Opals, in certain areas of Australia, are found in abundance, however there is one new Opel that is available to purchase in Australia that turns heads with its European style. Opel turned up during 2012, and promises to sell well with a number of new models in the small-to-medium-size car bracket. One of the models that will be preferred by many Australian folk will be the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer. We are a fussy lot, and it seems that the practicality of having the extra space of a wagon sits well with a number of Australians. One of the things about the Opel Astra Sports Tourer is that it has an exclusiveness that will set you apart on our roads for some time yet. If you can close your hands around a set of keys to any new Opel, then you’re sure to turn heads with a new kind of style and performance.

Two Opel Astra Sports Tourer models are available. The entry version is the well-equipped Sports Tourer, while the Opel Astra Select Sports Tourer opens the way to a number of high-end features to make your journey even more enjoyable. The features include things like an upgraded interior trim that includes Morrocana bolstered seats and an attractive set of other interior trim designs. Dual-zone climate control, Hill Start Assist, Rain-sensing wipers, an automatic-dimming interior rear view mirror, LED ambient lighting, Park Assist, front fog lamps, chrome side window surrounds and 17-inch alloy wheels are some of the features found under the Select badging.

FlexFold rear seats add to the practical flavour of the Opel Astra Select Sports Tourer. Both versions provide the bonus of being able to fold the rear seats down flat to provide up to 1550 litres of load carrying space. A more than capable 500 litres is at the ready for swallowing luggage with the rear seats in use. What makes the FlexFold feature a charming winner is that at the touch of a button it will automatically fold the rear seats own for you. There is of course the halfway house function of using the 60:40 split fold rear seat combination for flexibility, and the base model Astra Sports Tourer has this, too.

A handy luggage feature is the hideaway blind that pulls over to keep luggage items hidden. Also, inside the Opel Astra Sports Tourer models there are many easy-to-use, well-thought-out storage compartments – even in the boot space. These are great places for stuffing fiddly items that need to come on the trip but would look messy scattered about the cabin.

So what’s the Opel Astra Sports Tourer like to drive. There are a number of engines for applying the power to the road, the quickest of these being the powerful and advanced 1.6-litre Turbo engine fuelled on petrol. Opel’s ECOTEC engine design allows the engine to perform efficiently while being happy to pump out a maximum of 132 kW of power and 230 Nm of torque. To put this in perspective, Opel’s 1.6-litre engine boasts similar outputs to the Mitsubishi Lancer VRX models that access these similar power ratings via a 2.4-litre engine. Admittedly, Opel uses turbo power to do this, however I know which one is more economical.

I like the willingness of the base model engine which is a 1.4-litre Turbo ECOTEC petrol engine that produces 103 kW of power and 200 Nm of torque. An overboost feature bumps this up to 220 Nm when required. But if efficiency and torque are what you’re after, the 2.0-litre CDTi common-rail Turbo charged diesel engine impresses with 121 kW of power and 350 Nm of torque.

All Astra Sports Tourers use the race proven rear suspension that has a design that employs a compound crank axle with a Watt’s linkage. Just behind the wheel centre line is a steel cross-member that carries the two struts of the linkage. These are pivoted in the middle, which means that any lateral force on one side is immediately compensated by an equal amount of force on the other side. The feeling of secure handling and a responsive chassis is what makes the Opel Astra Sports Tourer a great wagon to drive.

Satellite navigation and an MP3 player function are a couple of the nice features found on the Astra’s integrated infotainment system. Being able to create a clear sound through seven-speakers at a grunty level where all the bass notes are pumping while the treble remains clear means that you’re rocking with this audio system! iPod and USB acceptance is vital in today’s world, and with Bluetooth communications, mobile phone connections, Voice Control and auxiliary output jacks, the Opel Astra Sports Tourer will be the wagon of choice.

I’ve mentioned that the Sports Tourer looks amazing. An aerodynamic, elegant, style captures a purposeful stance on the road. There is a nice use of chrome accentuation on the sports Tourer’s exterior, so the chrome accented lower radiator grille and the wing-shaped chrome bar that carries the Opel logo adds a nice touch to the appealing front end – which does look so very sporty. Plenty of the right vibes carry through to the Opel Astra Sports Tourer interior which boasts sweeping lines across the dash and a wraparound instrument panel. Key surfaces are textured with soft-touch material and high quality grains. Again, chrome accents add an elegant, modern impression to the cabin ambience.

I recommend a look at any of the new Opel vehicles. They are a fresh, evocative range of stylish new cars to hit our roads.

Current Opel Astra Sports Tourer models include the:

• Astra Sports Tourer
• Astra Select Sports Tourer

For any more information on the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Opel dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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