Opel Astra L (2021–present)

From Astra K to Astra L: a new owner, a new platform

The previous Astra K was a General Motors design built in the UK and Poland. By the time its successor was ready, Opel belonged to PSA, and the L arrived ten months after PSA and FCA merged to form Stellantis. The result is a car that shares its hardware with the Peugeot 308 and DS 4 rather than with any GM model.

That change shows in three places. The wheelbase grew by 55 mm (2.2 in) to 2,675 mm (105.3 in), which helps rear legroom. The three-cylinder 1.2 Turbo and the 1.5 diesel came from the PSA parts bin. Most importantly, the EMP2 platform was ready for electrification, so the L could be sold as a plug-in hybrid from launch and as a fully electric car from 2023. Production also moved: series production started in January 2022 at Opel's German home plant, the same factory that builds the DS 4.

There is no saloon and no three-door this time. The range is the five-door hatchback and the Sports Tourer, each also available as a GSe and as an Electric. For the earlier generations and the full timeline back to 1991, see the Opel Astra overview of all generations.

Vizor face, chassis and Intelli-Lux lighting

The front uses Opel's "Vizor" design: a single black panel that runs between the headlights and holds the badge, the grille and the sensors. It first appeared on the GT X Experimental concept of 2018 and reached production on the Mokka before the Astra adopted it.

The suspension is conventional for the class, with MacPherson struts at the front and a compound-link rear axle. All versions drive the front wheels.

Headlights have long been an Astra selling point, and the L continues that with adaptive Intelli-Lux LED units. The January 2026 facelift replaced them with Intelli-Lux HD, which Motor1 describes as a glare-free system with more than 50,000 individual elements. The facelift also brought a light bar split by an illuminated badge, more comfortable standard seats with a central recess to reduce tailbone pressure, seat covers made entirely from recycled material and a vehicle-to-load function on the Electric.

Petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and Astra Electric

At launch Opel offered two petrol engines, one diesel and two plug-in hybrids. A 48-volt mild hybrid followed in February 2024 and the Astra Electric in June 2023. The table lists the main European outputs, with kW first and the metric PS figure that Opel and ADAC quote.

The plug-in hybrid used a 12.3 kWh battery until 2025 and a 17.2 kWh pack after that, according to English Wikipedia. ADAC's catalogue also lists a 144 kW (196 PS) plug-in hybrid with a dual-clutch gearbox among later cars, so check which version a used example is.

The Astra Electric has a 54 kWh battery, of which about 51 kWh is usable, built from CATL cells and mounted under the floor. It charges at 11 kW on three-phase AC and at about 100 kW on a DC fast charger. WLTP range for the pre-facelift car is quoted at about 415 km (258 miles), and EV Database gives a kerb weight of 1,736 kg (3,827 lb). For the 2026 facelift, launch reports quote 55.4 kWh usable and up to 454 km (282 miles) WLTP, a gain of 34 km (21 miles). Opel's earlier electric car, the Ampera-e, was a separate model with no Astra connection.

Astra L dimensions and boot space

Figures are for the hatchback unless stated. Electrified versions lose boot space because the battery sits under the load floor.

If you carry bulky loads, the Sports Tourer is the version to choose: even as a plug-in hybrid it beats the petrol hatchback for space. Other estate cars are listed in our catalogue.

Euro NCAP 2022: why four stars

Euro NCAP tested a left-hand-drive Astra 1.2 Edition in spring 2022 and published four stars in May 2022. The rating covers all Astra L versions, including the plug-in hybrids.

• Adult occupant, 80 %: the cabin stayed stable in the offset test and knee and femur protection was good, but chest protection was marginal in both frontal tests. Side and pole impacts earned maximum points.
• Far-side protection: marginal, and there is no centre airbag between the front occupants.
• Child occupant, 82 %: child seat installation scored 12 out of 12.
• Vulnerable road users, 67 %: autonomous emergency braking for cyclists was good, but pedestrian AEB (4.1 of 9 points) and car-to-car AEB (2.6 of 6) were marginal.
• Safety assist, 66 %: lane support scored 3.5 of 4 and speed assistance 2.5 of 3.

Four stars under the 2022 protocol is not a weak result in absolute terms, but it trails the five stars the Astra K earned in 2015 under easier rules. The two ratings cannot be compared directly.

Choosing an Astra L: version by version

No large reliability survey covers the L yet, and the TÜV Report does not include it, so the choice is mostly about use.

• Low annual mileage, simple ownership: the 1.2 Turbo with 96 kW (130 PS) and the eight-speed automatic. ADAC's catalogue lists the entry 1.2 Turbo with 81 kW at €22,465 for cars built between February and May 2022.
• Long motorway trips: the 1.5 diesel, which offers the most torque of the combustion engines.
• Short commutes with home charging: the plug-in hybrid. ADAC lists the Edition automatic with 133 kW at €35,800 for the same early-2022 build window. Later cars with the larger battery should cover more distance on electricity.
• Driving enthusiasts: the GSe, presented in September 2022 and in showrooms from January 2023, adds the most power of any Astra L.
• Electric only: the Astra Electric; a post-2026 facelift car has the bigger usable battery and longer WLTP range.

The L competes with the Ford Focus and the Kia Ceed, and with its technical twin, the Peugeot 308. Browse other hybrid cars for more plug-in options.