its place you need to install more durable. Driving with cold oil is not displayed at all on the rail and pump itself, reviews say.
Opel Antara: Drive
In most trim levels, the car has a 4x2 wheel arrangement. However, in the luxury versions it is possible to use an intelligent all-wheel drive system. So, when the front wheels slip, the rear wheels are included in the work. Torque is transmitted through an electromagnetic clutch. Traction distribution is possible up to fifty percent on one axis.
The brakes
Disc brakes on each wheel. However, there is a difference between them. So, ventilated “pancakes” with a diameter of 303 millimeters are installed in front, and 296 millimeters non-ventilated mechanisms in the back. Additionally, the car is equipped with an ABS system, directional stability and brake force distribution. Reviews say that very often on an Opel Antara car (diesel), the anti-lock sensor is contaminated. Because of this, the contact disappears and the corresponding error lights up on the instrument panel.
Conclusion
So, we found out what features the Opel Antara has and technical specifications. The car is quite comfortable, but not without pitfalls. Many are frightened by the high fuel consumption and problems with the 3.2-liter engine. Therefore, if you purchase such a crossover, then only with a 2.4-liter engine or even a diesel engine (but these are already versions brought from Europe).