Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric (2023) in the test: Good station wagon?

The good old combination vehicle. In Germany, despite the SUV glut in recent years, a real constant on the automobile market. But somehow this class of vehicle was forgotten by many manufacturers as electrification progressed. Okay… Porsche has the Taycan with an enlarged trunk in its range, Nio has the ET5 Touring. But otherwise? Nothing. Hello Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric. Finally. Test!

What is that, actually?

After the petrol engine, the diesel and the various PHEV models, the Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric completes the eleventh generation Astra family (if we count the Kadett series from A to E), which from now on has a multi-energy approach the start goes. This means: one platform, numerous drive options. Like BMW does, for example. From the X1 or iX1 to the 7 or the i7.

The Astra 5-door and the Astra ST are now available with a 130 hp petrol engine, 130 hp diesel, 180 or 225 hp PHEV drive or now with a 115 kW electric drive. And with no visual distinguishing features whatsoever. Only the slanted “E” on the lightweight thermoplastic tailgate gives the Stromer away. Pretty good, because the current L models of the Astra are already quite attractively designed and the electric models are no exception.

And what is it like inside?

In the cockpit it’s exactly the same as the combustion engine or part-time electric versions. Tidy with the two 10-inch displays, comfortable with the AGR seat (which in the E-Astras is only available for the driver and not with nappa leather for an additional charge), easy to use with the manual buttons for the most important ones Functions and quite spacious too.

Compared to combustion engines, however, you have to make small compromises in terms of trunk volume. At least that’s what you think when you look at the bare numbers. 516 to 1,553 liters compare to 597 to 1,634 liters. After all, a difference of 81 liters each.

But: When determining the load size, the volume under the double loading floor is also taken into account, which, if we’re honest, almost nobody uses anyway. But that’s exactly where the 54 kW battery of the Astra Sports Tourer Electric wastes a bit of space. Exactly these 81 liters.

Other differences to the non-electric Astras?

There is. For example, the payload is lower due to the curb weight of 1,760 to 1,785 kg (depending on equipment). It is 415 to 440 kg. It sounds like a lot, but with four adults on board the Opel, in the best case scenario there is still around 100 kg left for luggage.

And if you’re now thinking: Well, then I’ll just hook up a small trailer, which is optionally available for purchase, then unfortunately we have to disappoint you. The trailer load is exactly 0 kilograms. Why is there still the corresponding part in the surcharge list? Very easy to mount a bike rack on, for example.

Route planning, which visualizes charging points within the map and along the route, is also reserved for the electric sports tourer. But there is a catch not only with trailer operation, but also here: these charging stops (if necessary) are not automatically incorporated into the route guidance.

You can just click on them if necessary and then control them additionally. This feature (as we now know well from other manufacturers) only works if the route is planned in advance using the corresponding smartphone app. Then the route must be transferred from the cell phone to the car. A bit complicated.

In addition, the Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric is 31 percent stiffer than its combustion engine colleagues. This is because the battery, consisting of 17 modules and 102 cells, was integrated into the underbody. A factor that should not be underestimated, as we will soon experience on the road.

So how does he drive now?

To keep this as brief as possible: Very good. And pretty much the same as the five-door model, which my colleague Leichsenring examined in more detail in his test report some time ago. With its 115 kW motor on the front axle, it’s of course not a rocket, but we particularly like the power that develops very naturally.

The maximum torque of 270 Nm is not at 0 rpm, but only at 500 rpm. This somewhat mitigates the kick in the backside that is otherwise common for electric cars when starting off. And you still get around quickly. It goes from standstill to 100 km/h in 9.3 seconds. This makes the Electric not the fastest sports tourer in the Opel range (the two PHEV models are faster), but the 4-cylinder diesel (here in the long-term test) and the 3-cylinder petrol engine (also tested over a longer period of time) beats the M3 motorized model.

The chassis set-up is also successful and copes wonderfully with the curb weight of around 1.8 tonnes. Sounds like a lot of kilos, but in fact the Stromer station wagon is not even 50 kg heavier than its PHEV counterparts. Compared to combustion engines, we are of course talking about differences of 300 to 400 kg.

But the electric drive hides this pretty well. And in conjunction with the low center of gravity and the stiffer underbody, we have probably the most active and agile sports tourer with the most pronounced need for feedback under the rear.

And the consumption and range?

15 to 15.8 kWh/100 km were determined in the WLTP cycle. The manufacturer states the range as 413 km. Theoretically. But even during our test drive at temperatures around freezing point and with a not exactly squeamish driving style, we were able to achieve a value of 18.9 kWh/100km. So even in winter there should still be almost 300 km of distance in one go.

We haven’t been able to check what the charging performance looks like on our short route. A maximum of 100 kW should be possible on the fast charger. Not a fabulous value. Especially when compared to the competition. The battery would be back to 80 percent in around 30 minutes. Certainly not a problem on a family vacation. However, things could get tight for the harried sales representative who moves the electric sports tourer on business and under constant deadline pressure. The fact that a lot of vacuum cleaners would fit in the trunk doesn’t help either.

Is the price right?

At least 43,490 euros is a lot of money for a compact car from Rüsselsheim. For around 1,000 euros more, you can get a Tesla Model Y with more power, more range and, above all, significantly better charging performance. But then you drive an SUV and not a station wagon. The only direct station wagon competition is the Nio ET5 Touring. However, the basic version with a purchased 75 kWh battery and a range of 435 km costs 59,500 euros and is significantly more expensive.

But the Astra Sports Tourer Electric is still fully eligible for funding with a net price of under 40,000 euros. Around 7,000 euros can be deducted from the total bill. And that means you end up (still, because the funding level will change from January 1, 2024) priced somewhere between a petrol engine or a diesel with an automatic and the GS equipment.

Conclusion

Visually an eye-catcher, in terms of electric drive, charging performance and range it’s rather mediocre, the price is acceptable, but as an electric vehicle it’s still pretty unrivaled in this vehicle class. So if you don’t necessarily rely on sprinter qualities on a fast charger and are looking for an electric car in station wagon format, it’s currently quite difficult to get past the Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric.