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With the Astra, Opel is renewing its most important model. For the first time, the Rüsselsheim compact class will be based on a PSA platform. But despite plenty of new technology, the Astra remains an Opel.
For Opel it goes further uphill. In 2021, the traditional company – Opel is celebrating its 160th birthday this year – was able to increase its market share in Germany from 5 to 6,2 percent with new models, some of which were electrically powered. Now the next coup follows, because with the sixth edition of the Astra starting in the spring, the lightning brand should keep its regular clientele at the bar and probably also win new fans.
Two different faces
The fact that the new Astra shares the technical base with models from Peugeot and Citroen is well concealed by the smart bodywork. After the Mokka and the facelifted Grandland, it is the third Opel model with the new Vizor front, which is a reference to the brand's heritage and at the same time a stylish contemporary touch. Depending on the equipment, the new face is sometimes more objective, sometimes sportier. In principle, every model offers distinctive LED lights all around, which emphasize the play with vertical and horizontal lines in the bodywork, which also gives the 4,37 meter long five-door a certain Opel something. The clear fold in the middle of the bonnet, which the driver perceives as sublime with a view of the road, is also conscious of tradition.
Inside, too, the Astra offers classic values in a strikingly modern interior. Contact surfaces such as the steering wheel or the shift knob on the manual transmission version have been given their special Opel touch. The AGR seats, which are particularly comfortable on longer journeys, are also optionally back on board. The most important innovation are the two large displays, which – together framed by a curved black panel – span the entire width of the cockpit. Both digital displays are 10 inches in size, in every model variant. From summer there will be an optional chic glass cover for the screens for a surcharge. Again part of the basic equipment are the connectivity solutions Apple Carplay and Android Auto, DAB radio and a telephone control function with hands-free facility. The arsenal of assistance systems is also up to date.
space for everyone
Many functions in the cockpit can be operated using buttons on the steering wheel and the touchscreen, while the center console also has practical direct keys for a number of important features. The cockpit styling relies on a varied and largely high-quality mix of materials with many soft surfaces. As you would expect from an Astra, the space in both rows is good, and the trunk with a height-adjustable intermediate floor swallows 422 liters. If the rear seat backrest, which can be folded down in two parts, is folded forward, the volume is 1.339 litres. Because of the large traction battery, the luggage compartment of the plug-in hybrid version is somewhat more compact at 352 to 1.268 liters. If that's not enough, you should wait for the Sports Tourer estate version, which will be launched in summer with up to 1.600 liters of storage space.
The plug-in hybrid is the important novelty in the drives, otherwise there is a manageable range of classic combustion engines to choose from. In addition to a 1,2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with 81 kW/110 hp or 96 kW/130 hp, there is an alternative 1,5-litre four-cylinder diesel also with 96 kW/130 hp. The more powerful petrol engine and the diesel can be combined with a manual six-speed gearbox or an eight-speed automatic. The diesel is still recommended for frequent drivers, especially in combination with the automatic.
At the push of a button you can choose between a restrained Eco mode, a normal or the jagged Sport mode. When crawling on country roads in Eco mode, we managed with a good four liters, with forced gait it was 5,7 liters. The bindingly tight but not uncomfortable chassis encourages you to take bends a little faster. On narrow and winding streets in the hilly hinterland of Lisbon there is definitely a good mood, but for really sporty driving pleasure it would need even more boom and a more balanced switching logic of the automatic, which is why you occasionally intervene here using the gear selector buttons behind the steering wheel.
Quiet inside
You are even faster with the powerful three-cylinder petrol engine in combination with the manual transmission. Not only is it a touch livelier, it also leaves a more cultivated impression. In the cabin, which is well insulated against wind noise, the three-cylinder sound can be heard discreetly. Our test round in the area around Lisbon acknowledged the gasoline engine with 6,2 liters of consumption.
The electric motor reaches over 100 km/h
The 133 kW/180 hp plug-in hybrid is even more sophisticated, more powerful and, with high charging discipline, even significantly more economical in terms of fuel consumption. It combines a petrol engine and an electric motor that draws its power from a 12,4 kWh battery, which is enough for an electric range of 60 kilometers. Purely electrically, the Astra can reach speeds of up to 135 km/h and with the petrol engine even up to 225 km/h. However, this also has its price at 36.710 euros, minus the environmental bonus it is still around 29.500 euros. If you want even more power or electric range, you should wait for a PHEV variant with 165 kW/225 hp that will follow soon or the pure E-Astra planned for 2023. The latter will also be available in the station wagon version.
The entry-level model of the new Astra is the 110 hp petrol engine in combination with a nameless basic equipment for 22.465 euros. The more powerful petrol engine, which is offered from the next higher equipment level Edition, costs a good 2.200 euros more. The petrol engine with automatic starts from the Elegance level at prices from 30.350 euros. This can still be combined with the higher quality equipment GS Line and Ultimate. The diesel starts at 28.660 euros, 33.450 euros with an automatic. With these prices, the Astra keeps a clear distance from its arch-rival VW Golf, as it used to. It currently starts at 28.500 euros with a 130 hp petrol engine, which is around 3.000 euros more than a comparable Astra.
Technical data
Five-door, five-seater compact, length: 4,37 meters, width: 1,86 meters (with exterior mirror: 2,06 meters), height: 1,44 - 47 meters, wheelbase: 2,68 meters, trunk volume: 422 to 1.339 liters (plug-in hybrid 352 to 1.268 liters)
1.2 Turbo: 1,2 liter three-cylinder turbo, 81 kW/110 hp, maximum torque: 202 Nm at 1.750 rpm, six-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h: 10,5 s, Vmax: 199 km/h, average consumption: 5,4-5,5 l, CO2 emissions: 123-26 g/km (WLTP), emission standard: Euro 6d
Price: from € 22.465
1.2 Turbo: 1,2 liter three-cylinder turbo, 96 kW/130 hp, maximum torque: 230 Nm at 1.750 rpm, six-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h: 9,7 s, Vmax: 210 km/h, average consumption: 5,4-5,7 l, CO2 emissions: 123-29 g/km (WLTP), emission standard: Euro 6d
Price: from € 25.560
1.5 diesel: 1,5 liter four-cylinder, 96 kW/130 hp, maximum torque: 300 Nm at 3.750 rpm, six-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h: 10,6 s, Vmax: 209 km /h, average consumption: 4,3-4,5 l, CO2 emissions: 113-19 g/km (WLTP), emission standard: Euro 6d
Price: from € 28.660
Plug-in hybrid: 1,6-liter four-cylinder petrol with turbocharger plus electric motor at the front, system output 133 kW/180 hp, maximum torque: 360 Nm at 1.750 rpm, 8-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h: 7,6 s, Vmax: 225 km/h (135 km/h electric), average consumption: 1,0-1,1 l and 14,2-15,1 kWh/100 km, CO2 emissions: 22-26 g/km (WLTP), emission standard: Euro 6d
Price: from 36.710 euros
In brief
Why: interesting alternative to golf
Why not: because the E variant first comes later
What else: VW Golf, Kia Ceed, Mercedes A Class,
When does he come: Orders started in October and it will go on sale in the spring