There it is, the new Astra Sports Tourer, the Golf’s permanent rival. What were those times with the fight between Opel and VW in the compact class, which mostly the Wolfsburg team won? A test report by FOCUS online explains what the new Opel challenger can do.
Sometimes it’s the little things that surprise. In the Opel Astra station wagon, for example, the indicator, which emits a monotonous but sustained and deep “Plock”. At first it’s annoying, after a few days you get used to it and the deep tone is even quite pleasant. But please make sure that your passengers don’t unbuckle their seat belts prematurely, as happened with us. You actually only need this siren-like attention when an emergency is simulated. Perhaps Opel should advise the government here once, when you think back to the last warning day.
He stands there completely in the grey, but in appearance he is neither joyless nor colorless. The diesel – yes, you read that correctly, there are still new cars with diesel engines – should be content with a standard consumption of just 4.9 liters. In test mode it was 5.3 liters, but that’s still a good value. The 1.5 liter four-cylinder with 130 hp has a torque of 300 Nm from 1,750 rpm. That’s enough for home use, as is the top speed of 208 km/h, which the front-wheel drive creates. By the way, a speed of 170 km/h is reached quickly, after that it gets a bit tough. To do justice to the statistics: the Astra goes from 0 to 100 in eleven seconds.
The Sports Tourer is available from 26,100 euros, the test car starts at 34,450 euros as the “Astra Sports Tourer Business Elegance”. But then standard amenities such as heated AGR comfort seats or the eight-speed automatic converter on board. If you choose another basic version and treat yourself to an automatic as an extra, you have to pay 2400 euros for it. But worth it.
To add a few numbers: The Astra is 4.64 meters long and offers an impressive trunk volume of almost 600 liters. If you fold down the backrests of the rear seat (this is very easy with the switch in the trunk), you will find a capacity of up to 1634 liters. That’s something to be proud of. The loading sill is really nice and deep with a height of only 62 centimeters, so loading is more fun.
Although the wheelbase is 5.7 centimeters longer than that of the hatchback, row two is a little more cramped. Knee room remains unchanged from the sedan, but the longer doors make rearward entry easier.
The cockpit with a comfortable leather steering wheel is attractive and understandable. The infotainment, on the other hand, requires a little more attention to penetrate. This is less due to the buttons for volume control (great with a rotary knob…) or for seat, steering wheel heating and air conditioning, but rather to the TomTom navigation system, which you can use, but in 2022/23 the way to your destination is more likely to be via the Pairing with an Android or Apple smartphone.
The seats for the driver and front passenger deserve special praise, which should be mentioned again. Multiple adjustable, ergonomic, really good. They rightly deserve the AGR (Healthy Back Campaign) seal of approval. Otherwise, the striking front with the new brand face Vizor catches the eye.
The Astra does not look playful, rather grown up. For those who don’t want an SUV, but still need enough space for children and cones, the Sports Tourer is a sensible alternative with optical rough edges. And also to buy as a diesel – who knows how long that will be possible.
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