Opel Reviews

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?This is the top of the range Opel Astra wagon with the diesel auto powertrain and all the fruit.Start price is $35,990 but this vehicle had options taking the price up to and over $40,000.Golf, Focus, Lancer, Mazda3, Corolla, you name it, they've got heads on them like white mice.Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbodiesel four with 121kW/350Nm output driving the front wheels through a conventional six speed automatic transmission.Remarkably well. With 350Nm of torque on tap from just 1750 revs, finding power to overtake is never a problem. Steering is tight with reasonable driver feedback and the brakes are excellent, with the auto gearbox providing nice engine braking to compliment the brakes.It's a diesel, so the answer is a big, smelly, noisy YES. That's a bit unfair, however, with the little diesel engine purring as smoothly as most petrol engines. Agricultural diesel engines appear to be a thing of the past for modern cars. Expect around 6.0 litres/100kms.In terms of fuel use, yes. Low carbon dioxide output too and the car would have a relatively green manufacturing process.Sure is. Along with a Five-Star ANCAP rating, it has six airbags, countless electronic safety devices and, for passive safety, the excellent brakes and handling keep it out of trouble.It's a tight-ish cabin, but very comfortable. Might be a little claustrophobic for those with larger frames. The load space is generous and expandable to huge. Access to the cabin is facilitated by decent size doors and the rear hatch open high and wide.Great. Certainly doesn't feel like a diesel, there's great steering feedback for a car of this kind and it has a suburb set of brakes. Steering is quite direct and the suspension tuned to give a nice balance of handling and comfort.It's a great kit, but perhaps not the greatest value for money given how many good deals are around and how cheap the near new secondhand market is.No. As enjoyable a drive as it is, at around $40,000 there's a lot of choice. If it was a little cheaper it would feature more prominently on our `wish list'. 

Opel Astra Select and Toyota Corolla Levin go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Immigrants have often found Australia an unusual settlement. Nothing bad, just different. Post-war citizens from overseas learnt that by working hard, and being patient, rewards can be substantial.Right now Opel - the German arm of General Motors that once made the Astra for Holden - must be quietly bubbling in its patience. It opened its doors on September 1 and, to the end of October, has sold 279 cars. In October it sold 105 cars - the same as Fiat.A bit like Audi's early life in Australia, in fact, but look at Audi now. If the economy stays warm and buyer confidence is buoyant, Opel has a chance. If its products correctly reflect German quality and offer value for money above a voracious pack of Japanese and Korean rivals, it will do well. Judging by the Astra, success is certainly possible.This is the Opel Astra Select CDTi - the mid-level turbo-diesel hatch that costs $33,990 with automatic transmission and an extra $2500 for possibly the car industry's most comfortable leather-trimmed, heated seats. The seat option is very expensive, especially considering all the work has gone into moulding the front two and the rear seat merely feels like a reskin.Standard kit on Select includes 17-inch alloys, sat-nav, electric park brake, dual-zone climatic aircon, front and rear park sensors, seven-speaker audio with iPod/USB connectivity and Bluetooth with voice control. Good news for doubters is the $299 once-a-year capped price service for the three-year warranty period.Externally, the Astra mirrors German functionality and efficient styling. It's more rounded in its shape than rival Golf, but that at least gives Astra its identity. The Australian Astra is the latest from the factory, introduced in Europe as a facelift in June.Aggressively slanted headlights look distinctive from the front but it's best view is the rear's boat-tail rear with its bowed window. There's room for four adults inside but rear seat legroom comes up a bit short. Boot space is class average, slightly more than Mazda3.Cabin design is attractive, well finished with soft-feel plastics and tight panel gaps, and simple to navigate. Even the myriad of centre-console switches are sized to fit human fingers and have logic in their arrangement.The turbo-diesel engine is relatively new to Astra. Based on a 2009-launched engine, it has power upgrades (now 121kW/350Nm) and stop-start for a claimed 5.9 L/100km. On my primary suburban test it achieved 7.2 L/100km. There's not a lot of skimping with chassis gear.The Astra has an additional Watts link in the rear suspension to maintain ride comfort while enhancing handling, electric steering and a six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode. The ergonomic AGR seats are superb, but an expensive option.Astra is a five-star crash-rated car with six airbags, electronic stability and traction control, active head restraints, a pedal release system in the event of a collision, heated side mirrors, auto headlights and wipers, and front and rear parking sensors. The spare is a space-saver.No masking the fact this is a diesel. The engine makes itself known at idle and audibly grumbles when pushed at low revs. But it's near silent at mid-range speeds when cruising or coasting and has a delightful surge of torque when called on at anything around 2500rpm.Personally it can be a fun engine but a the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol alternative is better, and $3000 cheaper. The auto suits it perfectly and even does a decent job of countering the low-speed turbo lag - though the manual mode of the gearbox is a better remedy.Though electric, the steering is very good both in feel and its positive input to the wheels, while the handling is good though tends to cater more for occupant comfort. It is not as firm as some rivals. Perhaps the optional seats did most of the cushioning and support. Rear vision is a weak spot but there are standard park sensors.Diesel may suit country folk but turbo-petrol 1.6 wins for city buyers. Very good hatch for individual buyers but has lots of hungry competitors.

Wow, what a good looking car. Opel's new Astra Sport hatch is right up there with the best of them in terms of style. It really cuts a fine silhouette on the street, especially the one we were driving - the top of the range Astra retailing for $33,490 for the six-speed manual.Our drive car was a $40 grand plus proposition with six-speed auto, Flex-ride chassis and adaptive forward lighting all adding two grand apiece as well as another $700 for metallic paint and a grand for the 19-inch wheels over the standard 18s.We were somewhat sceptical about Opel Australia's mission to lift itself into the premium category but this car could carry it off. It offers a premium drive feel, the interior is attractive and functional and build quality is at least the equal of the competition.But at the money, it's going to struggle against the likes of Mazda3 SP25 (two grand less), Lancer VRX (four grand less) and Ford Focus Sport (nearly six grand less).This is the newest car on the block featuring a swag of goodies including lowered sports suspension and sporty steering, rear spoiler, dual zone climate control, premium audio, satnav, seat heaters, chiropractic seats, Bluetooth phone with voice control, auto dim rear view mirror, auto wipers and head lights, cruise, electric park brake and a speed limiter among its generous equipment.But there's no paddle shift and it has a space saver spare. Minor complaints in the greater scheme of things.Power comes from a turbo 1.6-litre petrol four rated at 132kW/230Nm output. It goes better in Sport mode offering quicker throttle response and a more “live” feeling from the chassis. Fuel economy is a creditable 7.3-litres/100km for the manual, a little more from the auto which does a 0-100kmh sprint in 9.0 seconds.Comfortable with a sporty edge is how we'd describe Astra's ride which also makes the car quite handy in the twisty bits. Love the seats and the large load space but rear seat legroom is a bit tight with large front seat passengers.From the driver's seat it's all positive - nothing to complain about - goes well, plenty of roll on acceleration, smooth, quiet, controlled.It's just the price that's the issue... because the competition is stove hot.

The Opel Insignia Tourer aimed directly at the likes of Peugeot's 508, Passat wagon, Citroen C5 Tourer, Mondeo wagon, even the Hyundai i40 wagon. Not forgetting the new generation Mazda6 wagon due early next year. So what has Opel done to lure buyers?Opel's Aussie line-up tops out with this medium size car -- the diesel Insignia Select wagon called Sports Tourer. It sells for $48,990 but if you don't want all the luxury kit, there is another, same under the skin for $41,990.Select grade brings a generous level of features including a set of striking 19-inch alloys, leather upholstery with extendable front seat squabs (also heated and ventilated), adaptive bi-xenon lighting with auto dim and satnav, the latter being optional on all other Opels sold here.Inside you'll also find Bluetooth phone, seven speaker audio, cruise, dual zone climate control, electric park brake and sports pedals. Obviously, there's plenty more.Insignia scores a five star Euro NCAP rating with all that brings including six air bags and stability control. It also has seats designed to comply with the German Healthy Backs Association. They're excellent. Exterior styling is distinctive with handsome frontal treatment and really attractive rear styling featuring a large tailgate and integrated tail lights.They've even fitted supplementary safety lights at the rear for when the tailgate is up.Load carrying capacity is generous in a car that isn't quite as large externally as some of the competition. Fold the rear seats and you can chuck just about anything in there. We like the LED daytime driving lights and the dark privacy glass from the rear windows back. The space saver we don't like.They've really made it sporty with firm suspension, lower ride height and quick steering response and the turbo diesel engine has plenty of kick pretty much from idle.It's good for 118kW/350Nm output and sips fuel at the rate of 6.0-litres/100km. The engine isn't the smoothest or quietest diesel we've driven recently but it certainly delivers in the get-go department as well as passing Euro 5 emissions regulations.The six-speed auto transmission provides appropriate gearing for the engine and makes slick changes up and down the range, but there's no paddle shift.Insignia stacks up well on all counts: performance, safety, features, style, drive feel though some might think it's too stiff in the suspension.

Opel is pitching itself as a "premium" brand, but you don't have to be very old to remember earlier Opel products sold here as 'garden variety' Holdens; Barina and Astra. So what changed between then and now. Not much really if you look at the Opel Corsa.PREMIUM?We got hold of a Corsa Enjoy five door auto last week and it's pretty much like all the other cars in the segment, a little behind the times in some areas, a bit bigger in some areas, a little different. Premium? We think not. Our car had wind up rear windows, something we thought had been consigned into car history. It misses out on a centre console arm rest, has an overwhelmingly hard plastic dash and a four-speed auto.VALUEThe Enjoy model brings with it plenty of kit including climate control, trip computer, piano black dash trim, steering wheel controls, cruise, keyless entry, seven speaker audio and other goodies.Our car had the $2000 tech pack that included adaptive headlights, rear park assist, auto dim rear view mirror and auto lights and wipers all what you'd consider premium features. The striking light blue metallic paint costs an extra $600 on the Enjoy auto's ticket price of $20,990.TECHNOLOGYThe Corsa’s engine is a twin cam 1.4-litre petrol four cylinder with variable valve timing lifted from the Cruze (without the turbo) Barina and other GM products and is good for 74kW/130Nm. The best fuel economy we saw was 7.4-litres/100km. It passes Euro 5 emissions regulations.DESIGNIt looks cheeky with a pert rear end and eagle-eye headlights -- in this case fitted with the optional adaptive see-around-corners system. The interior is roomy for the light class and there's a decent load space with a cunning two-tier floor for hiding stuff. The seats were comfortable with some side bolster support for fast cornering and the handling itself isn't too bad to a point.SAFETYIt gets a five star crash rating with six air bags and stability control among safety features.DRIVINGInitial steering turn-in is sharp with a sporty feel but push harder and the Corsa struggles. It loads up the front outside wheel and lifts the inside rear so the limits are clearly defined. Ride comfort is good from the strut front and torsion beam suspension but the rear drum brakes were a bit of a shock.We found the four-speed auto annoying particularly on highway uphills where it hunts from third to fourth to maintain a given speed. Performance can best be described as adequate. It might be different in the manual. We drove the Corsa for about 600km on the highway and urban roads and found it pleasant enough. The ride is comfortable but the trip computer and other electronic controls such as the air conditioning are difficult to master. It has a space saver spare.VERDICTCorsa is in against a swag of really good light cars: Ford's Fiesta, Holden Barina, Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio to name a few. Against competition such as this, the more than four-year-old Corsa struggles a bit.Opel CorsaPrice: from $18,990 (manual) and $20,990 (auto)Warranty: Three years/100,000kmResale: N/AEngine: 1.4-litre four cylinder, 74kW/130NmTransmission: Five-speed manual, four-speed auto; FWDSafety: Six airbags, ABS, ESC, TCCrash rating: Five starsBody: 3999mm (L), 1944mm (W), 1488mm (H)Weight: 1092kg (manual) 1077kg (auto)Thirst: 5.8L/100km, 136g/km CO2 (manual; 6.3L/100m 145g/km CO2 (auto)

Turning up to the party in old clothes rarely makes a good first impression but the Opel Corsa has no choice. The brand has arrived in Australia and has to launch with the cars already on sale in Europe.The Corsa is a car that first rolled off the production line in 2006 and despite a nose job and suspension update in late 2010, the interior is right down there with the Nissan Almera. Except it's $2000 more. And that does few favours to the pretender to VW's throne as an aspirational mainstream brand.VALUEThe Corsa starts at $18,990 with a five-speed manual mated to a 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine. The four-speed auto adds $2000 and a tech pack, that adds adaptive and automatic halogen headlamps, rear park sensors, a self-dimming rearview mirror and rain-sensing wipers is another $1250.Standard gear includes cruise control, keyless entry and 16-inch alloys, along with Bluetooth connectivity. USB/iPod inputs have also been added to model year 2013 cars, in another sign the Corsa is playing catch-up with the VW Polo 77TSI and Ford Fiesta LX, both of which kick off at the same $18,990 price and come with more modern interiors. Opel does include fixed fee scheduled servicing ($249 a hit) for the first three years or 45,000km, though.TECHNOLOGYWhen you're trying to kick goals in the light car class, age does weary you. The Corsa's chassis is solid enough and the "FlexFloor" boot is a smart piece of kit but that's about it for the baby Opel. The Bluetooth system doesn't stream audio and the infotainment display, while it has plenty of features, is presented in an orange monochrome that certainly won't be highlighted by the sales staff.DESIGNThe exterior is conservative, especially when parked alongside newer vehicles. The lines are simple but effective - functionality is at the fore in what is a smartly packaged light hatch. Rear seat leg and headroom is good enough for occasional adult use and more than up to the task of transporting young teens. There aren't enough storage spaces in the interior compared to its more modern rivals ... but there's a new Corsa on the way in 2014, at which point it should jump back to near the top of the heap.SAFETYEuroNCAP gave the Corsa a five-star rating for adult protection when it was tested in 2006, though it hasn't been crashed locally. European engineering ensures the basic structure is well designed and put together. The brakes - front discs and rear drums - are competent and linked to the ABS software with traction and stability control. Six airbags soften the blow if things go wrong.DRIVINGAs basic transport the Corsa doesn't disappoint... but it doesn't excite, either. Sprinting from rest to 100km/h takes a lethargic 13.9 seconds in the manual, reflecting the lack of torque from the 1.4-litre engine. Carsguide can't see the $2000-dearer four-speed auto version doing any better. The electric steering is direct, though it favours lightness over feedback.And that doesn't inspire confidence to push through corners, despite the chassis and suspension keeping the car tidy even on roughed-up roads. The false-floor hatch set-up is a smart addition, but it isn't going to put bums in seats. In short, you'd really have to want the Opel badge to consider the Corsa. It's not Opel Australia's fault - they had to launch with the products in the range, but I'd be holding off for the new car which will be much more representative of the brand.VERDICT A solid car that was up there with the class leaders when it launched. Times have changed and others - the Polo, Fiesta and Mazda2 - reflect the advances in technology and represent better value.Opel Corsa EnjoyPrice: $18,990Warranty: Three years/100,000kmResale: N/AService Intervals: 12 months/15,000kmEngine: 1.4-litre four cylinder, 74kW/130NmTransmission: Five-speed manual, four-speed autoSafety: Six airbags, ABS, ESC, TCCrash rating: Five starsBody: 4m (L), 1.94m (W), 1.48m (H)Weight: 1092kg (manual) 1077kg (auto)Thirst: 5.8L/100km, 136g/km CO2Spare: Space-saver

GM's Opel brand launches here next week. We get an exclusive first drive of the range-topping Insignia sedan. There’s a new badge in town and it plans to lay down the law in the mid-size segment.The Opel logo may not be familiar but the cars are no strangers to local roads. In the past they've worn Holden emblems and earned a big following. The Astra we all know. Some might not know that Barina used to be an Opel Corsa.All is about to change with the launch of the German-based brand here. Carsguide has sampled an exclusive pre-production drive of the company's range-topping sedan -- and we like it.Unlike the small car class, price isn't the major buying factor in the mid-size segment. Opel has aimed for the high ground, specifying the Insignia sedan and wagon with enough standard gear to shame most of its competition.Opel's claim to fame in Australia will be German build quality wrapped around Asian car makers' spec levels. Opel isn't claiming to be a prestige brand, so it pits itself against the best of the European mass-market rivals.That means the Volkswagen Passat and Ford's Mondeo are directly in the beam of Insignia's xenon headlamps. The Accord Euro is in the mix as well -- age hasn't wearied the mid-size Honda and its dynamics are still among the best in the class.Pricing hasn't been set but Carsguide expects the base sedan to start about $39,000 -- or right on Passat money. The up-spec Select variant is likely to be about $45,000. They share a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine -- a turbo diesel of the same displacement will probably be $2000 more -- and the wagon is similarly expected to be a $2000 premium over the sedan.Standard gear on the top model tested by Carsguide includes 19-inch alloys, seven-speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control, seven-inch infotainment display, satnav and automatic lights and wipers.The seats are heated and cooled and are the only production car pews officially approved by the German chiropractic association to help your back -- although there is only electric assistance for lumbar support and vertical adjustment.This is the 2009 European Car of the Year and for very good reason. The engine is crisp, the transmission smooth and there are enough software tweaks to satisfy first-adopter technophiles. European cars have the option of all-wheel drive and that is expected to appear here in the performance OPC model -- if and when Opel Australia announces we're getting the halo variant.A “FlexRide'' adaptive damping system will be an option. The system can be manually adjusted from sport to tour, or left in auto to map its own settings based on the driver and car's behaviour. Not that there's anything wrong with the basic package.The sweeping roofline on the Insignia sedan almost entitles it to four-door coupe status but rear headroom is better than those vehicles. A boot lip spoiler will be standard on Aussie models but was missing from our pre-production drive and the cluttered centre console on our test car will be simplified with an infotainment controller between the front seats.The wraparound look that extends to the doors is slick, unlike the controls on the steering column stalks, which suffer from the fact they're shared with the unloved Holden Epica. But that is one of the few areas where the Opel shows its age as a 2008 model, along with the lack of stowage options for the junk most people pack into a car these days.The upside is that the 500-litre boot should satisfy most owners' haulage needs and there's always the wagon for those wanting greater load capacity.Euro NCAP says the Insignia is a five-star car for safety. All variants have six airbags, electronic stability and traction control linked to the ABS and four-way active headrests, along with seat belt reminders for both front occupants.The biggest criticism of the car from the crash-testing group was for its pedestrian safety -- the sheep who invite disaster by ignoring road rules while walking with buds in their ears might want to stroll in front of something else. Like a bicycle.The Insignia's date with a television camera meant Carsguide couldn't push its dynamics to the limit. Something about paint chips not looking good in the launch commercial. As it transpired, we didn't need to -- the chassis and suspension are right up there with those of the Passat and Mondeo at anything approaching highway speeds.The ride is consistent with Euro-built cars in that it trades initial damping over minor bumps for more suppleness as the pace or severity of the hit increases. There's a touch of play in the steering straight on, but the feel and weight improve as more lock is applied. The brakes are great -- repeated emergency stops didn't faze them -- and acceleration is class-leading at 7.8 seconds from rest to 100km/h.The Insignia ticks most of the boxes -- excluding the non-electric front seats -- for mid-sized buyers. It drives better than most cars in the class, looks good and has an upmarket interior feel. Let the battle commence.

Two long-time Australian favourites, Astra and Corsa - think Barina - are back for business as Opel sets up shop down under. There are actually three models in the Opel start-up crew for September 1, but it's the Astra that is doing the heavy lifting with the baby Corsa as the price leader and the larger Insignia aimed at families.All three feel Germanically strong and solid, based on a 'speed dating' introduction drive today in rural NSW, but it's the price and value that will be crucial as Opel positions itself against Volkswagen in Australia. "The countdown is over. Our arrival in Australia will be something special," says Bill Mott, managing director for Opel Australia.He admits that Opel is getting a head start with the Astra, which was a long-term winner as a Holden, but says the car's following could also cause problems."This Astra is both a real help to us but, as a new brand, an issue that we've got to address. We have to tell the truth and tell the truth well. The truth is that Astra was here and it was always an Opel," he says.We cannot reveal the pricing details yet, but the early impression is pretty good. Especially since Opel picked some truly awful roads that are never going to flatter any car.The Corsa is chunky and solid - although the cabin quality is more like a superseded Korean baby - with the driving feel that will impress people who might shop it against a VW Polo. The seats are a bit bench-like and the dash is dated, but it's still a car that is nice enough to drive.The Insignia is roomy, comfortable and nice to drive. It's also well equipped, but goes up against a huge range of mid-sized rivals from the VW Passat to the Ford Mondeo and the Skoda Superb, a long-term Carsguide favourite.Which brings us to the Astra, which comes as a five-door hatch, five-door wagon and great looking GTC coupe. They will turn heads and also drive well, although we can quibble about details like the overly-firm suspension in a wagon running 18-inch wheels.The headliner is the GTC 1.6 turbo, complete with magnetically-adjustable suspension similar to the system used by HSV, and it will be a solid rival to the Golf GTi. it's not nearly as brisk, but it has a good chassis and nice touches including an adult-sized rear seat.So the first signs are promising, although there is a long way to go and a lot that is still to be discovered. 

The Astra is back. But don't go looking at your Holden dealer for the long-time small-car favourite. This time around, everything but the name has changed as the Astra spearheads a downunder drive by Opel of Germany.Opel always did the Astra, but now it's reclaimed its prize child and is using an impressive new GTC coupe - and a reasonable $23,990 starting price for a five-door hatch - to headline for a three-model lineup that is intended to grow rapidly in a planned challenge to Volkswagen for European bragging rights in Australia.The Astra is joined by the baby Corsa - once the Holden Barina - and the family-sized Insignia, previewed already by Carsguide and available as both a sedan and a wagon called the Sports Tourer.So this is not a just a showroom launch for the Astra, even though it's the key, but a brand launch for Opel. To put the new Opels into focus, they are not pitched back against Holden but up against Volkswagen and Peugeot and some of the upscale Japanese brands. At least, that's the thinking by the Opel planners who have set up 17 dealers around Australia for the start of sales on September 1.The key message from Opel is that the brand is German, led by design, and has similar strengths to Volkswagen. How buyers will react, especially as there are more than 50 different brands in Australia in 2012, is a very big question, but Opel Australia's boss, Bill Mott, is - as you'd expect - confident."The countdown is over. "Customer choices are changing. We believe we have a product and a brand suited to this changing market," says Mott. He promises a growing range and an expanding dealer network, but says Astra is the key. "We're entering in segments which are ... headed for further growth. I think it would be considerably tougher without Astra," he says."This Astra is both a real help to us but, as a new brand, an issue that we've got to address. We have to tell the truth and tell the truth well. The truth is that Astra was here and it was always an Opel."Holden dumped the Astra because it could get cheaper baby cars from Daewoo in Korea, but Opel is doing all it can to build good value into its cars. "I'm confident we have done our homework," says Mott. It's been helped massively by the strength of the Australia dollar, which means the bottom line for an Astra is reasonable but not outstanding.So it runs from $23,990 for the five-door 1.4-litre petrol turbo. That's not great when you can get a similarly-sized Toyota Corolla for less than $20,000, but it's right in the heartland for European small cars and looks good enough against the cheapest Golf at $21,990 with less power and - Opel says - less standard equipment. The mainstream bodies are the five-door hatch and Sports Tourer wagon, while the run up the range goes to the 2-litre turbo diesel from $27,990 and the 1.6-litre turbo petrol from $28,990.An automatic gearbox is a predictable $2000 extra and there are a variety of trim levels and option packs. But the headliner is the GTC coupe, priced from $28,990 with a 1.4 turbo or $34,90 with the punchier GTC. "We really believe the Astra GTC is a unique animal. It's an attainable dream car."Opel has always done great engineering work, getting the basics right on the chassis and moving up from there. There is nothing revolutionary about the Astra package, but the various engines make solid power and torque, there are six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes - auto only in the Sports Tourer - Watts-link rear suspension and things like bi-Xenon lamps, alloys wheels and even an electric boot release and a system that flips the back seat flat in the wagon.Extra equipment includes a premium centre console and even special ergonomic sports seats, as well as an adaptive lighting system with cornering lights and auto dipping. And the GTC?The chassis is tweaked with the usual sports settings, but there is also a HiPerStrut front suspension for better grip and feedback, optional magnetically-controlled Flexride dampers - similar to those used on some HSV Commodores - and 18-inch alloys, electric power steering and more. All Astras come with Bluetooth connectivity.This is a key for Opel, which wants its cars to stand out in traffic. Australian-born Nils Loeb, who heads exterior design at Opel, is special guest at the press preview of the cars and talks passionately about the company's philosophy. "We are the emotional German brand," he says. The cars definitely look good, and the GTC really stands out even against good lookers like the Renault Megane, but it's the attention to detail that is most impressive.The dashboards are more than just flat plastic panels, the switches look and feel good, and Loeb admits Opel chooses bigger wheels for its cars "Because they look good".Six airbags in all models. All cars have five-star EuroNCAP scores. Enough said.Good, but not great. That's the bottom line. Starting at the bottom, the basic Astra hatch feels rock-solid and responsive. The 1.4-litre engine is nothing special but the 1.6 has more than enough go for the job and promises fuel economy better than 8 litres/100km.Looking around, both the hatch and Sports Tourer have impressive design and finishing - way better than the Corsa, which is like an old-generation Korean in the cabin - from the dash layout to the seat comfort. Thankfully, Opel is staying old-school with push-button switches, not a fancy iDrive-style controller, and everything you need is included from solid aircon to the Bluetooth connectivity.The wagon is slightly more impressive than the hatch, thanks to good space in both the back seat and luggage area, and gives nothing away for driving enjoyment. But ... there is wind noise, the tyres rumble a lot on nasty surfaces in regional NSW, and the general feel of the car is not as plush or refined as a Golf. It's nice, for sure, but not any sort of a breakthrough.Which brings us to the GTC. The headliner coupe is seriously cool, and a real looker, yet somehow there seems to have more space in the back seat than in the hatch. The basic car gets along reasonably, not that it will matter to fashion-conscious buyers, but it's the 1.6 with FlexRide suspension that's the one to love.The switchable FlexRide also adjusts the steering and throttle response, taking the car from OK to keen and sharp in milliseconds. It has great grip and can easily cope with more power - as we'll eventually confirm once Opel Australia gets a go-ahead for the hotrod OPC model. The first impression of the Astra is much as expected, particularly after so many years on the books at Holden.The major change is more flair in the design, and a promise that fixed-price servicing will give buyers the confidence they need to commit to the cars.So good, and good enough, but we'll know more once we line the Astra up against the Golf and our current small-car favourite, the Toyota Corolla.