September 2008


Opel Astra Station Wagon: Plenty of Space for Variability

  • Variety: Eleven engines with output range from 90 to 200 hp
  • Economical: 1.3 CDTI and 1.4 TWINPORT in ecoFLEX league
  • Equipment: High-quality features as standard



Rüsselsheim. The Astra station wagon is the perfect counterpart to the five-door Astra sedan, sporty three-door Astra GTC and four-door Astra TwinTop cabrio-coupé. It continues Opel’s compact station wagon success story with an elegant design, high driving dynamics and plenty of space for passengers and luggage. This is spotlighted by the customer demand for the Astra station wagon and the numerous comparison tests it has won in specialist automotive publications. Thanks to its 2.70-meter wheelbase, the Astra station wagon offers above-average rear legroom and a load capacity of up to 1590 liters - a best-in-class value. Features such as the FlexOrganizer system in the trunk offer superb interior flexibility. The bestseller is currently available with 11 engine variants with an output range of 90 to 200 hp. It’s technology highlights include the adaptive IDSPlus chassis system with electronic Continuous Damping Control (CDC) and AFL bi-xenon curve light (Adaptive Forward Lighting).

New in model year 2009

Until now, only the Astra station wagon 1.3 CDTI with 66 kW/90 hp carried the ecoFLEX badge. With the start of the new model year, Opel awards this seal to the most economical and low-emission engines in a model line for every fuel type. This offers customers easier orientation as they search for particularly environmentally friendly engines. The 1.4 TWINPORT with 66 kW/90 hp now also joins the ecoFLEX family. The range of options has been expanded with 16 and 17-inch alloy wheels in 7-spoke trapezoidal design as well as new caps for the design wheel.

Design and packaging

With its dynamic look, the Astra station wagon sets itself apart from the competition. As the station wagon’s wheelbase is around nine centimeters longer than the sedan, it boasts even more interior space. The load volume up to the top of the rear seat back is 500 liters (VDA standard), and by folding down the rear bench seat and back, cargo capacity can be expanded to a top value of 1590 liters. With the optional foldable front passenger seat back, the load length can be extended to 2.70 meters. The optional patented FlexOrganizer system for the trunk enables easier stowage of cargo. Hooks, nets and foldable dividers can be snapped into the horizontal rails on the side walls of the trunk to allow for practical organization of the luggage compartment.

The Astra station wagon’s interior boasts surfaces with a high-quality look and feel. Distinctive design elements include the prominent center console and the additional chrome rings around the air conditioning and radio controls. The top Cosmo variant features décor trim and inlays made from luxurious piano lacquer. The badge on the tailgate of the Astra station wagon ecoFLEX models reflects their exceptional fuel-saving qualities.

Passive safety

The Astra station wagon boasts high levels of safety. The consumer protection organization Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) awarded the Astra station wagon’s basis – the five-door Astra sedan – the highest rating of five stars for adult passenger protection. With a total of 34 points, Euro NCAP classified the bestseller as one of the safest vehicles in the compact class. The Astra also achieved very good results for child protection, with four stars and 39 points.

The Astra station wagon’s standard SAFETEC safety package includes thorax/pelvis side airbags in both front seats. These complement the two front airbags and the head curtain airbags that stretch along the entire length of the interior in the left and right roof pillars. Both outer rear seats come with ISOFIX mountings for child seats.

Equipment and extras

The five Astra station wagon equipment lines are tailored to various driver profiles. Equipment highlights include:
Astra Station Wagon – Radio remote control central locking, heated power exterior mirrors, power windows in front, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, power steering, height-adjustable driver’s seat, split fold-down rear bench seat and back, safety net fixtures, roof rails
Astra Station Wagon Edition (in addition to Station Wagon) – Air conditioning, stereo
CD-Radio, leather steering wheel, reading lamps in front and rear, Automatic Lighting Control (ALC), photochromatic rear-view mirror, automatic center console illumination,
roll-up luggage compartment cover, 16-inch design wheels
Astra Station Wagon INNOVATION (in addition to Station Wagon Edition) – AFL bi-xenon curve light, Electronic Climate Control (ECC), on-board computer with Check Control System
Astra Station Wagon Sport (in addition to Station Wagon Edition) – IDS sport chassis, leather sport steering wheel, sport seats in front, aluminum sport pedals, on-board computer, stereo CD-Radio CD 70 Navi, ECC, 16-inch alloy wheels
Astra Station Wagon Cosmo (in addition to Station Wagon Edition) – Comfort front seats in sporty style, fog lamps, IDS sport chassis, (1.6 turbo and 2.0 turbo), on-board computer, Station Wagon Design package, stereo CD-Radio CD 70 Navi, ECC, 16-inch alloy wheels

A range of over 50 extras is available, including up to 18-inch alloy wheels, a luggage compartment safety net, fold-down front passenger seat back and a host of infotainment systems – some with navigation systems.

Chassis and active safety

The Astra station wagon delivers pronounced agility and precise handling with a high level of driving safety. The basis for this is the IDS (Interactive Driving System) chassis with McPherson front axle and patented torsion-beam rear axle. Every Astra station wagon comes standard with Electronic Stability Program ESPPlus, Traction Control TCPlus, front and rear disk brakes, the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), brake assist and electro-hydraulic power steering.
The IDSPlus chassis system with electronic Continuous Damping Control (CDC) is also optionally available. The Astra station wagon is predestined for car-trailer combinations with extras such as Automatic Leveling System (ALS), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and trailer stability assist with precision adjustment. The latter’s precise, real-time corrections efficiently reduce instability in the car-trailer combination.

Engines and transmissions

A range of five gasoline and six diesel units with displacements from 1.3 to 2.0 liters and power outputs from 66 to 147 kW (90 to 200 hp) is available for the Astra station wagon. The 1.6-liter gasoline unit (85 kW/115 hp) with continuous variable camshaft phasing and the 132 kW/180 hp turbo version with overboost function are all equipped to meet future exhaust emission standards. This is also true for the two 1.7 CDTI common-rail turbo-diesels with 81 kW/110 hp and 92 kW/125 hp. The 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX with 66 kW/90 hp boasts the most impressive fuel consumption, requiring just 5.1 liters of diesel per 100 km. The transmission range includes five and six-speed manual gearboxes, automated Easytronic five-speed manual transmission, as well as four and six-speed automatics.

Quality and economic efficiency

The Astra station wagon meets the highest standards in quality, reliability and service life. Owners profit from long service intervals and reduced scope of required maintenance, which help minimize operating costs. Thanks to extensive car body galvanization, which Opel backs up with a 12-year anti-perforation warranty, the Astra promises excellent value retention. A further customer benefit is Opel’s two-year new-car manufacturer's warranty that goes far beyond the mandatory guarantee.

Opel Astra Station Wagon: Facts and figures

Timeline

  • May 2004: World premiere at the Madrid Motor Show
  • October 2004: Market sales launch in Germany
  • August 2005: 1.9 CDTI ECOTEC unit with 74 kW/100 hp and 1.3 CDTI ECOTEC engine with 66 kW/90 hp introduced; maintenance-free diesel particulate filter standard with all 1.9 CDTI engines
  • November 2005: 1.8 ECOTEC with 103 kW/140 hp; maintenance-free diesel particulate filter also standard for 1.3 CDTI ECOTEC
  • Fall 2006: Four-speed automatic transmission available for 1.8 ECOTEC unit with
    103 kW/140 hp
  • February 2007: Design and technologically enhanced new edition, new 1.6-liter gasoline and 1.7-liter CDTI engines
  • September 2007: Premiere of Astra station wagon 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX at the IAA
  • Spring 2008: Introduction of INNOVATION equipment line
  • May 2008: 10 millionth Astra in Bochum is a station wagon
  • August 2008: Introduction of 1.4 ecoFLEX variant


Highlights

  • All diesel models come with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter as standard
  • First compact station wagon with (optional) adaptive IDSPlus chassis system including electronic Continuous Damping Control (CDC)
  • First station wagon in segment available with optional AFL bi-xenon headlamp system (Adaptive Forward Lighting) and dynamic curve light as a technical option
  • March 2005: Voted “Car smart to buy” by readers of the magazines “Guter Rat” and “Super Illu”
  • January 2006: Third place in “Auto Bild” magazine’s “Best Value 2006” survey
  • January 2007: Lowest defect rate in TÜV Report 2007
  • April 2007: Following a 100,000 kilometer endurance test, German automotive magazine “auto, motor and sport” says: “... the Astra station wagon is probably the best station wagon Opel has built since 1953”
  • July 2007: According to Bähr & Fess, 1.9 CDTI offers best value retention in its class
  • Most popular equipment variant in Germany in first half of 2008: Edition
  • Most popular engine in Germany in first half of 2008: 1.7 CDTI (81 kW/110 hp)
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