Being a hatchback is not an easy task. Within its limitations of size and power, it’s got to juggle multiple tasks of being a daily driver, people mover and a playmate. And it needs to look good as well. To fulfil all these obligations, it must meet some basic criteria. First, it should have four doors and should have room for at least four adults.
Second, it should be easy to zip in an out of city traffic, and above all, should offer some sort of fun behind its wheels. So when Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta hatch made its UAE debut promising all of these things, we promptly got two of its newest European rivals, the Peugeot 308 and the Opel Astra and threw them into the ring for the ultimate dust-up.
Amit's Alfa
I consider the Alfa Romeo Brera as one of the all-time great looking cars; I involuntarily genuflect every time one drives past. But having driven one myself, I can tell you with utter conviction that I’d never buy one. Largely because it’s dreadful — slow, heavy and nowhere as exhilarating as the gorgeous Pininfarina-designed body would have you imagine. For Porsche Boxster money you expect a lot more.
The cheaper Giulietta, by contrast, is actually rather good to drive — there is a litheness in the way it goes about its business. The 1.4 MultiAir engine revs keenly and mated with our tester’s six-speed TCT double-clutch gearbox deploys its 170 horsepower — substantially more than a similarly-engined Mk7 Golf — to the front wheels to blitz the 100kph mark in 7.7 seconds. Tinker with the DNA switch which alters the dampers, differentials and throttle map — and also brings up a nifty g-meter on the sat-nav screen — and things are kicked up a notch.
In Dynamic mode the steering becomes nicely weighted and there is a crispness in the way it changes direction. As a car you’d enjoy driving, it is the best amongst those gathered here. The Pug is decidedly much improved over its lardy predecessor, but it’s still a tad obstinate when it comes to following the driver’s instructions. The Opel, meanwhile, is dynamically out of its depth in this company.
To my eyes the Giulietta is also the most distinctive looking. The triangular grille, punctuated by 8C style headlamps, gives it a striking face. Something that’s not a common in this class of car, where strident design flourishes are avoided to appeal to a broader range of people. Stylistically the cabin trumps the Opel’s, and is almost on a par with the Peugeot’s when it comes to quality of materials and overall look. So far so good.
But in true Alfa tradition, there are a few problems. Some seriously annoying ones. The handbrake lever, for instance, sits underneath the armrest, which has to be folded every time you have to release or engage the parking brake. Rear accommodation is pitiful for a family hatch, and even with the driver’s seat quite far forward you can just about muscle in a small child seat in the back. And yes, the boot’s tiny, too.
Factor in the Dh116,000 starting price of our Exclusive tester and the Giulietta is a clunker as a practical proposition. That said, if you can live with its quirks then it is undoubtedly the most endearing car here. It’s heart over head kind of decision. Which is unfortunate because it lives in a segment where the latter rules. That’s why there aren’t, and perhaps never will be, as many Giuliettas as Golfs, Focuses or 308s on our roads. And that’s a shame.
Imran's Peugeot
Yum; French cuisine. This is a subject that I know absolutely nothing about. My knowledge begins and ends with the very basic of dishes; garlic bread. But I have since found myself another very tasty little French treat; the 308.
Refreshed and ready for 2013, it boasts a 1.6-litre turbo four-pot and it is the motor which is its main strength. Sure, it has a nice exterior too (though it isn’t perhaps quite in the Alfa’s league) and a very comfortable and roomy interior but, it’s the engine, jointly developed by BMW, which makes the 308 a rousing success.
Producing a healthy 156bhp and 240Nm of torque, it scurries to a top speed of 213kph. The Turbo High Pressure (THP) motor, a 16-valve unit with direct injection, was voted ‘international engine of the year 2007’ in the 1.4 to 1.8-litre category, and it is clear to see why. It offers power and torque at low RPMs which makes the 308 a blast to drive.
With variable valve timing ensuring power is delivered when you need it and mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic swapping the cogs, this car proves to be lots of fun whether you’re out on an open black top or whizzing in and around traffic, and it’s all thanks to the engine. Subtle changes have been made to the 308’s elegant yet dynamic exterior (which measures 4,276mm long) including a revised grille and new 18in Lincancabur alloys, but the cabin has received far more attention.
I love the black gloss finishes to the dash not to mention the use of high-grade materials throughout. The leather seats are nicely padded and prove to be very comfortable on long journeys while back seat passengers will have little to complain about as leg and head room is ample. The 348-litre boot affords more than enough space for groceries but the best feature by far in the well-appointed cabin (it also has a navigation system, CD, MP3 player, auto AC and electric seats with driver memory and six airbags) is the fabulous panoramic Cielo glass roof.
Coupled with a large windshield, the 90 per cent tinted top makes stepping into the 308 an enlightening experience to say the least. See, I told you this one was tasty. And it gets even better when you’re rolling along thanks to the suspension designed to soak up all the little bumps and road imperfections and a nicely weighted steering that offers good feedback.
It changes direction like a busy bee however, since it sits at 1,498mm high, a rather tall centre of gravity, I wouldn’t suggest you ‘rock the boat’ too hard. The facelift and revised interior have gone a long way in making the 308 a properly decent hatchback, but the star of the show is, without a doubt, that peppy 1.6-litre turbo four-banger. Right, I’m off to get me some French fries. See, I’m learning…
Sony's Opel
A German brand owned by an American corporate trying to ward off stiff competition from big European brands as well as upstart Korean firms has to have its hands full. But Opel seems to be determined to remain ahead of the game with a product offensive featuring new and refreshed models capable of engaging a wide range of rivals.
A lot of emphasis is placed on the company’s new design direction, which follows the motto, “sculptural artistry meets German precision”. Of course the new Astra five-door is a far cry from its listless old predecessors, with its exterior design, especially the lower grille and the front fascia drawing heavily from the Astra GTC. However, in the company of the gorgeous Alfa Giulietta and the Peugeot 308, the Astra five-door looks pedestrian, and is no more exciting to look at than a Hyundai i30.
The drive feels more American than German, although not as American as the Ford Focus. But that’s not to say the Astra’s handling is sloppy. It might lack the outright agility of some of its rivals, but the Astra hatchback is a stable, sure-footed car, especially in Sport mode, in which the steering weighs up pretty nicely, the throttle response sharpens and the handling feels more fine tuned thanks to the Flexride adjustable dampers.
Flick it to Tour mode, and the ride becomes more supple and comfy but the price will be paid in the form of mushier handling and limper steering response. The 1.6-litre Ecotec engine ekes out 115bhp, which pales in comparison to the other two in this shootout, but to be fair, seems good enough to haul the Astra around without much fuss.
The cabin design follows the larger Insignia’s lead, with the dash sweeping around into the front doors. Now comes the best bit about the Astra, its practicality, where the Alfa falls short. Seats are comfortable and generously sized, with lots of adjustment for height, angle and legroom. With the steering wheel adjustable for rake and reach, finding a good driving position is easy, and all round vision is good, despite the relatively small rear window.
Rear passengers also have plenty of leg, shoulder and head room, and three adults can indeed withstand a journey of a couple of hours without getting fatigued. The cockpit is well laid out but it would have been better if the number of buttons were kept under check.
There’s no compromise when it comes to comfort and safety features such as dual zone AC, cruise control, Dual front, front side and curtain airbags, ABS with ESP, front and rear park assist. It’s also a really family friendly hatch with Isofix child seat anchors and a large boot that can take in prams of any shape and size with ease.
Verdict
Hatchbacks have it pretty tough. A lot is thrust onto their tiny shoulders; they need to be practical, fun to drive and above all, offer value for money. Our three test cars are very good at very different things, for instance, the Alfa wins the looks competition and is the best to drive. For those who base their buying decisions on that alone, well, they’ll have no complaints with the Giulietta. We do, however, have a complaint about its price; Dh116,000, as well as its impracticality.
The Dh84,000 Astra is decent enough but it doesn’t quite match up to the competition. It’s not the prettiest nor the quickest but for those looking for a practical town car and are on a strict budget, it would prove a worthwhile companion. The 308, however, manages to strike the perfect balance between style, practicality and performance and for Dh95,000, you get plenty of your money. It’s the one we’d want and emerges victorious in this little scrap.
