CARS OF THE WORLD

Opel Astra Sports Tourer 2022.

Opel Astra Sports Tourer 2022. Opel Astra next generation: now the Sports Tourer station wagon.

The Astra Sports Tourer wagon follows the next generation of the Opel Astra L hatchback.

It is the only «body» variety of modern Astra: there will be neither sedan, nor three-door in this generation.

Now the Opel Astra is based on the French modular platform EMP2 and is the closest relative of the Peugeot 308 which also has hatchback and station wagon versions.

If the hatchback and station wagon of the former Astra had the same wheelbase, now Opel has returned to the solution used in the H-generation models.

Compared to the hatchback, the wheelbase of the new station wagon is stretched by 57 mm — up to 2732 mm. And it is 70 mm more than in the car of the outgoing generation K.

At the same time the body overhangs became more modest, so the total length of the wagon decreased from 4702 mm to 4642 mm. For comparison, the length of the hatchback is 4374 mm.

The trunk became noticeably roomier: the volume under the curtains is increased from 540 liters in the previous model to 608 liters.

Although the maximum capacity with the folded back sofa is almost unchanged: 1,634 liters vs. 1,630 liters.

The Opel Astra Sports Tourer already «in the base» has a three-section backrest (divided in the proportion 40:20:40) and a two-level luggage compartment floor Intelli-Space.

Access to the separate compartment for first aid kit and tire repair kit is organized both from the trunk and from the passenger compartment: you don’t have to pull out all the luggage.

The loading height is 600 mm and the electric fifth door can be activated with a «kick» under the rear bumper.

The powertrain range is exactly the same as in the original hatchback. There is a choice of gasoline turbo 1.2 with 110 or 130 hp and a four-cylinder turbodiesel 1.5 (130 hp).

All come with a start-stop system and a six-speed manual, while an eight-speed automatic is available only for the 130-hp cars.

The rechargeable hybrids have a 1.6 gasoline turbo four (150 or 180 hp) that works in tandem with an electric motor (110 hp) built into an eight-speed automatic.

In peak mode, they produce 180 or 225 hp. (depending on the version). These station wagons can move in electric mode, but because of the traction battery have a reduced luggage compartment: from 548 to 1574 liters.

Even the new-generation Opel Astra hatchback will be on the European market in January and the Sports Tourer wagon will arrive in early summer.

Next in line are the all-electric Astra-e (expected in 2023) and the powerful Astra OPC Hybrid (not yet officially confirmed).