The Astra 2022 is the second model of the Stellantis era for the German manufacturer Opel. We were able to get behind the wheel of two technical validation prototypes seven months before this sixth generation, cousin of the Peugeot 308, arrived on our roads.
[Mis à jour le 15/07/2021] The new Astra drops the camouflage to finally reveal its aesthetic details. If it is built on the platform of the recent Peugeot 308, it displays very personal lines on the outside, and a very specific presentation on the inside. Under the hood, on the other hand, it takes up the range of engines offered by its French cousin.
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We had already had the opportunity to ride with late-stage prototypes of the latest generation of Corsa. Opel reiterated the invitation to share the first sensations behind the wheel of highly camouflaged prototypes of the future Astra (code name L). This is phase 2 (out of 4) of these pre-production prototypes used by the brand’s development teams. Vehicles intended to refine dynamic settings, successful about 80% according to Andreas Holl, responsible for the behavior of the car. A few months from the start of production, all mechanical elements are final, from the hull (14% more rigid compared to the current model) to the suspensions. It is now a question of playing on the electronics, in particular for the calibration of the steering.
It was at the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim, where the Astra will be manufactured, that we discovered the two prototypes made available to us. Suffice to say from the outset, the full camouflage applied prevents us from realizing the lines of the car. Just can we guess the longer hood, the more vertical windshield and the new front face released by the Mokka, set with a Vizor pierced here with vents. The slim full LED spotlights as standard from the basic finish allow a reduction of 1 g / km of CO2 ; at the top of the range, they can become Matrix LED, with 84 pixels per headlight.
The engines of the Opel Astra 2022
Under the hood, the range of engines covers the heart of the market, pending a sportier version. We find in this Astra the same engines as in its technical cousin of Stellantis, the Peugeot 308, with the three-cylinder 1.2 turbo PureTech in versions 110 and 130 hp. The range is completed with a single diesel version, 1.5 BlueHDi of 130 hp, and all are offered in six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox. Two versions 1.6 turbo PureTech plug-in hybrids are also on the program with two versions of 180 and 225 hp (12.4 kWh battery). On the other hand, unlike the Corsa, the Astra will not benefit from an electric variation.
Driving sensations of the Opel Astra 2022
The Astra 2022 is based on the third evolution of the EMP2 platform, which includes 50% new parts according to Thomas Stüber, technical manager of the program. It shares this base with its cousins Peugeot 308 and DS 4. The shock absorbers with more rigid calibrations, the stops, the roll rates are specific for the Astra, as well as the calibration of the steering which, offering a lot of assistance, is still considered too light at the wheel at this stage; impression that we confirm. The development criteria on which the engineers from Rüsselsheim say they have focused are high-speed safety (Autobahn obliges), the feeling of connection with the road offered to the driver, predictability and linearity in the responses to the driver’s impulses. Equipping the entire range with low rolling resistance tires to optimize CO values2 imposed a development of the chassis accordingly, with a slightly lower grip of the gums.
Our round trips on a small winding and distorted road highlighted the feeling of serenity and great comfort wanted for this compact for family use. We had in our hands a very balanced, pleasant and lively 130 hp BVM version. The 180 hp BVA rechargeable hybrid, on the other hand, behaves better and more quietly, especially as the attack on the brake pedal is very flexible, with a feeling that is difficult to find. There is no controlled suspension in the program, but the movements of the body seem controlled, even in nasty compressions taken in support at good speed. The vehicle is capable of frank acceleration, without the noise of the heat engine being too present, but it gives the best of itself in hybrid comfort mode, or even in pure electric. The, the soundproofing appears to be of a very good standard (an acoustic windshield is delivered as standard), if we disregard the parasitic noises inherent in this prototype. In any case, the new version of the Astra is more lively, comfortable and silent than the current versions, with which we have been able to ride alternately.
As for the driving aids, they were not really functional on our cars, and we were not able to experiment with semi-autonomous driving taking into account the navigation data to adapt the speed in curves or the semi-automatic lane changes. .
On board the Opel Astra 2022
The dimensions are quite close to those of the current generation, with a length of 4.37 m (+ 4 mm), 5 mm more in width but 15 mm less in height. The wheelbase gains 13 mm (2.67 m), offering a comfortable legroom in the rear seats. Only the central passenger will suffer with a smaller space and a very hard backrest. The thermoplastic tailgate opens onto a 422 l trunk, which in the process gains 19 mm in width and a modular floor. For the rest, the interior of our cars was completely covered with protective tarpaulins, and the few materials that we could see were still in the state of raw plastic, without their final graining. We were just able to recognize between the seats the piano lacquer-style plate of the brand’s other recent models.
Fortunately, a photo shown quickly during the briefing reassured us on the level of style more evolved from the dashboard, very refined and surmounted by a double Pure Panel screen of 2 x 10 inches at the top of the range, with a polarizing treatment avoiding the presence of an unsightly cap as on the Mokka. Too bad, our two entry-level test versions used the small screens seen on the Mokka, with disappointing graphics. Note that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless connectivity is provided as standard. Function keys for air conditioning and volume remain, while the nice new steering wheel incorporates revamped controls. Finally, the driving position is good and easily adjustable, the seats being both very flexible, but with effective support.