The Astra. It's a model name that carries its own weight; it doesn't need to be introduced after Opel or Vauxhall for it to ring a bell. And you've probably owned one at some point – I have.
The Astra is now fully electric for the first time in its long success story. It has a quoted range of up to 418km on a full charge, which is pretty accurate during real-world driving. There are three trim levels to pick from in Ireland - 'SC', 'Elegance', and 'GS'. I tested the latter, and it's – dare I say – Astra-nomically good. As it happens, Opel has reduced the price of its Astra Electric (as tested ) to €38,993, which I'm told represents a saving of €2,802 versus the equivalent diesel automatic (inclusive of grant ).
There is a high level of standard equipment across the Astra Electric range, with features such as a 10-inch colour touchscreen with wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, USB connectivity, a 10-inch digital driver instrument cluster, 18-inch alloy wheels, jet black Alcantara / leather-effect seat trim, and front and rear parking sensors all included.
The GS trim represents impressive value for money, and gains as standard dual zone automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control with stop start, keyless entry and start with passive start, electric folding mirrors, rear centre armrest with load-through facility, Opel’s Pure Panel Pro frameless digital interior, sports style front and rear bumpers, a black painted roof, black badging and vizor frame, Intelli-Lux LED Pixel head lamps, frameless electro-chrome rear view mirror and park assist with 360-degree rear view camera.
The Elegance trim and above gets you a heated steering wheel, driver sports AGR seat, heated front seats, driver’s armrest with storage, wireless charger, privacy tinted rear windows and park assist with 180-degree rear view camera.
The new Astra Electric is a very spacious car for its size, with both the driver and front and rear passengers well accommodated by Opel. The battery is located in the underbody, so no space for passengers or luggage is lost. Even with the rear seats up, the Astra Electric offers 352 litres of luggage space in the boot, and with the seats folded, capacity increases to up to 1,268 litres.
The attractive five-door hatch has an electric motor which delivers 115kW/156hp and 270Nm of maximum torque. This gives it a top speed of 170km/h, and a low kerb weight of 1,679kg.
There are three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport, while energy is stored in a compact 54kWh lithium-ion battery which is aided by a heat pump and a regenerative braking system. DC fast charging will get you an 70 per cent top-up in around half an hour. It's equipped as standard with a three-phase 11kW onboard charger for a wall box at home.
The Opel Astra Electric is more than a safe bet in today's market. I struggled to poke holes in it. The range may be a turn-off if you do a lot of driving, but the petrol and diesel versions are the same inside and out, meaning Opel now has an Astra for everyone. There's even a new estate version (more on that soon ).
