2007 OPEL Astra Sedan 1.3L CDTI 6MT FWD (90 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Opel introduced the Astra H in 2004 in a few shapes and sizes, but it didn’t bother offering it as a four-door sedan until 2007 when it launched it at the Istanbul Motor Show.

The world financial crisis bit hard on the automotive industry, and Opel was one of the brands that suffered the most. Moreover, its lineup was not completed since it lacked a sedan version to compete in the compact segment against other European competitors. That mistake was fixed in 2007, albeit it was too late. Opel was already in big debt, and GM tried to sell the brand.

Sporting the same front fascia as the facelifted version of the rest of the Astra range, the four-door vehicle was aimed at car-fleet owners and modest families that couldn’t afford a mid-size sedan but wished for one. The three lamps that shared the same headlights’ glass were more appropriate for a sporty vehicle than a family sedan, but Opel aimed this at younger customers. The car’s profile was similar to the rest of the range until the C-pillar, which was sloped down to meet the short and tall trunk. At the back, the carmaker installed a pair of taillights that resembled those installed on its bigger brother, the Vectra, with the same chromed badge decorating the trunk’s lid.

Inside, a pair of bucket seats were fitted for the front passengers, while at the back, a split-folding bench was comfortable enough for two occupants. It could fit three, but with some sacrifices in the comfort department.

Under the hood, the German carmaker bet on enhanced turbo-diesel and gasoline engines. It shined in the fuel efficiency contest with the 1.3-liter, Fiat-sourced oil-burner. The most powerful version of the Astra Sedan was a 140 PS (139 hp) gasoline engine.