Opel Astra pricing and specifications revealed

The Opel Astra is spearheading the brand’s entry into Australia after decades of many of its models being rebadged as Holdens.

It will be joined on its September on-sale release by the Corsa city car and flagship Insignia medium car, though the Astra has the more extensive variant line-up.

The starting price for the Astra range sees the Opel carry a premium over rivals that has been anticipated, with compensation for buyers coming in the form of strong equipment levels.

The Opel Astra begins at $23,990 for a five-door hatch, making it more expensive than most of its key competitors – including the VW Golf, Ford Focus, Mazda3, and its locally built twin, the Holden Cruze, that kicks off at $22,490 for the equivalent body style.

A wagon version of the Astra dubbed Sports Tourer starts from $27,990, comes with the auto gearbox only, and costs $2000 more than comparable five-door hatch models.

It adds 279mm to the 4419mm length of the five-door Astra hatch to reach 4698mm (and is 25mm higher), using the stretched bodywork to boost boot space by 130 litres (to 500L) and maximum cargo room by 315 litres (to 1550L).

Opel is positioning a three-door hatch it calls the GTC as the style leader of the Astra pack. That positioning is reflected by pricing that starts from $28,990. [See separate story for full details of the Opel Astra GTC.]

Three trim levels and three turbocharged engines – two petrol, one diesel – are spread across the two five-door Astra models but not available in every variant.

A 103kW/220Nm 1.4-litre four-cylinder, also shared with the Cruze, is the entry motor for both, teamed with a choice of six-speed manual gearbox or $2000-extra six-speed automatic in the hatch but auto only for the wagon.

A more powerful turbo petrol is 1.6 litres in size, delivers 132kW and 230Nm of torque to the front wheels, and is available with either six-speed transmission. It’s offered with both the mid-range ‘Select’ in the five-door hatch or wagon and top-of-line ‘Sports’ trim level offered in hatch only.

The Opel Astra diesel is a 2.0-litre sold in both hatch and wagon and base and Select trim levels. It has outputs of 121kW and 350Nm and is mated either to a six-speed manual that includes engine stop-start, or a six-speed auto.

Performance numbers line the 1.6 petrol Astra as the fastest model in the range, powering the small car from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds, or 9.0 seconds in auto form.

The turbo diesel is next with corresponding figures of 9.0 and 9.2 seconds, with the 1.4 petrol hovering around the 10-second mark (9.9 and 10.2sec).

Buyers looking for the most frugal Astra need to opt for the diesel that has consumption as low as 4.7 litres per 100km in manual form with stop-start (5.9L/100km auto).

The most efficient petrol is the 1.4L (5.9 and 6.7L/100km manual/auto), with the 1.6L registering 7.0 and 7.3L/100km depending on gearbox.

Feature highlights for the base Astra include 16-inch alloy wheels (with space-saver spare), six airbags, stability control, four-way adjustable steering wheel, cruise control, Bluetooth with voice control, heated electric side mirrors, trip computer, seven-speaker audio and USB/iPod connectivity.

The Select trim adds items such as 17-inch alloy wheels, electric parking brake, hill-start assist, foglights, higher-grade upholstery, increased driver seat adjustment with electric lumbar adjust, ‘premium’ centre console, electric rear seat release (wagon only), extra LED interior ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, auto-dimming rear view mirror, auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers.

The Opel Astra Sport brings all the fruit, with the equipment list extended with 18-inch alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension with the option ($2000) of adaptive dampers, rear roof spoiler, ergonomically certified sports front seats, leather trim, heated front seats, rear centre armrest with ski port, sports steering wheel, premium stereo and speaker system, and satellite navigation with 7-inch colour display.

A number of options packages, ranging in price from $1250 to $4500, are available depending on model.

Opel has established an initial Australian network of 17 dedicated dealerships.

Click to read CarAdvice's review of the new Opel Astra.

Opel Astra range

Opel Astra 5dr hatch 1.4 petrol manual $23,990
Opel Astra 5dr hatch 1.4 petrol auto $25,990
Opel Astra 5dr hatch 2.0 diesel manual $27,990
Opel Astra 5dr hatch 2.0 diesel auto $29,990

Opel Astra Select 5dr hatch 1.6 petrol manual $28,990
Opel Astra Select 5dr hatch 1.6 petrol auto $30,990
Opel Astra Select 5dr hatch 2.0 diesel manual $31,990

Opel Astra Select 5dr hatch 2.0 diesel auto $33,990
Opel Astra Sports 5dr hatch 1.6 petrol manual $33,490
Opel Astra Sports 5dr hatch 1.6 petrol auto $35,490

Opel Astra Sports Tourer 1.4 petrol auto $27,990
Opel Astra Sports Tourer 2.0 diesel auto $31,990
Opel Astra Select Sports Tourer 1.6 petrol auto $32,990
Opel Astra Select Sports Tourer 2.0 diesel auto $35,990

Opel Astra specifications

Opel Astra 1.4 turbo
Price: from $23,990
Body style: 5dr hatch
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 103kW at 4900-6000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1850-4900rpm (220Nm with overboost)
Transmission: 6-spd manual (or 6-spd auto)
0-100km/h: 9.9 seconds (10.2sec)
Fuel consumption: 5.9L/100km (6.7L/100km)
CO2 emissions: 139g/km (156g/km)

Opel Astra 2.0 diesel
Price: from $27,990
Body style: 5dr hatch
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 121kW at 4000rpm
Torque: 350Nm at 1750-2500rpm
Transmission: 6-spd manual (or 6-spd auto)
0-100km/h: 9.0 seconds (9.2sec)
Fuel consumption: 4.7L/100km (5.9L/100km)
CO2 emissions: 124g/km (156g/km)

Opel Astra 1.6 turbo
Price: from $28,990
Body style: 5dr hatch
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 132kW at 5500rpm
Torque: 230Nm at 2200rpm
Transmission: 6-spd manual (or 6-spd auto)
0-100km/h: 8.5 seconds (9.0sec)
Fuel consumption: 7.0L/100km (7.3L/100km)
CO2 emissions: 164g/km (171g/km)

Opel Astra Sports Tourer 1.4 turbo
Price: from $27,990
Body style: wagon
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 103kW at 4900-6000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1850-4900rpm (220Nm with overboost)
Transmission: 6-spd auto
0-100km/h: 10.2 seconds
Fuel consumption: 6.7L/100km
CO2 emissions: 156g/km

Opel Astra Sports Tourer 2.0 diesel
Price: from $31,990
Body style: wagon
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 121kW at 4000rpm
Torque: 350Nm at 1750-2500rpm
Transmission: 6-spd auto
0-100km/h: 9.2 seconds
Fuel consumption: 5.9L/100km
CO2 emissions: 156g/km

Opel Astra Sports Tourer 1.6 turbo
Price: from $32,990
Body style: wagon
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 132kW at 5500rpm
Torque: 230Nm at 2200rpm
Transmission: 6-spd auto
0-100km/h: 9.0 seconds
Fuel consumption: 7.3L/100km
CO2 emissions: 171g/km