Louth Motoring: Time to rediscover the hatchback and Opel with the Astra Electric

Opel seems to be stuck in and around the 14th / 15th best-selling car brand in Ireland for the last few years.

In the electric car space they finished 18th overall shifting 294 cars last year but substantially behind 7 brands that all sold in excess of 1,000 cars. Electric cars made up 10.6% of Opel sales which is behind the annual average sold last year of 18.7%. If this was 5th year in school the report would say could, or rather should, do better.

Take this Astra Electric for example, Opel’s second best-selling electric car after the Mokka but surprisingly ahead of the Corsa.

It starts at €39,598 (including all grants), is a saloon, has huge Opel engineering DNA and is without a doubt one of the best looking hatchbacks around.

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It is the best exponent of the current Opel design language and deserving to be on the Astra. It has the cleanest, minimalist design you’ll ever see with the creases, angles and curves kept to a minimum and used to powerful effect. This is a car you’ll look back at when you park it.

It is peak hatchback design at a time when you, the car buyers, are looking the other way, tempted by the higher crossovers and SUVs. Those cars have a lot of motoring make-up on and when seen without it you might be more inclined to opt for a hatchback.

The motoring joy in a hatchback far outweighs any experience you get in a Crossuv, other than being able to say you sit up high.

The ride in the Astra is delightful. It’s a little hard but comfortable at the same time. I really believe that the Opel Engineers deliver the best suspension setup from all the brands in the Stellantis group that has such notables as Peugeot and Citroen and their comfort reputations.

My test is the speed humps and most of the Opels scale these with the least bumping and jarring. Try it if you don't believe me. What they, again, could do better on is steering wheel feel.

It is always a challenge and seemingly an even harder one in an electric car and Opel could work on this a bit more. But those other refinement ingredients wind and road noise are kept at bay delivering quite a quiet cabin.

It feels very hatchbackky, which I like, and everyday driving won’t disappoint. The car’s vital statistics are - Power-156PS, Battery size-54kWh; Range-405-416 kms and 0-100km/h takes 9.2s.

Recharge time takes 26 mins to go from 20% to 80% using a 100kW rapid charger and there is with an on-board 11kW AC charger which is quite good for home use.

That range is over the magic 400 km figure for me and if you drive with the environment in mind you should get close to it.

Inside, the Astra tries to be individualist but alas if you drive a lot of cars you’ll see a lot of parts familiar in other brands in the Stellantis stable, the owners of Opel. This is OK when you drive different models of the same brand but it's not so cool when they are from another family brand.

Interior of the Opel Astra Electric

Materials are good but the shiny plastics could be pared back a bit and Opel are not the only offenders here. There are two screens, Opel calls them Pure Panel, that are very driver orientated with frequently used buttons below the central one.

No dedicated climate control though but you do get volume control and don't get me started on trying to find the tone controls for whatever music you are currently listening to, Post Malone if you're interested.

Once you get familiar with where everything is you’ll find it's not that bad and moderately intuitive.

Passenger space feels quite large and adults won't complain in the front or back of an Astra nor with the decent 422 litre boot. The kit levels are very good in terms of driver comforts and safety systems and for this week's homework, compare them from the brochure to others you may be interested to be sure and assured.

There’s just one all electric model drivetrain with three trims to choose from and 7 colours. There is only a €2k price difference between the trims which in 2025 is quite an achievement.

Mine was in Vertigo Blue which seems to be the colour associated with electricity but I quite like the divisive Yellow Amber colour.

The Astra Electric, to revert to a student theme, is actually trying very hard and for me is quite an attractive all-round electric offering in hatchback form.

I think the price is OK when you look at other European manufacturers but a challenge when compared to the Eastern manufacturers which needs addressing, and fast if there is not to be casualities.

Buyers need to rediscover Opel and see through the hype of other and newer brands and renew their experience of driving a car that has very good driving dynamics.

Rest assured, Opel really is trying very hard and should move up that sales table soon.

Next week I get to drive a car that may well have me eating those last few words.