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Being targeted to a larger general population, the Opel Astra, along with its fellow European rivals, is becoming more of a mid-premium brand and in this; its design is generally pleasing and inoffensive (There is a reason why not everyone drives a Hummer or sports-like cars).

There are nice aspirational elements such as the jewel-like detailing and the sculpted reflectors within the lamp that are quite Audi/BMW-esque, that are appealing. The shape of the head lights with the creases on the hood makes it look like an eagle – almost aggressive, but not that much because of its smiley-faced grilles…

Astra - Front Comparison

The grilles have been brought up to the edge of the front fascia, similar to elements that feature on alternatively fueled cars, where they are more aerodynamically sensitive. Are Opel trying to hint of the possibilities of a hybrid version of the Astra? It certainly makes the car look ‘smarter’, but with that cheesy grin and all its teeth showing, making the front end look flat and round with no real shape or form… a bit nerdy too.

There is no hiding the fact that this is meant to be a small-medium sized car. From the front, to the side of the car, there is a dynamic flow of lines that give a sense of forward motion and length. However, when it comes to the back, the flow is lost, with a part line around the boot release that draws focus to the middle of the car and emphasizes the flat line, (creating the lip that meets the rear fascia) which makes it flat, as though someone had hit it from behind.
Other reasons that emphasize its flatness is the suggestion of focus on the Astra’s overall ‘length’, from elements such as the light spears on the lower rear fascia, the lines off the roof, and lines into and above the tail lamp. Their movement in the horizontal direction is rudely interrupted by the flat surface of the rear boot door, which is all a bit too abrupt.

Astra - Rear Comparison

Proportionally (viewing from the side) the bonnet, to the A-pillar and stopping at the B-pillar, looks a little similar to the Volkswagen Golf. Its comparison stops there, where the DLO (Daylight opening/Side window – surrounded by chrome) on the Golf does not dive down as quickly, to form the C-Pillar. A result of this car having a ‘faster’ rear, is that it has a smaller window opening (DLO) over the rear passengers. This creates a different weighting comparison of body color vs. black (glass) over the rear wheel arch, and in this case, makes the rear look a little heavy.

Countering this weight issue, the designers removed the mass from the rear door with a light catcher that flicks upwards, and made more emphasis on its hips and flared wheel arches, creating a more sculptural three dimensional form. With all this help in trying to remove the visual mass, it still does seem a bit heavy, whether it is due to the narrow meeting of the cant rail to the rear glass, more mass needs to be taken out over the back half of the rear wheel arch (maybe making a longer tail light?).

The Astra is nice to look at from the front and side, just don’t get stuck behind it in traffic, you’ll go cross eyed.

Astra - Visual weight