While manufacturers such as Volkswagen or Mercedes have given their electric versions their home as an independent product family with a special design, sub-brand and appropriate designation, Opel is following the BMW path and giving customers the choice of which drive they want to use, regardless of the car model: Electric, petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid. The flexible drive concept does not change anything in terms of appearance, and the new Opel Astra Electric looks like a normal compact class model from Rüsselsheim - either with a hatchback body or as a particularly versatile estate car.

However, the drive differs significantly from the combustion models and the engine is already known from the identically motorized Peugeot e-308. An electric motor with 115 kW / 156 hp and a maximum torque of 270 Nm works under the hood of the Opel Astra Electric, whose boot lid still has the small “e” emblazoned on it despite the name Astra Electric. While many competitors already limit speeds of 150 or 160 km/h, the Rüsselsheim-based vehicle can reach speeds of at least 170 km/h and is therefore definitely more suitable for long-distance journeys than some of its competitors. The driver can choose between the three driving modes Eco, Normal and Sport. The size of the battery pack is not variable and not too big at 54 kWh. However, due to the low standard consumption of 14.9 kWh / 100 kilometers, the electric front-wheel drive vehicle has an electric range of more than 410 kilometers. However, the charging speed is manageable, because the competitor from VW ID3, Renault Megane E-Tech or Peugeot e-308 refuels at a fast charging station with a maximum of 100 kilowatts. After all, the battery pack in the underbody with its 102 cells in 17 air-conditioned modules can be boosted to up to 80 percent in just over half an hour.

If the space available in the normal hatchback variant is not enough, you can also opt for the Sports Tourer in the Opel Astra Electric, which offers a volume of 516 liters of cargo space behind the rear seats. Whoever folds down the rear seats uses a long loading area and a volume of up to 1,553 litres. Apart from the standard 18-inch wheels, the equipment is largely identical to that of the well-known Astra versions. Market launch for the new Opel Astra Electric should be in the middle of next year. In terms of price, it should start just above the level of the plug-in hybrid and thus above 40,000 euros.