We weren’t expected to be wowed by the new Astra Sedan, but it quickly showed itself to be a formidable new rival in the C-segment
Determined to shake its misfortunes after nearly being left orphaned by parent company General Motors, Opel is on a strong product offensive.
Besides updates to the Corsa range, the downscaling of the Meriva lineup to just a single value-packed model and the introduction of the limited-edi-tion Corsa OPC Nürburgring, the marque has decided to bring back the four-door Astra after a generation-long hiatus.
Unlike other manufacturers that have launched booted versions of existing hatchback products, in the process rendering them less stylish than their donor cars, Opel seems to have hit the nail on the head with the Astra Sedan. In the metal, it is arguably the prettiest of the current-generation C-segment saloons. The rump blends seamlessly with the car’s rounded proportions, with the boot largely continuing the contour of the roof. The CAR test team was in agreement that the Astra possesses healthy dollops of aesthetic appeal.
ln Essentia trim, the 1,4T automatic tested here represents the mid-level specification that looks set to be the most popular. It makes do without the full set of bells and whistles of the range-topper, including a sunroof and park-distance control, but doesn’t sacrifice comfort and convenience items.
On the outside, the 1,4T features body-colored mirror caps and door handles, 17-inch alloy wheels and a chromed oval tailpipe and integrated boot spoiler at the rear.
Inside, it’s a similarly classy affair, with dark cloth upholstery covering the front and rear pews. The second row is comfortable enough, but it is just short of sufficient leg-room for taller adults. A rather questionable feature, especially considering the sticker price, is manually winding windows at the rear.
The plastics used throughout the cabin are substantial enough to make the Astra feel more premium than it is, adding to the model’s perceived quality.
The charcoal-colored fabric and dark plastics are somewhat enlivened by brushed metallic trim surrounding the gear selector, multifunction steering wheel and door handles, as well as touches of chrome on the instrument panel and facia controls. The only giveaways to the Astra’s age are the red lighting of the trip computer and the size of the infotainment display.
Behind the wheel, it’s easy to get comfortable thanks to the tilt-and-telescopic steering column and height-adjustable driver’s seat. Some testers bemoaned the multitude of buttons located on the facia that cover the air-conditioning, audio system, traction control, unlocking and locking the vehicle and a separate switch to open the boot. It’s particularly difficult for the driver to navigate the audio system once on the go.
Aft of the cabin, the Astra’s boot is deep, but because of the curvature of the bodywork and the sloping bootlid, the aperture is rather narrow. This limits what is loadable, but the 384 dm3 is generous enough for most families. If this is not enough for the odd trawl, the rear seatback splits 60:40 and folds to allow up to 1 048 dm3 of utility room.
