Vauxhall Antara SUV (2007-2015) - Engines, drive & performance
The engines in the Vauxhall Antara feel underpowered, while the diesels in particular are noisy
Compared with newer rivals such as the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4, the Vauxhall Antara is off the pace here, with handling that's far from the class best. The suspension is soft, meaning the car leans heavily in corners and bounces over all but the smoothest of surfaces. The steering is a little too light as well, making the car feel unresponsive.
To cap it all off, the diesel engine feels underpowered and is noisy and gruff, and the manual gearbox feels clumsy in operation.
Vauxhall Antara petrol engine
There was previously a petrol engine in the Antara line-up - 163bhp 2.4-litre. Given its poor fuel consumption of 32.1mpg it wasn’t a popular choice. Again, the Mazda CX-5 leads the way, with its 161bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine taking the car from 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds and returning 47.1mpg fuel economy into the bargain.
Diesel engines
Surprisingly, the 159bhp diesel engine does a better job of hauling the heavy Antara to 62mph from rest than the petrol engine that was previously available, completing the sprint in 9.9 seconds. However, the equivalent Mazda CX-5 (the 171bhp 4WD Sport) completes the same sprint in a much more impressive 8.8 seconds. Better still, it averages 54.3mpg economy compared to the Antara's 44.1mpg.
