Was Opel Astra H the Most Innovative of Its Time?
In the year 2004, Opel managed to incorporate luxury segment features into a compact hatchback. This model, with unprecedented technologies in its class, was the Astra’s H-coded generation. Exactly 1 year later, a 3-door hatchback model was introduced under the name GTC. The GTC actually replaced the previously available coupe version. The cabrio version, with its elegant design and a hard three-piece top, had replaced the hard-top cabriolet, making it the most handsome car among hard-top cabriolets. Opel was undergoing a transformation.
What were the innovations on the Astra? What about this rich hardware? Astra H, one of the first vehicles in its class to offer keyless entry and start, was the first car in the world to come standard with digital radio. AFL headlights, which are sensitive to steering responses, were also a first in their class. The suspension system, named IDS+, which could be adjusted for stiffness, was a first in its class. CDC, continuously controlling the suspension system to provide a more dynamic driving experience, was an unprecedented feature in its class. The Sport mode, which increased steering stiffness, suspension stiffness, and throttle response, along with features like a color entertainment screen, heated seats, cruise control, and many others, was revolutionary for its class. Astra H also had comfort and safety-focused equipment such as a tire pressure level indicator, rain sensor, and heated side mirrors. It had an advanced onboard computer and sensor network that was well beyond its time.
In the 3-door version of the Astra H, the GTC version, the panoramic front windshield, used for the first time in a car, added a very different atmosphere to the vehicle. This design, now synonymous with the Tesla Model X, was actually used in a compact segment German car a decade ago. The panoramic front windshield, also used in the Astra J GTC model, was not later used in another Opel model. Wheel sizes of up to 19 inches made the Astra the car with the largest wheels in its class.
In the Twintop version, instead of using a 2-piece retractable roof like its competitors, Opel used a 3-piece roof, offering one of the largest trunks and the biggest rear living space in its class. Design-wise, the Astra Twintop, which was more attractive than its competitors with 2-piece roofs, did not offer the glass roof option found in Volkswagen Eos and Renault Megane CC. In the Cosmo equipment package, the Astra Twintop allowed you to open and close the roof via the ignition key. It also had hidden rollover bars to protect occupants in the event of an accident.
The station wagon version, called Caravan, and the sedan version were among the most practical models in the family. The sedan version, the latest addition to the family, was first introduced at the International Auto Show in Turkey. Another member of the family was the Astravan, a 3-door commercial version of the Station Wagon. The wheelbase of these versions was 9 cm longer than the other versions.
The Astra OPC, based on the GTC, became the most powerful in its class with its 2.0-liter engine producing 240 horsepower. With front-wheel drive, the Astra OPC completed the 0-100 kilometers/hour acceleration slower than its less powerful competitors in its class. Additionally, during this acceleration, there was a potentially dangerous situation known as torque steer, where the steering wheel could turn when you applied the throttle.
The main reason for Astra H not becoming the best-selling in its class was the poor engine and transmission options. The absence of turbocharged petrol engines, inadequate performance of the 1.3-liter diesel engine, the lack of popularity for high-displacement engines that sell well abroad in countries like Turkey where taxes are based on engine displacement, and the discomfort and inefficiency of the semi-automatic transmission called Easytronic were significant factors that greatly affected the vehicle’s sales. Additionally, while the stiff suspension system improved road handling, its discomfort on rough surfaces, coupled with the fact that not everyone drove this car on German autobahns, impacted comfort and sales.
Astra H was sold as the Saturn Astra in North America, Chevrolet Astra and Chevrolet Vectra in South America, Holden Astra in Australia and New Zealand, Vauxhall Astra in the United Kingdom, and Opel Astra in Europe and Africa. With a total of 18 different engines sold globally, the Astra reached almost every corner of the world. How do you find the Opel Astra H?