1994 OPEL Astra 3 Doors 1.7L TD 5MT FWD (68 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Three years after the launch of the new lineup, Opel refreshed the Astra and revealed a sportier-looking three-door version.

While the non-facelifted three-door Astra was almost dull, its refreshed version became more popular, and it wasn’t just for the engine lineup but for the slight touches here and there that made it more appealing. Moreover, the customers already knew what they could expect from Opel’s compact hatchback.

The 1994 Astra lost the horizontal slats that made it look like an ’80s car. It’s wide opening with a black mesh-grille at the front sported the chromed Opel badge in the middle. The headlights were flush to it and featured a trim on their inner and lower sides that integrated them better with the front bumper. Its clear turn signals with yellow bulbs also improved the overall front look. Yet, the carmaker placed a bumper with a rounded grille at the bottom, crossed by a horizontal slat that looked bland. The ascending beltline and the slightly enlarged rear fenders gave the car a sportier look. A roof-spoiler adorned the top of the raked-forward tailgate.

Inside, depending on the engine and trim level, Opel provided bolstered bucket seats for the front occupants and a flat bench in the back. The new dashboard included a passenger airbag, improving the car’s safety rankings. Opel offered an option for a CD player on the center stack for the top trim levels, while the base version remained without any radio. The rear folding rear bench increased the trunk space from 360 liters (12.7 cu-ft) up to 1,200 liters (42.3 cu-ft).

Since the car had to comply with the Euro2 emission standards, it was available exclusively with fuel injection systems, either single-point or multi-point. The entry-level version received a 1.4-liter, 60 hp unit, but the top-of-the-range variant received a punchy 2.0-liter, 16-valves powerplant that provided 150 ponies.