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Pros: Efficient, sporty style, refinement.
Cons: Rear legroom, average boot space.
Opel Astra Electric Design
The Astra Electric shares the same sharp, eye-catching design as the rest of the range, which already includes petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrids. It will be available as a five-door and a more practical Sports Tourer, which will be one of the few electric estate cars on sale.
The only clue to the Astra’s electric underpinnings is a small ‘e’ badge on the boot lid. And if you’re really paying attention, there are no tailpipes beneath the rear bumper. The Opel ‘Vizor’ brand face with striking black panel connecting full LED headlamps, now includes a unique front bumper design. Sporty 18-inch alloy wheels come as standard, with a special aerodynamic design.
Opel Astra Electric Interior
The cabin of Astra Electric is identical to other models in the range so any current Astra owners will feel immediately at home. The cabin is logically laid out with quite a sporty and driver-focused feel from behind the wheel. The fit and finish is good, though a Megane E-Tech feels a bit plusher overall. Opel’s ‘Pure Panel’ interior concept brings together a full digital display for the driver and a touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It keeps everything feeling modern but not at the expense of physical buttons and controls for the ventilation. Battery charge status or range can be easily checked from the displays. Other features includes an excellent AGR-approved driver’s seat for more support and finished in stylish Alcantara in our test car.
This Astra was designed from the start to accommodate batteries and engines so cabin space is identical across the range. However, compared to models like the MG4 and Volkswagen ID.3 built as purely electric cars, the Astra does feel a tad less open and spacious inside - particularly in the rear where there’s less legroom to stretch out. Boot volume is down from 422 litres in petrol variants to 352 litres in the electric version, which is off the pace of the best in class like the Megane E-Tech (440 litres) or Kia Niro EV (475 litres). But the Astra Electric Sports Tourer fixes that with 516 litres of boot space.
Opel Astra Electric Performance & Drive
The fully electric Astra gets the Stellantis Group’s new 54kWh battery with up to 418 kilometres of range (WLTP) and a heat pump as standard to improve the performance of the battery in cold weather. The Astra Electric boasts some impressive efficiency, with consumption of energy as low as 14.8kWh per 100 kilometres, which is easy to replicate in real world driving. There’s a new 156hp electric motor sending power to the front wheels and 270Nm of torque.
Performance is more adequate than astounding with the 0-100km/h sprint completed in 9.2 seconds. There are also three modes - Eco, Normal and Sport – to tweak the performance somewhat or improve efficiency. The ‘B’ mode increases regenerative braking. But Astra Electric feels good to drive, with some added smoothness and refinement compared to petrol models. Thanks to laminated glass, the cabin is very quiet. The ride is a little firm but perfectly acceptable and doesn't feel too rudimentary over bumps. The driving position is good and the steering feels natural and progressive.
DC fast charging is available up to 100kW so an 80% battery charge can be got in around 30 minutes. AC charging is possible up to 11kW
Opel Astra Electric Pricing
Pricing and equipment for the new Astra Electric will be confirmed closer to launch.
Carzone Verdict
The Astra Electric is an important milestone for Opel as it pledges to become a fully electric car brand by 2028. With the Corsa and Mokka both available electric, the new Astra Electric gives Opel presence in the increasingly competitive arena for compact electric hatchbacks. The Astra has familiarity on its side that will help even the most reticent switch to electric without any big fanfare. It’s an attractive and solidly-built electric hatchback but will need to be priced competitively to not be overlooked.