Opel South Africa has just added a range of saloon models to bolster the current line-up of Astra hatchbacks on offer locally.
“The arrival of the Opel Astra sedan to South Africa is significant for GM South Africa as it completes the Astra range and supports our efforts to rejuvenate and strengthen the Opel brand in this market,” says Opel brand manager at General Motors South Africa, Chris Cradock.
Up front, the new model looks similar to the refreshed Opel Astra hatch. From the B-pillars onwards matters tend to differ a bit. The booted model has the traditional three box design in profile. Viewed from behind it has prominent tail lights, an integrated boot spoiler and a chrome-plated exhaust outlet. The Astra sedan is 230 mm longer its hatchback stable mate.
The Astra sedan also boasts a generous 460 dm3 of luggage space (an added 90 compared with the hatch) with the seats up, increasing to a total of 1 010 dm3 of cargo volume available when the rear seats are folded forward.
Buyers can choose from one of four-modes comprising three different petrol engines and three transmissions. Opening the range is the 1,6 Essentia with a normally-aspirated 1,6-litre petrol engine producing 85 kW at 6 000 r/min with 155 N.m of torque available at 4 000 r/min. Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, the front-wheel drive sedan’s average fuel economy on the combined cycle is 6,6-litres/100 km and carbon emissions are 154 g/km.
Powering two of the four new models and available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox is a 1,4-litre turbocharged engine with 103 kW available between 4 900 and 6 000 r/min and 200 N.m between 1 850 and 4 900 r/min. These variants boast fuel consumption figures of 5,9-litres/100 km on the combined cycle and 139 g/km in the manual version. The automatic’s corresponding figures are 6,6-litres per 100 km and 154 g/km respectively.
The top of the range Astra 1,6 Turbo Cosmo sedan comes with a 132 kW turbocharged petrol engine. This engine delivers 132 kW at 5 500 r/min and 230 N.m of torque at 2 200 r/min. Claimed fuel economy on the combined cycle is 6,8-litres/100 km.
Similar to its hatchback sibling the Astra sedan range has MacPherson strut front suspension design. All Turbo models feature a Watt’s link rear suspension setup. The 1,6 Turbo Cosmo is further differentiated by a lowered ride height.
All models feature ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), brake discs all-round, ABS with EBD and BAS, CBC and CTC (Cornering Brake Control and Cornering Torque Control), trailer sway control, hydraulic brake fade assist and brake disc cleaning. Six airbags, Isofix child seat anchors, active front head rests, a pedal release system, side impact bars and front seatbelt pretensioners also feature across the range.
Essentia and Turbo Essentia models all feature colour coding, 17-inch alloy wheels, electric and heated side mirrors, a multi-function steering wheel with rake and reach adjustment, front and rear fog lamps, halogen daytime running lights, height adjustment for the driver’s seat, folding rear seats and cloth trim, along with air conditioning, front electric windows with tinting all-round, cruise control with a speed limiter, a radio/CD player with USB, auxiliary and Bluetooth functionality, seven speakers, a multi-info trip computer and remote central locking with an alarm/immobiliser – all fitted as standard.
The range-topping Turbo Cosmo model features all the same equipment, with the addition of 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome detailing on the door handles and side window profile, a leather-bound steering wheel, automatic headlights and wipers, a sports seat for the driver with powered lumbar support adjustment, leather upholstery, heated front seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, electric windows all-round, hill start assistance, rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a smart electronic parking brake – also all as standard.
Pricing is as follows:
- Astra 1,6 Essentia sedan – R239 900
- Astra 1,4 Turbo Essentia sedan – R250 900
- Astra 1,4 Turbo Essentia AT sedan R261 300
- Astra 1,6 Turbo Cosmo sedan – R284 500
All models in the new Opel Astra range come standard with a 5-year/120 000 km warranty and a 5-year/90 000 km service plan with service intervals of 15 000 km.
