With the new Astra, Opel impressively proves that down-to-earth automobiles come in designer clothes today. And with the station wagon that has now been submitted, it will also be practical.
While many car manufacturers are inventing stylish crossovers that are dedicated to purely electric drives and are replacing conventional segments with SUVs, the Opel Astra, which has been in production for over thirty years, remains a safe bet for lovers of the classic compact class. Not that Opel doesn't offer SUVs - but the Astra provides a bit of continuity in a rapidly changing car world. And for a colorful variety of drives. So there is Opel Astra Sports Tourer from 27.750 euros as a classic petrol engine, as a classic diesel from 32.150 euros and as a plug-in hybrid at 39.750 euros. The combined WLTP consumption of the petrol variants levels off at just under six liters, while the diesel consumes an average of just around four and a half liters per 100 kilometers.
thanks round twelve kWh battery capacity the plug-in averages well for 60 kilometers of purely electric driving and even manages 72 kilometers through city traffic. Potential prospects should carefully consider whether their personal use case fits the plug-in. However, depending on your taste, the performance also speaks for itself PHEV, because the petrol variants offer 81 kW/110 hp or 96 kW/130 hp (diesel also 130 hp), whereas the performance scale for the two-engine versions ranges from 133 kW/180 hp to 165 kW/225 hp.
The new Astra also received the recently refreshed Opel face with the distinctive "Vizor". Here, the black radiator grille forms a seamless unit together with the slightly tinted headlights, which in turn contain distinctive LED daytime running lights. The tail lights also shine in LED technology and have a high recognition value in their L-shaped form. Incidentally, the fact that designers have a penchant for black is immediately noticeable after getting into the station wagon. Where the ugly instrument cluster was emblazoned on earlier cars, the designers today stage their "curved display". At the latest when the start button is pressed, the black disc, which extends into the region of the center console, transforms into a colorful infotainment monster on which the driver and front passenger can call up all the information they need in the car. You have to get used to the menu navigation, but given today's function complexity, that's perfectly fine. After a few handles you at least have control over the most important functions such as driver assistance and navigation. Of course, there is also the option of using the surface of the smartphone you are carrying with you Apple CarPlay or bring Android Auto into the vehicle.
For the first contact with the Opel has a compact station wagon properly driven up and brought along almost all motorizations except for the electric variant that will follow next year. So it starts with the 130 hp petrol engine, which is available both as an automatic and as a switch. In line with the downsizing idea, it works as a supercharged three-cylinder version with a narrow displacement of 1,2 liters. It's not that the small engine is loud, but it reveals itself through its whirring, which is characteristic of the number of cylinders. Whether with a smooth eight-speed converter or a smooth-running six-speed box - that Power pack (230 Newton meters from a low 1.750 rpm) pulls the 1,4-ton truck sufficiently powerful.
The same applies to the also 130 hp diesel, for which the price list also includes automatic and manual transmissions. It is debatable whether diesel, which is equipped with complex exhaust gas cleaning systems today, still makes sense at all in view of the increasing use of electromobility - also in terms of operating costs. But long-distance users in particular will be happy. Because even in 2022, covering a thousand kilometers in one go will only work with a diesel engine.
In the course of this series of tests, on the other hand, the Plug-in hybrid. Of course, 130 hp is perfectly adequate and reasonable, but the 180 hp variant is the sweet tooth among the Astra Sports Tourers brought here.
The loadmasters are the other versions with an impressive 1.634 liters of luggage space (the hybrid "only" holds up to 1.553 liters), but the twin-engined vehicle marches ahead quickly, achieved after 7,7 seconds on country roads and does not lose much of its breath even far beyond that. It is also always interesting how the hybrids sort their drive components, especially since the combustion engine and the 81 kW/110 hp electric motor pull together with the eight-speed automatic on the front axle. But noteworthy traction interruptions luckily stay away.
Moments of happiness on this side of the drive bring lots of high-tech features, including fully adaptive LED headlights, which, however, depend on the equipment line and cannot be ordered as an extra. Of course there are also things like head-up display, wrap-around camera as well Traffic sign recognition. Not at all a matter of course in this class, on the other hand, is the lavish selection of different seat designs, which at the top even results in the fact that at least the passengers in the front can be kneaded - albeit connected with at least 1.310 euros extran. If you don't like the complex operating system, you can also communicate your wishes to the car via voice control. It's nice that it now not only processes defined commands, but also accepts free speech.
Anyone who is so free to place an order for the Astra could Loadmaster from autumn get delivered. Even with two-tone paintwork on request, which would then turn the compact into a designer piece.
Opel Astra Sports Tourer Specifications:
Combi of the compact class, length: 4,64 meters, width: 1,86 (2,06 with exterior mirrors) meters, height: 1,44 to 1,48 meters, wheelbase: 2,74 meters, cargo volume: 597 to 1.634 liters
Petrol engine: 1,2-liter three-cylinder petrol with direct injection and turbocharging, 96 kW/130 hp, maximum torque: 230 Nm at 1.750 rpm, eight-speed automatic (converter) or six-speed gearbox, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h: 9,9 s, Vmax: 210 km/h, average consumption: 5,6 to 5,9 .2 l, CO127 emissions: 131 to 6 g/km, emission standard: Euro 27.750d, prices: from 130 euros for the basic petrol engine (29.050 hp: from XNUMX euros)
Diesel: 1,2 liter four-cylinder diesel with direct injection and turbocharging, 96 kW/130 hp, maximum torque: 300 Nm at 1.750 rpm, eight-speed automatic (converter) or six-speed gearbox, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h: 10,8 s, Vmax: 209 km/h, average consumption: 4,4 bis 4,7 l, CO2 emissions: 116 to 124 g/km, emission standard: Euro 6d, prices: from 32.150 euros
Hybrid: 1,6 liter four-cylinder petrol, 110 kW/150 hp, maximum torque: 250 Nm at 1.750 rpm, electric motor at the front, 81 kW/110 hp, maximum torque: 320 Nm at 500 to 2.500 rpm, system output: 133 kW/180 hp, system torque: 360 Nm, eight-speed automatic , front-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h: 7,7 s, Vmax: 225 km/h, average consumption: 14,8 to 15,3 kWh with electric driving, CO2 emissions: 25 to 27 g/km, emission standard: Euro 6d, prices: from 39.750 euros (without funding)
Opel Astra Sports Tourer – brief characteristics:
Why: Because it is chic and can invite a lot
Why not: because other brands also have nice suits
What else: Fiat Tipo Kombi, Kia Ceed SW, Peugeot 308 SW, Skoda Octavia Kombi, Toyota Corolla Touring Sports, Volkswagen Golf Variant
When: Autumn 2022