The new Opel Astra electric car prioritizes efficiency

The Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric, the first all-electric station wagon from a German manufacturer, is set to go on sale next spring. According to Rüsselsheim, the Opel Astra electric car, which has a gross battery capacity of 54 kWh, requires 14.9 kWh per 100 kilometers. Opel has yet to announce a price.

Opel had already confirmed the electrified versions when it unveiled the new Opel Astra in September 2021. However, only combustion models and a plug-in hybrid have been available thus far. The Opel Astra sedan and Opel Astra station wagon have always been among the most popular models in the compact class. Still, according to the latest Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) registration statistics, the Opel Astra trails well behind models such as the Ford Focus and Skoda Octavia.

It remains to be seen whether the Opel Astra electric car will succeed, the efficiency will be the crucial factor. Opel continues to rely on the combustion engine platforms of its parent company, Stellantis, for its electric vehicles. The Efficient Modular Platform 2 (EMP2) is Opel Astra's foundation. Unlike the Volkswagen modular electrical construction kit (MEB), this one on the automobile market has a very tiny battery size of 51 kWh net.

The Opel Astra shares the same motor as Peugeot's e-308 hatchback. According to Peugeot, the developers were able to reduce energy consumption through "developments concerning the engine, battery, aerodynamics (improvement of the front end and the underbody) as well as weight optimization (EMP2 platform) and friction losses."

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When the Peugeot e-308 was first introduced, Peugeot claimed an average usage of 12.7 kWh/100 km, which has since been increased to 14.9 kWh/100 km. How this affects Opel and Peugeot's over 400 km range is still being determined. Because charging losses are included in the WLTP consumption, the range cannot be converted directly. If the Opel Astra could go 400 km after WLTP, it would be a very efficient car.

When it comes to motorization, the options are similarly limited. The Opel Astra electric car has an electric motor that produces 115 kilowatts (156 hp) and a torque of 270 Nm. The Opel Astra electric car has a top speed of 170 km/h. The charging power is limited to 100 kW. A 100 kW charging station can charge the battery from 20% to 80% in less than 25 minutes. As standard, the Opel Astra can charge with 11 kW of alternating current.

The external dimensions of the 2023 Opel Astra electric car are the same as in the combustion models. The Opel sedan measures 4.37 meters long, 1.86 meters wide, and 1.41 to 1.47 meters tall. The Opel station wagon is 4.6 meters long, 1.44 to 1.48 meters tall, and 1.86 meters wide. The trunk volume of the station wagon is 516 liters; however, with the seats folded down, the storage space expands to 1,553 liters.

At first glance, the interior appears quite clean. As digital display units, there are two 10-inch screens. Air conditioning, for example, should still be controllable with the touch of a button. The Intelli-Drive 2.0 package, according to Opel, features a front collision warning system with automated emergency braking, an active lane-maintenance assistant, sleepiness detection, cross-traffic warning, and a semi-adaptive lane-change aid.

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So far, Opel has electrified the Opel Corsa, Opel Mokka, and Opel Zafira, among other vehicles. We were particularly irritated by the navigation system in our tests, which did not allow for any significant route planning on extended journeys.

Last March, the Chinese electric station wagon MG5 hit the German market. The battery has a capacity of 61.1 kWh. The vehicle is reasonably priced, costing 40,000 euros before deducting the purchase price.

Audi's A6 e-Tron Concept, which will be unveiled in March 2022, is in an entirely different pricing range. According to the WLTP test cycle, the range should be up to 700 kilometers, depending on the driver version and power. Furthermore, Audi places the station wagon in the premium class. It is still being determined when the Avant will be released based on the anticipated PPE platform. (@via Opel)