The Opel Astra is one of Europe's most popular compact cars, offering a blend of practicality, comfort, and performance. Now, the German brand has launched the Opel Astra Electric, a fully electric version of the hatchback that promises to deliver zero-emission driving with no compromise on style or functionality.
The Opel Astra Electric is based on the same platform as the new Peugeot 308. This means that the electric Astra shares the same battery pack, electric motor as its French cousins and some of the design and technology features.
What's under the hood?
The Opel Astra Electric uses a 54 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that powers a single electric motor mounted on the front axle. The motor produces 154 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque, which is enough to propel the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and up to a top speed of 150 km/h.
The battery pack can be recharged using a variety of methods, including a standard domestic socket, a wall box, or a public fast charger. Opel claims that Opel Astra Electric can achieve an electric range of up to 400 kilometers on a single charge, according to the WLTP cycle. That's equivalent to about 248 miles in real-world driving conditions.
The Astra Electric also features a regenerative braking system that can recover energy when decelerating or braking and store it back into the battery. The driver can choose between two levels of regenerative braking, depending on their preference and driving style.
What's inside?
The Opel Astra Electric offers a spacious and modern interior that can accommodate up to five passengers and their luggage. The boot capacity is 352 liters, which is slightly less than the petrol-powered Astra hatchback, but still enough for most everyday needs. The rear seats can also be folded down to create more room for larger items.
The dashboard of Astra Electric features Opel's Pure Panel, which consists of two screens integrated into a single black panel. The first screen is a 10-inch digital instrument cluster that displays key information such as speed, battery level, range, and navigation. The second screen is a 12-inch touchscreen that controls the infotainment system, which includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging, and voice recognition.
The Astra Electric also comes with a range of advanced driver assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and park assist. In addition, the car features a color head-up display that projects relevant information onto the windshield, such as speed limits, navigation directions, and warnings.