Opel Astra underwent a rejuvenation treatment at the end of last year. The facelift brought only minor changes to the design, but under the hood – that's where things happened. All engines are already three-cylinder and do not come from the French concern PSA. Astra has to make do with engines originating from GM.
As such, Opels are intended and publicly categorized rather for conservative people who don't really need the most modern design fads, but are based on practicality and simple control. All this can be provided by the modernized Astra with the designation "K", so the exterior has more or less only LED matrix headlights (adaptive in the tested versions), a more powerful front camera for assistance systems and a finely redesigned mask.
So this week we got to know both versions and both engines in the same and beautiful blue metallic. It will be a small comparative test of two editors, each of which has different needs and preferences. Did more station wagons with diesels or hatchbacks with gasoline engines sit? Let's have a Q&A…
Editor no. 1, cover name FATHER, best age (read: well over 35), children 2, work 40km from home, daily commute 100-200km.
Editor No. 2, screen name JUNÁK, older (read: slightly over 35), children 0, no work, not even from home, daily mileage 0-9999km.
Distribution of forces:
"Dad" after a very short thought took the keys to an Astra station wagon SpaceTourer with a 1.5 CDTi engine. That is, a three-cylinder diesel (yes, yes, you can already bless yourself) with a power of 90kW (122k) and a torque of 285Nm at 1500-2500 rpm. This miracle was coupled with a diabolical nine-speed automatic and the car was shod on additional 18″ discs. A joy for the eyes. You have to cover your ears when you start, because you will remember the nineties and the Octavia units with their 1.9TDi.
"Junák" happily decided to take a long weekend in the north of Slovakia Astra in Hatchback version, with 1.4 Turbo gasoline engine and manual 6-speed gearbox. This, again three-cylinder, mines 107kW (145k) from its guts and can deliver a torque of 260Nm in the range of 1500-3500 rpm. A joy for the ears, the eyes get used to it… the station wagon is, after all, just a little nicer.
So and now…
Question no. 1 – How is the Astra doing after all these years it has been on the market?
" Father " – Even though it's been a few years, the SpaceTourer station wagon still looks the world. The front mask is already a bit outdated for my taste, but as it was written – it will definitely find its customers and admirers. Design is subordinate to functionality, no fads, plastic fenders and the like. In the interior, you can already feel that the Astra is a generation behind and would need a successor. Analog-digital alarm clocks à la Mazda are quite nice, but they don't have such fine graphics. The plus side is that they are more configurable and customizable. The central infotainment has been upgraded and it shows. Here, I have no complaints about the speed of the system or the connectivity – both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay worked flawlessly. As for the processing and materials – I have no complaints. As for seating, I would say that even the non-surcharge seats are top notch, and such good seating is very difficult to find in today's kostitras. And if so, a class higher…
" Junák " – Design evaluation is a subjective discipline, but I still consider the Astra a very nice car from the outside, especially when compared to manufacturers with headquarters outside the EU. It's a little different in the interior… Not bad, but the ravages of time can be seen here more than on the exterior curves. I still don't understand, for example, the "cups" on all the doors. Why and why? But not to sound too critical, the ergonomics of the seats are exemplary, although the alcantara/leather covers could do with ventilation or at least perforations to allow them to breathe. The ergonomics of the controls are certainly acceptable for experienced "Oplák", I completed a crash course at the High School of Buttons and after that it was fine. I mostly test the value and usability of infotainment via AndroidAuto, and in this discipline the Astra gets full points from me. However, the built-in GPS navigation would have deserved a little more accuracy, so Waze was on standby.
Question no. 2 – How does the Astra drive and how does it smooth our "roads"?
" Father " – Famous! And literally with the well-deserved exclamation mark. Such a chassis could be envied even in a brand with a blue oval in its emblem. Focus can hide in the corner. The chassis has been redesigned (new wheel suspension and engine layout) and the modifications have had a very positive effect on the driving characteristics. The Astra is also comfortable in the SpaceTourer combi version and comfortable enough even at our tank stations. And if you decide to take the turn a little sharper, you don't have to worry about more significant inclines. Lovers of dynamic driving will be pleased by the fact that they can also equip the Astra with an adaptive sports chassis. Even on the eighteen-wheelers with a wide profile inside, you can't hear the shocks and bangs from the axles. And the Astra is said to have been stripped of the damping materials. Big thumbs up for the chassis…
" Junák " – Over the last few years, I have driven all the Peugeots that have appeared on our market, and I firmly believe that if PSA takes something from Opel, it will be the chassis! Not even some more premium cars have such a pleasantly (neither hard nor soft) tuned chassis. And the silence!!! We passed Kysuce and Orava, where there are a lot of sections under reconstruction, but I didn't hear a single dull blow from the front or rear axle. The car turns exactly where the driver wants to turn. Following the example of "Father", I give two thumbs up for the chassis and comfort…
Question no. 3 – What kind of engine does it have and are three cylinders enough?
" Father " – As colleagues in the Czech Republic say – "three cylinders are enough when the turbo is pushing…". Aside from the tractoroid sound of the diesel version, the engine is livelier than its four-cylinder equivalent. However, it would require more power. Those 122 ponies are just right when you drive yourself to work. As soon as you load the whole family, you can already feel the horsepower deficit and overtaking tractors becomes an adrenaline game with careful planning. All this can still be done by the mentioned devil 9-speed automatic. Since the torque peaks already at 1500 rpm, the transmission does not even try to downshift and rather the engine starts even from 1400 rpm with a loud rumble. It is still possible to switch to manual transmission, but there, again, the high number of gears discourages degrees, when individual qualits are thrown very shortly after each other. Consumption could also drop a liter lower, but you know how it is today… emissions. Emissions. Emissions.
" Junák " – The first drive from the dealer in Bratislava home to Trnava was so familiar. It only took a few meters to find out that it would be necessary to press the gas pedal a little more when starting. Downshifting to 2 also takes a bit of practice with the pedal group, but we got the hang of it in the end. I read that it has 3 cylinders in the technical parameters, otherwise I probably would have had a hard time searching for this information. The sound from the engine is not 3-cylinder at all (one has to listen to notice it in the cabin). The manual gearbox is fine, the developers from PSA could pay a little attention here and "copy" it from the German-American collaboration. Shifting is precise, speeds jump there by themselves. Only on the way back did I have to check a couple of times if it really fit in there. And how does it drive? Very pleasant! There is no lack of dynamics, especially the "three" is very strong. At a highway speed of 130 km/h, the engine turns at approx. 2,800 rpm, at a steady 90 km/h in sixth gear at approx. 1,700 rpm. In practice, these values mean an average gasoline consumption of 5.5 l per 100 km, which I consider a fantastic figure. All this with above-average dynamics… Speaking of PSA, this engine would fit perfectly with the AISIN eight-speed automatic. Just such a constructive (or constructive???) teasing…
Question no. 5 – Does it also have any shortcomings?
" Father " – Nothing is perfect. The Astra honked my horn when I left the key inside (on purpose). Of course, it can be turned off, but at midnight in a terraced building, I would give the developer a real thumbs up. I was slightly irritated by the menu control on the digital on-board computer, and slightly more irritated by the luggage compartment of the SpaceTourer station wagon itself. If I already have a large suitcase, I want to use it. No hooks, no "simplyclever" solution, non-padded bottom where the reserve should have been (yes, it's a space primarily for the wheel, but when it's empty, it would be good to have it properly usable). I also have some reservations about the gearbox, even though I understand its purpose to reduce emissions to a minimum, so I really missed a "SPORT" mode or at least paddles under the steering wheel. Otherwise, I have nothing to complain about Astra, I give it 8 out of 10 imaginary points… Oh, and those PET bottles as they belong in the correct test – 2.5 liter Cola&Loca does not fit in the door!!!
" Junák " – … and indeed he has! But it is nothing that would discourage potential buyers, or what they wouldn't try. For example, the luggage compartment lacks a hook for hanging shopping, or some freely available storage space so that smaller things do not fly "back there". I hardly ever ride at night, but I wanted to compare the Matrix lights with the ones I have on my Hiroshima. The Opel shines fine, but a couple of oncoming drivers will be talking for a long time about the automatic switching of low beam/main beam. Either I did something wrong, or this function has a life of its own… As the third and last imperfection, I kept the reversing camera. The developers literally killed the excellent resolution and fluidity of the display by the absence of any guiding graphics. Once again we are at the point that either I did something wrong, or I did not find any setup that would really help when backing up. The camera is directed behind the car, not even the edge of the bumper is visible, so the driver is backing up and doesn't know where to go.
Question no. 6 – What features does it have and is it worth it at all?
" Father " – Let's not look for extra-mega-awesome gadgets here. Astra is an honest friend of a pensioner and an undemanding driver. It automatically returns to the lane, parks itself in the longitudinal direction, wipes itself with the wipers, cameras itself with the camera when backing up and adjusts the speed itself. That ends the list of "self-functions" and that's how it suited me. So it might not die out on its own at intersections yet, but there is a button right at hand, so you have to learn the ritual and say goodbye to emission standards. The tested SpaceToureri station wagon was loaded with Elegance equipment with extras, and the resulting sum of 30,000 euro ducats was therefore not something that I personally would pay for. Perhaps the middle equipment with additional AFL Led lights would be enough. But if you have a company demand for a comfortable small SpaceTourer station wagon and the budget allows… it's a great choice for devouring kilometers on Slovak roads. With a diesel engine, it is a typical family station wagon , which can also be used as a company car.
" Junák " – I don't know whether to classify it as a gadget, but this car also offers the user an overview of what he has in the refrigerator at home. The flood of information that the driver can switch on the alarm clocks sometimes gave me an unpleasant feeling, what all the car actually knows about me. I acknowledge the cleverly placed storage spaces in the cabin, which you can find literally everywhere. Only the most visible one on the dashboard is useless as a holder/stand for today's mobile phones. My 6.2" phone just didn't fit there (and there are much bigger "slates" on the market). However, in defense of the designers, I add that my girlfriend's iPhone went in there.
Something to conclude? !
Astra urgently needs a successor. However, until it gets it on the chassis shared with the future new 308, it will fulfill its role in many companies and families with clarity. For a favorable price, one gets a spacious car loaded with rich equipment, a fantastic chassis and a high-quality interior. The moral wear and tear of the model as such will certainly be forgiven by many, especially at the final price and the saved euro ducats, even in comparison with leading European manufacturers. In the school evaluation, we would give a better "two" on the report card.
Martin "Otec" Malátek & Miloš "Junák" Švehla ™ tested for the AutoZine.sk editors
in cooperation with photographer and assistant director Michal Novotný Studio …
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You can find a complete gallery of interior and exterior photos here: >>>GALLERY<<<
