Opel Astra GS Line 1.2 Turbo Review: Bringing Opel Back!

What we like:

Striking design

Engine has character

Solidly built

Handling

What we dislike:

Preset start/stop system configuration

High pitched keyless lock beep

Sliding interior console covers

Mention Opel, and many younger Singaporeans may not catch on. However, Opel is actually one of Europe’s largest carmakers and its history dates back to Germany since 1862.

I remember a full product line-up from Opel in the 90s and 2000s where we had the Astra, Vectra, Omega and Zafira in Singapore. The older ones among us may remember. Being under the ownership of General Motors then, Opels had an erudite appeal that admittedly was not really for the masses for the local market.

The latest generation of Opels are vastly different and are much more outstanding. Now under the ownership of Stellantis, the 4th largest global automaker by sales, Opel has access to a vast parts bin and engineering capabilities.

Unlike the Opel Mokka that is built on the CMP platform, the Opel Astra is built on the larger third generation Efficient Modular Platform (EMP2) which was designed by the French PSA group for €630m before it merged into Stellantis. It is a very capable chassis which allows the Astra to be chucked around corners to generate a gleeful smile on the driver’s face.

Most importantly, the Astra feels solid and well-built which inspires confidence to drive the car hard.

Part of the experience comes from the 1.2 Turbo engine that produces 130 hp and 230 Nm. Rorty and full of character, it generates a unique engine note that is characteristic of a 3-cylinder engine. It pulls strong from the low to mid-range which makes it very useable for Singapore roads. The 8-speed automatic from Aisin changes gears so swiftly that it has a slight characteristic of a dual-clutch gearbox.

All good thus far – an excellent engine and a reliable Japanese gearbox. The Astra feels taut and planted even at highway speeds. However, I found myself driving in Sports mode all the time as the start/stop system could not be turned off in Normal mode and the steering was better weighted. I also found the throttle easier to modulate in Sports mode which made city driving a smoother experience.

The interior is a very Germanic place to be in. The Astra’s doors feel the heaviest in the business and shut with a satisfying thump. Both front seats do not come with electric adjustment but is very much welcome as I found myself getting into a comfortable driving position very quickly and the Continental-style turn-knob recliner design allows micro adjustments. Interestingly, the driver lumbar adjustment is electronically controlled and is excellent.

Double-glazed front side windows come standard on the Astra and the car has minimal wind noise at speed. Rear passengers are also treated to a comfortable and spacious interior. A gripe that I had was the sliding console covers which had a non-slip coating that would seem to scratch easily in the long run.

Keeping up with the digital trend, Opel’s Pure Panel dashboard incorporates two 10-inch screens in the form of an instrument cluster and an infotainment system. Despite a preference for traditional gauges, I found the digital readouts on the instrument cluster easy to comprehend. Credit to Opel for keeping key climate control functions in the form of physical buttons and there is also a strong emphasis on driver involvement with the cockpit angled towards the driver. It is also commendable that Opel’s 360-camera views are one of the clearest in the business.

Winner of the Red Dot 2023 Car Design award, the Astra carries Opel’s new corporate face and it has a distinctive aggressive look. The Opel ‘wing’ LED headlight design is standard and integrates well with the black trimmed front grille. The rear of the car is also well designed and the squat rear looks bold and striking.

With a list price of S$169,500, the Opel Astra GS Line 1.2 Turbo is a good alternative to the Volkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSI DSG Life Plus that is listed at S$179,900. This cheeky Amber Yellow coloured family hatchback would leave its driver rather happy after every drive, especially with that addictive engine noise, in an otherwise boring daily city commute.

The Opel Astra has the capabilities to garner more owners back to the historic Opel marque.

Photos by New Gen Marketing

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