For the second week in-row I’m in a new Opel Astra. Last week the electric version of the regular Astra was very impressive, but this week it got even better as I drove the Astra Sports Tourer version of the 8th generation Astra and the engine was diesel, so no charging worries.
Traditionally Irish motorists don’t seem to buy estates or station wagons as they used to be called, in large numbers. But I’m told that the Astra ST (Sports Tourer) is very popular in mainland Europe.
In the old days when we had independent newsagents in every town and village around the country estates were popular as the shop owners made regular trips to various cash and carry outlets to purchase merchandise.
No worries about charging in the ST as the information on the screen told me the range with a full tank of diesel was 860km. After some steady motorway driving I could see the range rapidly increase. The following day after a relaxing trip on what was a very empty M50 the range rose to 920km.
This is one of the real benefits with diesel cars, the steadier you drive the car you will see the range rapidly increase. A few years back in another new diesel engine car I drove from Dublin to Athlone on the motorway and by the time I got back to Dublin the range was higher than when I left.
My test car was black and it looked very impressive. The sleek-black look was topped off with 18-inch Pentagon Alloys. Those alloys were not from the Washington area, but from India.
Inside, the décor is mainly black and on the controls on the dash are tilted very slightly towards the driver. The graphics on the infotainment screen are easy to read. There is also row of manual controls underneath for quick access to the heater, de-mister and a good old-fashioned manual button for the volume on the radio. And like the Electric Astra, there is keyless entry once the key is in your pocket or handbag.
The Sports Tourer is 4,642 mm long, 1,860mm wide and 1,480mm high, with a loading height of around 600mm. The boot will accommodate up to 608 litres of luggage and that almost trebles to 1,634 litres with the back seat folded down. And the really good news is that you get a proper spare wheel, which is a rarity nowadays.
The 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine in the Astra ST is very quiet and the car is very comfortable to drive and travel in. Like the Astra EV the interior is predominantly black.
Apart from shopkeepers visiting cash and carry outlets, I think the Sports Tourer would also be ideal for families who like the outdoor life and want to take their dogs for a walk in the mountains or near the seaside.
Maybe you want to holiday in Ireland this year and you might need to take your winter clothes, spring clothes and summer clothes with you; you could need them all. Well, a car like the Sports Tourer would, I think, be ideal.
Prices start at €31,295, but the version I tested with some extras will cost you €43,195. Road tax is €210.
SUV’s seem to be the choice of many motorists in recent years, but maybe it’s time for some of the younger generation to think about an estate car like the Astra ST for work or for family use. They won’t be disappointed.
