Opel Astra Facelift Debuts With Subtle Redesign, Major Tech Upgrades

Opel has been testing the refreshed Astra range for months and now the model is finally revealed. The German company proudly announces this is the most efficient Astra ever made thanks to a range of new engines and transmissions, as well as other smart improvements.

If you take a look just at the exterior, you won't notice anything that's changed. In fact, Opel is not even talking about the design of the Astra but points out that "meticulous development in the wind tunnel also made a significant contribution to the reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions." As a result, the Sports Tourer version of the compact car has drag coefficient of 0.25, while the hatchback is at 0.26.

Big changes happen underneath the skin where the Astra gets a range of new turbocharged diesel and gasoline engines. These include three-cylinder 1.2- and 1.4-liter gas units with power ranging from 110 horsepower (81 kilowatts) to 145 hp (107 kW). Opel promises an average fuel consumption of about 5.2 to 5.9 liters per 100 kilometers (39.87 to 45.23 miles per gallon) measured by the WLTP standards. The smaller of the two engines comes exclusively with a six-speed manual, while the 1.4 motor is mated to a new seven-speed continuously variable transmission.

On the diesel front, the facelifted Astra gets a 1.5-liter engine with two power outputs – 105 hp (77 kW) and 122 hp (90 kW). As standard, these units come with six-speed manuals and optionally available is a new nine-speed automatic transmission, a first for Opel in its history. The automaker claims the CO2 emissions are reduced by up to 17 percent thanks to an advanced exhaust gas treatment system consisting of a passive oxidation catalyst, AdBlue injector, SCR catalyst, and Diesel Particulate Filter.

While the facelift doesn't bring improvements to the car's all-LED headlights, Opel adds new features such as a digital rearview camera with more contrast and precise view of the traffic behind the car. Additionally, the model also gets a fully digital instrument cluster, as well as expanded functions for the infotainment system with an eight-inch screen.