Ah, the Opel Astra. A model that has graced driveways, parking lots, and suburban streets for decades. Known for its practicality and reliability, the Astra has a not-so-hidden talent that sets it apart from many of its rivals: the turning circle. If you’ve ever tried to maneuver through a congested urban street, you'll appreciate the difference a tight turning circle can make. In the latest generation, the Astra boasts a turning circle of 11.10 m, which is relatively impressive given its size and wheelbase. But how did it get here? How does it hold up against other Opels and its so-called 'competitors'? Stick around as we slog through the twists and turns of the Astra's history and see where it stands today.
Opel Astra - How has the turning circle changed over the generations?
Spanning multiple generations, the turning circle of the Opel Astra has seen its fair share of character development. Back in the days of the Astra F (1991-1999), it boasted a nifty turning circle of 10.50 m, which remained unchanged even after a facelift. By the time we made it to the Astra G (1998-2006), the circle tightened to an impressive 10.10 m, a feat likely achieved by some clever engineering. Then came the Astra H (2004-2010), where the turning circle took a dramatic turn for the worse at 11.20 m. The Astra J (2009-2018) possibly saw engineers scratching their heads, improving only slightly to 11.40 m. Finally, the current Astra K (2015-present) offers a middle ground with a turning circle of 11.10 m, balancing maneuverability with size quite delicately.
Opel Astra generations
Opel Astra generationsGeneration year | Turning circle |
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Astra, Model year 1991 (F) | 10 m |
Astra, Model year 1994 (Astra F (1. Facelift)) | 10 m |
Astra, Model year 1998 (Astra G) | 10 m |
Astra, Model year 2004 (Astra H) | 11 m |
Astra, Model year 2005 (Astra H (1. Facelift)) | 11 m |
Astra, Model year 2009 (Astra J) | 11 m |
Astra, Model year 2011 (Astra J (1. Facelift)) | 11 m |
Astra, Model year 2015 (Astra K) | 11 m |
Astra, Model year 2019 (Astra K (1. Facelift)) | 11 m |
Astra, Model year 2022 (Astra L) | 10 m |
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Astra, Model year 1991 (F)10 m
-
Astra, Model year 1994 (Astra F (1. Facelift))10 m
-
Astra, Model year 1998 (Astra G)10 m
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Astra, Model year 2004 (Astra H)11 m
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Astra, Model year 2005 (Astra H (1. Facelift))11 m
-
Astra, Model year 2009 (Astra J)11 m
-
Astra, Model year 2011 (Astra J (1. Facelift))11 m
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Astra, Model year 2015 (Astra K)11 m
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Astra, Model year 2019 (Astra K (1. Facelift))11 m
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Astra, Model year 2022 (Astra L)10 m
The difference in Turning circle between first generation (F) from 1991 and last generation (Astra L) from 2022 is 0 m.
The turning circle of the current generation of Astra is 10 m.
Variants
Opel Astra variants: Astra vs. Astra Electric vs. Astra GSe vs. Astra Sports Tourer vs. Astra Sports Tourer Electric vs. Astra Sports Tourer GSe
Turning circle: Opel Astra variantsVariant name | Turning circle |
---|
Astra | 10 m |
Astra Electric | 10 m |
Astra GSe | 10 m |
Astra Sports Tourer | 10 m |
Astra Sports Tourer Electric | 10 m |
Astra Sports Tourer GSe | 10 m |
-
Astra10 m
-
Astra Electric10 m
-
Astra GSe10 m
-
Astra Sports Tourer10 m
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Astra Sports Tourer Electric10 m
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Astra Sports Tourer GSe10 m
The turning circle compared to other Opel models
In the realm of its own family, the Astra sits comfortably in the middle ground. Sure, the Opel Rocks-e features a minuscule turning circle of 7.20 m, but let’s be honest, comparing it to the Astra is like comparing a Go-Kart to an SUV. Some notable models like the Opel Grandland and the Corsa Electric feature turning circles of 10.70 m. These figures aren't far off the Astra’s, giving them a slight edge in the tight parking battle. Meanwhile, models like the Opel Crossland stretch those circles to 11.20 m, which means our beloved Astra can laugh heartily at their misfortunes. If you’re looking for a slightly tighter turn within the Opel lineup, perhaps you might want to consider the similarly-sized Opel Astra Sports Tourer, which sports a respectable 10.70 m turning circle.
Opel Astra vs other current cars by Opel
Turning circle: Astra vs. other models by OpelVariant name | Turning circle |
---|
Rocks Electric | 7 m |
Astra | 10 m |
Astra Electric | 10 m |
Astra GSe | 10 m |
Astra Sports Tourer | 10 m |
Astra Sports Tourer Electric | 10 m |
Astra Sports Tourer GSe | 10 m |
Grandland | 10 m |
Grandland Electric | 10 m |
Corsa | 10 m |
Corsa Electric | 10 m |
Combo Electric | 10 m |
Combo N1 | 10 m |
Mokka | 11 m |
Mokka Electric | 11 m |
Frontera | 11 m |
Frontera Electric | 11 m |
Combo Cargo | 11 m |
Combo Electric Cargo | 11 m |
Movano Cargo | 12 m |
Vivaro Cargo | 12 m |
Vivaro Electric Cargo | 12 m |
Zafira Electric | 12 m |
Movano Electric Cargo | 14 m |
-
Rocks Electric 7 m
-
Astra 10 m
-
Astra Electric 10 m
-
Astra GSe 10 m
-
Astra Sports Tourer 10 m
-
Astra Sports Tourer Electric 10 m
-
Astra Sports Tourer GSe 10 m
-
Grandland 10 m
-
Grandland Electric 10 m
-
Corsa 10 m
-
Corsa Electric 10 m
-
Combo Electric 10 m
-
Combo N1 10 m
-
Mokka 11 m
-
Mokka Electric 11 m
-
Frontera 11 m
-
Frontera Electric 11 m
-
Combo Cargo 11 m
-
Combo Electric Cargo 11 m
-
Movano Cargo 12 m
-
Vivaro Cargo 12 m
-
Vivaro Electric Cargo 12 m
-
Zafira Electric 12 m
-
Movano Electric Cargo 14 m
How does the turning circle of the Opel Astra compare to it's nearest competitors?
When pitched against its nearest competitors, the Opel Astra's turning circle doesn’t disgrace the family name but doesn’t come out on top either. Take the Skoda Scala's 10.20 m, for example. At 4362 mm in length and with a wheelbase of 2649 mm, the Scala manages to turn in tighter circles than the Astra. Then there's the SEAT Mii, a pocket rocket of sorts, boasting a turning circle of just 9.80 m despite its modest dimensions. The Chevrolet Spark settles snugly at 10.00 m, outperforming the Astra and making tight city corners a breeze. On the other end of the spectrum, the Lada Samara’s 11.40 m turning circle is better suited for open Russian roads than urban jungles, making the Astra’s 11.10 m look quite reasonable in comparison. It’s a mixed bag, but the Astra stands its ground confidently, balancing turn radius with the practicality and size that many drivers seek.
Opel Astra vs. similar cars
Turning circle: Opel Astra vs. similar carsCar model | Turning circle |
---|
Estrima Birò 2022 | 5 m |
ARI Motors 452/802 2019 | 6 m |
ARI Motors Soleno 2024 | 7 m |
ARI Motors 902 2023 | 7 m |
Silence S04 Nanocar 2024 | 7 m |
Fiat Topolino 2023 | 7 m |
Citroen Ami 2024 | 7 m |
ARI Motors Bruni 2024 | 8 m |
Aixam Ambition 2023 | 8 m |
Aixam Minauto 2023 | 8 m |
Daewoo Nexia 1995 | 9 m |
Ligier Myli 2023 | 9 m |
Aixam Mega 2024 | 9 m |
Hyundai i30 2024 | 10 m |
Skoda Scala 2024 | 10 m |
Mazda 2 Hybrid 2024 | 10 m |
BYD Dolphin 2023 | 10 m |
Alpine A290 2024 | 10 m |
VW ID.3 2023 | 10 m |
Peugeot 508 2023 | 10 m |
Opel Astra 2022 | 10 m |
KIA Stinger 2017 | 11 m |
GWM ORA 03 2024 | 11 m |
Sono Motors Sion 2021 | 11 m |
Tesla Model 3 2023 | 11 m |
GWM ORA 07 2024 | 11 m |
NIO ET5 2023 | 11 m |
Hyundai IONIQ 6 2022 | 11 m |
BMW i4 2024 | 12 m |
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