It’s a dilemma faced by thousands of car buyers they want the style and practicality of a 4x4, but feel unable to justify the compromised dynamics, economy and performance of a big off-roader. Now Vauxhall can offer a car which fulfils all their needs the stylish Antara, both inside and out are matched by a quality feel which will mean that owners of larger 4x4s will be able to downsize to an Antara without feeling short changed. The Antara is a five-seat compact 4x4 it's comfortable, easy to drive around town, cruises’ well on motorways and is generously well equipped.There are two engines available - a 2.4 litre 140PS petrol engine and a 2.0-litre 150PS CDTi diesel, Vauxhall expects the turbo-diesel to be the top seller, taking more than 90 percent of sales. With 150bhp, the 2.0-litre CDTi has a useful amount of power; it gets from 0-60mph in 11.1 seconds and onto a top speed of 111mph. There's a choice of a five-speed manual and automatic gearboxes on the diesel. Antara has an 'on demand' four-wheel drive system, which means that there's no need to worry about low ratios and engaging a separate gearbox when the going gets rough - Antara does all the thinking and provides power to the wheels that aren't slipping. There's even a hill descent control system that aids the driver when going downhill off-road.
The driver’s environment is very businesslike with chunky, no-nonsense, steering-wheel with chrome highlights, in front of easily-read instruments. The gunmetal-effect, centre console is topped by a small, recessed information screen but is dominated by three, large central, air vents, there’s plenty of space for five adults to enjoy their journey in comfortable seats. There’s plenty of storage, too, in the various nooks and crannies, under the front passenger seat and the useful bins in the cargo area. With all of the seats in place there are 370-litres of luggage space, if you take advantage of the 60:40 split and fold the seats, this increases to 865-litres. A neat option is a pull-out bike rack from the rear bumper, which means that there's no need to fit a cumbersome aftermarket bike rack to the rear. Vauxhall’s re-entry into the 4x4, SUV market is bound to be a crowd-pleaser and not just with those loyal to the company. Even with so many newcomers to the segment, the Antara might just have the edge in looks alone, but then, it depends on your needs and wish-list.
