Review: The all-new Opel Astra is certainly a beauty, but is there more to it than a pretty face?

Published on 14 August, 2022

Overview

Studies show that life is better when you’re good-looking: in our beauty-obsessed world people deemed attractive have an easier time job hunting, get promoted quicker and are offered higher salaries. But does this bias toward beauty inform our car buying decisions? This week’s test car is the stunning Opel Astra, so do good looking cars have the edge?

The new Astra features a bold design and Opel’s latest “Vizor” look — this is a new front face that will feature on all the brand’s models throughout the 2020s. Sweeping across the front of the car just below the bonnet, the headlights, grille and the newly designed Opel Blitz lightning bolt logo in the centre are integrated into one element. At the back the new brand identity continues with ultra-slim LED-rear lights.

The sleek exterior conceals a chic cabin that is just as stylish as the rest of the car. High on tech, every Astra gets the digital cockpit that features two 10-inch seamlessly integrated horizontal displays along with smartphone connectivity including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Generally all the materials feel upmarket and, though there’s a lot of plastics in the mix, there is a quality feel throughout. It’s roomy in the front and will make anyone feel comfortable, from the tall to the decidedly petite. Adults in the rear are likely to complain about the legroom but if you leave them at home and fold down the seats you can squeeze in just about anything into the 1,339 litres of luggage space.

It’s available in three trims: SC, SRI, and Elite. Engine-wise, there’s petrol, diesel and, for the first time, as a plug-in hybrid; a fully electric version will join the line-up next year. Our test car was powered by the 1.2 petrol with a six-speed manual gearbox. On the road, it is reasonably decent to drive, responsive and refined but it’s nothing to get excited about and certainly won’t entice you to race anyone at the lights — but then that probably is a good thing.

Pricing is competitive, and with an entry price of €27,995 the new Astra undercuts a number of rivals including premium offerings such as the BMW 1 series (€36,735), and Audi’s A3 Sportback (€32,500) and it compares well with more mainstream offerings like the Volkswagen Golf (€31,110), Peugeot 308 (€31,765), Seat Leon (€27,075), and the Citroen C4 (26,630).

Whichever model you choose, you get a host of goodies including cruise control with speed limiter, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention alert, intelligent speed adaptation, hill start assist and electric parking brake, keyless start and leather steering wheel.

If you want adaptive cruise control, forward collision alert, keyless entry, heated steering wheel, heated front seats or panoramic camera you’ll have to opt for a higher-spec model.

Carmakers are in an endless struggle to outdo each other, so in today’s competitive market it takes a lot to stand out from the crowd. While there is lots to like about the Astra in a crowded hatchback segment, it’s not class leading in any aspect — but in a world of inflation and soaring fuel prices sometimes beauty wins.

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