1991 OPEL Astra 3 Doors 1.8 i 4AT FWD (90 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Opel made a bold move at the beginning of the ’90s by retiring the Kadett nameplate from its inventory and introducing the Astra moniker in various shapes, including a three-door hatchback.

The German carmaker was still under GM’s umbrella when it launched the Astra. With the new name, Opel tried to also attract older people, not only young buyers. After all, retired customers didn’t want to buy a vehicle that was named Kadett since it meant young soldier.

But nevertheless, the three-door hatchback was clearly designed for the younger generation. A generation that still dreamed about the sporty feeling of the former Kadett GSI. The carmaker’s designers made the Astra with narrow headlights and grille, crossed by a thin slat. Its profile revealed the straight line theme carried over from the Kadett. Its long doors allowed an easier ingress and egress for the rear passengers, while the wide side windows between the B- and C-pillars ensured proper visibility for those inside the cabin. At the back, the raked-forward tailgate followed the same idea from the Kadett hatchback.

Inside, Opel placed its bets on a simple, functional interior centered around the driver. For that, it installed a tilted center stack, with easy-to-reach climate control buttons on the lower side and the stereo cassette above it. In the instrument panel, the carmaker placed the speedometer in the middle, flanked on the sides by the tachometer, and a common area for the fuel and coolant temperature gauges. Opel designed new seats for the Astra, with no bolstering on the sides. A set of sportier seats was on the options list.

Under the hood, Opel installed seven gasoline and two oil burners. The diesel versions were supplied by Isuzu and were offered with or without a turbocharger.