We tried the new Opel Astra: striking design for a very digital compact that even gives you massages

The  Opel Astra is  already writing  its sixth generation  and, having known its ingredients last year, we have already driven it in a  first contact test  tasting three of its four mechanicals.

It follows the same strategy as  the Peugeot 308 , its first cousin and with which it shares a platform (the EMP2). Its mechanical range is therefore divided into petrol and diesel thermal options   , up to 130 C, and  rechargeable hybrids with the ZERO label  .

 

It has just arrived in France after the opening of orders in October. At the moment it only offers the 180hp PHEV option, but in November 2022 it will add the most powerful 225hp option already offered by the 308. And although in this launch it will only be available 'in five-door variant,  the family will soon be added Sports Tourer .

In addition, it will also have an  all-electric option  , which should arrive next year and will be equipped with the classic Stellantis mechanics of 136 hp (the same as that equipped  by the Opel Corsa-e  or the  Peugeot e-208  and e-208).-2008).

Designed, developed and produced in Germany (at the Rüsselsheim plant where the brand is based), but taking advantage of the synergies of Stellantis, Opel continues to bet on the compact segment, which is still surviving the SUV challenge in Europe.

An attractive Astra with one of the largest trunks in its segment

We had already seen it in photos, but the truth is that the  new Opel Astra  does not lose an iota of personality and attractiveness in person. Opel has done a good job in terms of design with this Astra, very pleasant to look at like on the Peugeot 308.

The front is the most striking, dominating the  Opel Vizor grille   , the company's new trademark, and with a bonnet reminiscent of the  revival and retro Opel Manta . The rib that divides the hood suits you very well, as well as the sharp optics front and rear. 

For its part, the rear is configured by a concise rear window crowned by a wide roof spoiler, in combination with the rear bumpers that add muscle.

Very faithful in its dimensions to the compact segment, the  Opel Astra is slightly longer than its predecessor (+5.1 cm)  , but a little lower (-1.5 cm). Thus, it offers a slightly sportier image but with little reduction in habitability. The battle is almost traced, since it grows barely 1.3 mm.

The  rear rows are wide enough  , even for tall people, who won't hit the front seatbacks if they're not pushed all the way back. As usual in compacts, two rear occupants will travel comfortably, but not the third.

Headroom is also ample, thanks to the roofline dropping from the C-pillar. Plus, the rear seats are comfortable enough without the backrest being too stiff.

As for  the 422-litre boot   ,  it is  one of the most generous in its category  , being superior to that of the  SEAT León  or the  Volkswagen Golf  (380 litres), to that of the  Ford Focus  (375 litres), to that of the  Renault Mégane  (384 litres, ), the  Toyota Corolla  (361 litres), the  Hyundai i30  (395 litres) or even the  Peugeot 308  (412 litres). It is exceeded only by that of the  Skoda Scala  : 467 liters.

Of course, in the plug-in hybrid variant   , it loses capacity, as usual, dropping to 352 liters, which is  70 liters less  , due to the location of the battery. Indeed, what it does is lose the double bottom compared to thermals, being about 10cm shallower.

In any case, the width is the same for all versions, which is combined with a wide mouth more than one meter wide. And the height is perfect to wear it.

The  Opel Astra 2022  offers up to 30 liters of storage inside, thanks to the large pockets in the doors or the trunk in the central tunnel under the armrest, which is remarkably deep and compensates for being quite square.

it also has a spacious compartment to leave mobile terminals under the console (which depending on the variant has wireless charging) and adds two central coasters which are hidden by a blind.

In short, we are talking about a compact that, like those in its category, has good versatility in functionality for urban trips and long trips.

Although the Sports Tourer wagon body, which will arrive later, will be a better option in this regard in terms of load capacity.

Driving the new Opel Astra

The driving position of the new  Opel Astra slice  is very comfortable thanks to the  AGR seats  , which are standard in all versions from its second finish. They accommodate the lumbar area and in general the whole back very well, being  as ergonomic as they promise  on paper and aiming to be good companions on long journeys.

The gear lever disappears, replaced by a simple selector which, despite its small size, is comfortable to use. The button with which we change the driving mode is not so much, which is a bit uncomfortable due to posture and operation.

Opel boasts of  not giving up physical controls  for the most common functions, for example the air conditioning, which is managed entirely from the buttons below the multimedia screen. Which is nice, since you don't have to navigate menus from the media screen.

In this panel we also find the controls that activate the ventilation and seat heating, when the Astra equips these functions in the most complete AGR, or the heated steering wheel. Despite all those physical buttons, again, they're somewhat difficult to activate.

It should be noted that rear visibility from the rearview mirror is somewhat reduced due to the small rear window. In this aspect, Opel has given priority to design.

In this  first test  we  briefly tasted three mechanics of the Opel Astra  : the 110 hp petrol access with manual gearbox, the plug-in hybrid whose mechanics add up to 180 hp and the 130 hp diesel with the automatic gearbox. eight reports.

The 110bhp PureTech petrol  is pretty fair, though that's enough for this car. In general, it responds well and more with the manual transmission, allowing us to manage it to get more thrust when needed. Also, the clutch doesn't have an excessively short throw, which I personally appreciate.

And it is on the contrary,  diesel, with  automatic transmission, despite higher power and torque, takes some time to respond due to low revs. At least with Normal mode selected. You can neutralize this by operating the paddles, downshifting, or selecting Sport mode which increases the speed.

But undoubtedly the one that suits you best is the  plug- in hybrid mechanics  , where the  180 hp  are noticeable. Thus, it responds better in acceleration or more committed actions, such as overtaking on conventional roads.

Its driving modes are  Hybrid  (which automatically combines electric and gasoline),  Electric  (only zero emissions works) and  Sport  (giving priority to thermal). All are activated from the indicated selector, allowing them to be combined according to the situation or the moment.

Either way  , the Opel Astra is a comfortable car on  the road, with a well-insulated cabin in which the roar of the three-cylinder engine is barely heard when it needs to be.

The suspensions aren't too soft or too stiff and don't suffer from excessive wobble over bumps or potholes. It behaves well both on the highway and around town (with smooth but fairly precise steering), but also on more demanding tracks.

The feeling it gave us is that of an essentially rational car, although perhaps the 225hp hybrid, which will arrive later in the range, will bring some additional passion to this Astra.

The most technologically advanced Astra, with seats that massage your back while on the move

In this new generation, the  Opel Astra  has made a good technological leap compared to the previous one as is the current fashion. Unsurprisingly, six years have passed since the previous episode.

And in this new Astra we find a more than remarkable range of systems at the service of connectivity, comfort and active safety.

digital inside. When we sit down at the controls, the first thing that greets us is the  Pure Panel  , made up of two separate screens  : the instrumentation screen and the multimedia screen, both 10-inches.

This digital panel is not as striking as the Pure Panel Pro (in the photo) highlights, which will be added to the equipment later, where a single surface unites the two screens in the same frame.

In short, the basic Pure Panel is not as striking as the Peugeot i-Cockpit, for example, but it is equipped with one of the compact variants, so we  still have two 10-inch screens  .

In addition, the touchscreen multimedia screen is slightly oriented towards the driving position, being more within reach for viewing and handling.

The infotainment system mimics a smartphone, with shortcuts to its various functions, and is quite intuitive. However, the  integrated navigator is somewhat succinct in terms of information  , and it lacks that it paints indications such as the lanes or the exit that we must take.

Massage on board. One of the aspects that caused us a lot of curiosity is the  AGR seat massage function  , which is still optional and costs an extra 1,247 euros.

To activate this function you must go to the multimedia screen and navigate through different menus, a task that the copilot will do better if we are on the move. The sensation is as if a  fist were applied to different points on the back  . And it offers different modes, for the low part, the high part or the totality, with different routes.

It does this smoothly, which avoids losing concentration while driving while helping to relieve the back if you have been sitting for a long time or in an endless traffic jam.

Smart assistant. Although the Opel Astra does not completely abandon physical controls, many of its functions are activated from the multimedia screen, so a good remedy is to choose to give instructions to the virtual assistant.

It is able to understand natural language commands, like the vast majority of current systems, by activating itself by saying "Hey, Opel". We tested it by giving it a few commands and the truth is that it requires more than perfect vocalization, which can be a bit cumbersome. Up to three times he replied "I don't understand you" despite loud and clear orders.

Head-up display. Another novelty of the new Opel Astra, you can equip this screen which projects onto the windshield, just in front of the steering wheel.

Of course we will have to adjust it from the display before we start depending on the size of the pilot. At which time we can also decide what information to display: speed, browser indications, etc.

Again, this third screen is optional, integrated into a pack that includes both the browser and the premium audio system with eight speakers and a subwoofer (1,247 euros).

Clean cabin air. The new Opel Astra has an advanced air conditioning system, which assesses the quality of the outside air.

Called Intelli-Air, it has air and particle filters, and automatically activates recirculation or not when it considers that the quality of the outside air is poor.

Help system. In this new generation, the Opel Astra is equipped with a good set of ADAS systems. Thus, there are technologies such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, frontal collision warning, active lane departure warning, speed limiter or blind spot detector.

The most advanced system is  Intelli-Drive  , which combines adaptive cruise control and the lane keeping system, in addition to adapting the speed not only to the vehicle in front of us but also to the layout of the road and the grip. of the road surface.

Among these, we taste the lane assistant, which gently brings you back to the lane as soon as you walk on the line which delimits it, as long as the indicator is not activated. There is nothing intrusive or abrupt.

Also the blind spot detector which, as often happens, errs on the side of caution. However, it is a good support considering the reduced visibility of the interior mirror.

Range of the new Opel Astra and prices

The  Opel Astra family  is made up of  four trim levels  , the base being the  Edition  , the intermediate being the  Elegance  and the most complete being the  GS-Line  (with sporty accents) and the  Ultimate  .

From the most basic finish, we find assistance systems such as the active lane keeping system, automatic emergency braking, traffic sign reader, cruise control (non-adaptive) or alert tired.

It also equips LED headlights, air conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, electric parking brake, electric windows in all rows or 16-inch wheels, among others.

The adaptive cruise control team at no extra cost from the  Elegance  , while only the  Ultimate  has the Intelli-Drive system as standard in the versions with automatic transmission.

This high-end option, which starts at 34,325 euros, also comes with two-tone bodywork, 18-inch rims, an opening sunroof,  electrically adjustable AGR seats  and up to 10 seats upholstered in Alcantara. (driver and passenger) or heated steering wheel.

But it also equips a lot of the most interesting technologies such as Intelli-Lux Pixel LED adaptive matrix headlights   or wireless charging for mobile phones.

In short, we liked the new Opel Astra a lot. And without having an excessively wide range, it offers multiple options to choose from according to our needs, whether by engines or by equipment.

Although it cannot be said to be cheap, it operates within a   similar price range as its rivals.

And it is that the price of the compact has increased, and not a little, in recent generations at the hands of the inevitable technology. If it brings them closer to the higher segments, it distances them from their traditional audience, which is generally made up of young buyers.

Essence

Diesel

PHEV 180