With 15 million predecessor model units sold and building on 40 years of rich success, the much-anticipated sixth-generation all-new Opel Astra has now gone on sale here.
It is more dynamic looking, with sheer, taut surfaces and sporting the new Opel ‘Vizor’ brand front face and latest-generation ‘Pure Panel’ cockpit. It was also designed, developed and is also manufactured by Opel in Germany.
The starting retail price in Ireland is from €27,995, plus delivery related charges, for the SC 1.2 petrol 110hp version, the new Astra is available to test drive and order at Opel dealerships nationwide this month.
The new Astra is slightly longer than the previous model, with the wheelbase has also been increased. Opel tells us that the new Astra’s practical boot with adjustable floor offers the driver and four passengers up to 1,339 litres of luggage volume with the rear seats folded down.
The new Astra is the first Opel to be built on the third generation of Stellantis’ highly flexible EMP2 multi-energy platform. With Opel DNA built in from the very start of development, the new Opel Astra has been designed to be “Autobahnproof”; handling is composed, with excellent body control and steering response, even at high speed.
Opel also says that the torsional rigidity of the new Astra is 14% higher than that of the previous model. And under braking, the German engineers say that the new model delivers strong stopping power and remains highly stable in curves as well as in a straight line.
Available from launch in three trims - SC, SRI, and Elite, and in both petrol and diesel guise, and while matched to manual or automatic transmissions, power ranges from 110hp to 130hp. A plugin electric hybrid 180hp variant will follow in the coming months, with a more powerful 225hp version expected thereafter.
Opel points to a leap in time that it says has taken place in the interior of the new generation Astra, where the absolute highlight is the next generation of the ‘Pure Panel’ first introduced in the Mokka.
This expansive, digital cockpit features two 10-inch seamlessly integrated horizontal displays, standard across the three trims. Key settings such as climate control can still be operated via physical controls in the form of finely crafted keys, achieving it says, the optimum balance between digitisation and intuitive operation.
There is no need for cables either since the new generation of infotainment systems can be connected as standard on all model variants to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, operated by voice control or by touch.
Standard equipment on the SC trim, retailing from €27,995 plus delivery, includes 10” colour touchscreen, 10” colour driver information cluster, wireless smartphone connection, cruise control with speed limiter, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention alert, intelligent speed adaptation, hill start assist and electric parking brake, keyless start, leather steering wheel, electronic single zone climate control, comfort front seats, 6-way driver seat adjustment, cloth seat trim, DAB radio, Opel Connect (with SOS and Breakdown Assist ), type C USB connectivity, 16” alloy wheels, LED daytime running lamps, LED rear tail lamp, auto wipers and lights, electro-chrome rear view mirror and front and rear parking sensors.
The all-new Opel Astra 5-door hatchback in both petrol and diesel guise is now available at local Opel Dealers nationwide. A slick Sports Tourer version will join the hatchback in Ireland in 2023.
