Motoring

CAROLINE GETS MOTORING

Bunclody native Caroline Kidd brings us reviews of the latest new cars to arrive in Ireland. Caroline is the founder and editor of the online automotive magazine Changing Lanes and a jury member for Irish Car of the Year. Find out more about her editorial and commercial copywriting services at www.changinglanes.ie

OPEL ASTRA

The Opel Astra returns in 2022 with a new generation of Opel's perennial hatchback. Since we last met the Astra, Opel is now part of the Stellantis Group so this is a real fresh start for the Opel Astra. In Ireland, Opel also has a new distributor.

SUVs have put the squeeze on cars like the Opel Astra and key rivals like the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla. But before SUVs and crossovers became fashionable, many kids would have grown up in the back of hatchbacks like this.

These days hatchbacks like the new Opel Astra look like good value beside a similarly-sized SUV too. In Ireland the new Opel Astra goes on sale priced from a very attractive €27,995. There are petrol and diesel engines from launch, but a hybrid is expected soon and a full electric Astra by the end of 2023. Since last year's Opel Mokka, Opel seems to have real direction now when it comes to styling. The design language is sharp and sporty, and the new Astra gets the new Opel 'face'. The brand calls it the 'Vizor' face and it's a gamechanger for Opel. The Astra harks back to some of the great Opels of the past, while being really modern too. A black panel stretches across the front of the car with the Opel blitz blacked out for sporty SRI models. There is a sharp charismatic crease in the bonnet that brings the front of the car together in a perfect V. The 'gill' effect in the C pillar is a nod to the Kadett, the Astra's predecessor. LED lighting front and rear completes the great new look for the Opel Astra. There are three trim levels - SC, SRI and Elite - which all alter the look of the new Astra somewhat. But SRI models (from €31,995) look the best and offer a good compromise between price and equipment. They come with sporty black 17inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, black wing mirror caps and a black contrast roof, as well as that blacked out Opel blitz at the front and rear of the car.

The most affordable entry into the new Astra range is the 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine with 110hp or 130hp, and a 6speed manual gearbox or an 8-speed gearbox (130hp only). The Opel Astra SRI 1.2 petrol with 130hp and a 6speed manual gearbox is a fabulous option for this new Astra, well-priced and offering lively performance and reasonable economy for a petrol hatchback too. Over a week of driving my average fuel consumption was 6.2 litres per 100 kilometres. The handling is sharp and composed and the car grips well through corners. Being an Opel and a German car, it's also 'Autobahnproof' so stays nice and steady on the motorway too. Refinement has been improved over the previous generation of the car, and the Astra has excellent road manners.

The interior of the new Astra has also been transformed into a modern, digital cabin. One of the first things that strikes you is just how good the seats are. They are 'AGR' approved, which means they are some of the best you will find in the compact class. Cabin quality is about 'middle of the road'. Everything in your direct line of sight looks good but the fit of some of The Astra will seat five and though some rivals offer a little more headroom and legroom in the back, you will be able to sit adults back there and children will be fine. There is Isofix on the two outer seats and a USB-

C port for connecting devices. The 422-litre boot is one of the biggest in the class and also has a handy twoposition floor. The new Opel Astra is one of the most anticipated new cars of 2022 and it delivers. The Opel brand is really gaining momentum again with new models like the Mokka and now Astra. The new Astra has got the modern update it needed. So if you're looking for a simple hatchback that drives well, looks good and is wellequipped, you really need to check out this new Astra!

Interior

the buttons below the infotainment screen and the exposed hard plastics in the door panels seem at odds with how polished this car is in other areas. Still, the Astra interior seems to vibe nicely with this car's modern, sporty styling. There's a new steering wheel and new digital instrument cluster for the driver. Combined with the new 10-inch screen for the infotainment and you have an almost widescreen effect that is very fashionable at the moment. There's also a wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto connection. Standard equipment is good and other features include climate control, cruise control, leather steering wheel, keyless start, and parking sensors. SRI models get a sportier cabin ambience with some red detailing as well as alloy pedals, reversing camera, adaptive cruise Model tested: Opel Astra SRI 1.2 Price: €31,995 Engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol Power: 130hp Torque: 230Nm Top speed: 210km/h Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 9.7 seconds Motor Tax: €200 per year n

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