The new Opel Astra 2022 makes a good impression at first check

The sixth generation of the Opel Astra comes with a fresh design, a modern cockpit and, for the first time, as a plug-in hybrid. All information and prices for five-door and station wagon – and the first driving report!

The Opel Astra drives into the sixth round! If you add the predecessor Kadett, it is already the eleventh (!) generation of the compact from Rüsselsheim. Speaking of Rüsselsheim: The Astra L was developed in Germany and produced at the main plant in Rüsselsheim. In order to survive against the long-term competitors VW Golf 8 and Ford Focus, Opel really got going with the new Astra and gave it a lot of technology. The new generation of the Astra is finally available with a plug-in hybrid drive!

Price and market launch: Astra L costs exactly the same as its predecessor

The new Opel Astra celebrated its market launch at the beginning of 2022. The price starts at 22,465 euros. The price of the compact model has remained stable compared to its predecessor and the base costs exactly the same. For the first time, the Astra is also available with a plug-in hybrid drive. Here the prices of the Rüsselsheimer start at 36,710 euros before deduction of the environmental bonus.

The Astra station wagon is called Sports Tourer at Opel and can also be ordered. Its market launch will be in summer 2022, prices start at 23,565 euros. And then there is the already confirmed electric version. It will roll to the dealer a year after the versions with combustion engines, i.e. at the beginning of 2023. The Astra-e will also initially have the five-door model, and the station wagon will then follow.

All prices at a glance:

Petrol:
● Opel Astra 1.2 Turbo 6-speed (110 hp): five-door from 22,465 euros / station wagon from 23,565 euros
● Opel Astra 1.2 Turbo 6-speed (130 hp): five-door from 25,560 euros / station wagon from 26,660 euros
● Opel Astra 1.2 Turbo automatic (130 hp): five-door from 30,350 euros / station wagon from 31,450 euros

Plug-in Hybrid:
● Opel Astra Hybrid automatic (180 hp): five-door from 36,710 euros / station wagon from 37,810 euros

Diesel:
● Opel Astra 1.5 diesel 6-speed (130 hp): five-door from 28,660 euros / station wagon from 29,760 euros
● Opel Astra 1.5 diesel automatic (130 hp): five-door from 33,450 euros / station wagon from 34,550 euros
There is still a business version with price advantages for commercial customers.

Astra Sports Tourer: station wagon with more space and a flexible loading floor

Almost two thirds of all Astras sold in Germany are station wagons, which is why the new generation is of course also available as a Sports Tourer. As usual, the design is identical up to the B-pillar, after which the station wagon form begins. The roof of the new model falls away slightly, which gives it a sportier appearance and ends in a larger spoiler. In the Sports Tourer, Opel has also integrated the vertical third brake light as a small eye-catcher. The narrow taillights of the five-door were adopted one-to-one.

The combustion engine increases significantly in the trunk

The most important thing in a station wagon is, of course, the trunk – and that increases significantly with the pure combustion engines. In the predecessor fit 540 to 1630 liters. With 597 or 1634 liters of luggage space with the rear seats folded down, the new Astra Sports Tourer is even more of a pack mule than before. And that with more compact dimensions, because the new generation on the Stellantis platform EMP2 has become shorter, contrary to the trend. A total of six centimeters were cut off, which is mainly due to the shortened front overhang.

Low loading sill and a square loading area with a lot of utility

But let’s get to the most important part of the Sports Tourer: the luggage compartment. open up The electrically whirring gives a clear view of a square loading area with a depth and width of 103 cm. Opel specifies the height of the trunk as 69 cm. If you fold down the 40/20/40 divisible rear seat backrest, objects up to 1.85 meters long can be stowed away. The rather low loading sill (60 cm) is at thigh height – good for a comfortable loading process without lifting.

In addition, all combustion engine Astra have a double loading floor, under which there is also a stowage option for the trunk blind. The longer wheelbase (plus seven centimetres) compared to the predecessor has a positive effect on the interior. And so even grown-ups find good space in the second row – with what feels like a little more air above the hairline compared to the five-door Astra.

Astra-e: Electric version also comes as a station wagon

In 2023, Opel also wants to offer the Astra as an electric car. Following the naming of the other models, the electric variant will probably be called the Astra-e. Now Opel boss Uwe Hochschurtz has announced at a press conference that the Sports Tourer will also be fully electric! The Rüsselsheim-based company should thus be able to bring one of the first electric station wagons onto the market.

But that was it with the official information. If you look at the other models of the brand sold with different drives, you can assume that the Astra-e will not look much different from its siblings with combustion engines. Our illustration shows it with a fully covered grille, slightly modified air intakes and aerodynamically optimized rims.

As far as the drive is concerned, it’s worth taking a look at the Peugeot e-308: According to the magazine “Autocar”, it has a 115 kW (156 hp) electric motor on the front axle. The maximum torque will therefore be up to 270 Nm. A 54 kWh battery allows a range of up to 400 kilometers. All values ​​that would also go well with the compact from Opel.

Interior: Opel does not rely entirely on touchscreens

We get in and are amazed. The cockpit with its two 10-inch displays looks sleek and modern. No fat plastic frames, everything is positioned harmoniously in the dashboard, slightly inclined towards the driver. Moment! Before you start criticizing too quickly – air conditioning and volume can be adjusted without distraction.

The Astra has buttons. Even the home button of the infotainment does not have to be touched frantically on the display, but has its own button under the monitor. The newly designed steering wheel, whose horn button cites the shape of the grill, is equipped with buttons that can be pressed firmly. Glove and glasses compartments are lined with a felt-like material. Feels valuable despite the plastic – unfortunately not a matter of course anymore.

Sitting position and ergonomics are good

For a surcharge, there are AGR seats for driver and front passenger in the Astra – with massage function, ventilation, heating and nappa leather. There is nothing wrong with the seating position and ergonomics when you try it for the first time. The front pews are mounted a little lower than before, the roof is a little flatter.

In the back it gets tight for the knees when the front seat is adjusted to a 1.95 meter person. If there is a person of average height in the front, the rear is also good for tall people. With a small restriction, however, because the seat in the rear is a bit too short for long thighs, hip and knee angles are therefore quite acute. However: Headroom and footroom are good, so that even editor Peter R. Fischer finds space in the back, almost in a form-fitting manner.

Engines: The selection is extensive as usual

The range of engines in the Astra, which is produced in Rüsselsheim together with the Citroën C4, is as extensive as usual and ranges from the petrol engine with 1.2 liters displacement (110 hp or 130 hp) and the 130 hp 1.5 liter diesel to two plug-ins Hybrids – both with a 12.4 kWh battery (approx. 60 km according to WLTP) and 180 hp or 225 hp system output. With the classic combustion engines, customers have the choice between a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic.

And the Astra should not only look sporty, but also drive like that. The torsional rigidity has been increased by 14 percent – special attention has been paid to driving stability and driving pleasure. Two points that we can already confirm after the first test drive in the prototype. In addition, there are rumors that Opel will be launching an Astra OPC again at a later date. The top model could also come as a plug-in hybrid with around 300 hp. It is quite official: From 2023 there will be a purely electric version of the Astra L. From the outside, it can probably hardly be distinguished from the combustion engine. Technical details or range information are not yet available.

Dimensions: Sports Tourer will be shorter than its predecessor

While the five-door is just as long as its predecessor, the new-generation Sports Tourer is six centimeters shorter. And despite seven centimeters more wheelbase, the reason is the shorter overhang at the front. The dimensions at a glance:

Opel Astra five-door:

● Length: 4.37 meters (same length as the predecessor)
● Width: 1.86 meters
● Height: 1.47 meters
● Wheelbase: 2.68 meters
● Trunk: 422-1339 liters with combustion engine; Plug-in hybrid 352-1268 liters
● Trailer load: max 1.55 tons
Opel Astra Sports Tourer:
● Length: 4.64 meters (–6 cm compared to the predecessor)
● Width: 1.86 meters
● Height: 1.48 meters
● Wheelbase: 2.73 meters
● Trunk: combustion engine 597-1634 liters; Plug-in hybrid 516-1553 liters

Equipment: high-tech features for the Astra

At the same time, luxury shouldn’t be neglected, and so Opel equips the Astra with many high-tech features on request. While digital instruments and smartphone connection via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are standard, other features such as a head-up display or the ultra-modern “Intelli-Lux” LED headlights should cost extra.

Opel also makes no compromises when it comes to safety: the camera in the windscreen is supplemented by four additional cameras and five radar sensors. This technology is also used by the speed assistant, which maintains the distance to the vehicle in front and, in models with automatic transmission, even drives off again independently (“Stop & Go” function). The proven active seats with AGR certificate are mounted twelve millimeters lower in the new Astra than in the predecessor.