• Best compact car in Germany: Newest Opel compact class impresses expert jury
• Clear winner: Astra and Astra Sports Tourer with significant lead over competition

The new Opel Astra has been named “German Compact Car of the Year 2023”¹. The independent expert jury of the “German Car Awards” chose the new generation Astra and Astra Sports Tourer as the best compact-class car in Germany, well ahead of the competitors in this segment. Innovative safety technologies, which Opel makes affordable for a broad range of buyers in the compact class with the new Astra, convinced the panel of 27 automotive experts and journalists just as much as the wide range of powertrains, including the electrified plug-in hybrid with which Astra drivers can travel locally emissions-free and especially responsible for the first time. The jury also praised the eye-catching, progressive design along with the driving pleasure and the value for money offered by the Astra. The prestigious award was officially presented yesterday evening at a ceremony in Bad Dürkheim, Germany.

“The award for ‘German Car of the Year’ in the compact class for the Astra and the Astra Sports Tourer shows once again that the latest generation is not only a real challenger but also has what it takes to be a winner in every respect,” said Andreas Marx, the head of Opel in Germany.

“The Opel Astra distinguishes itself in its segment as a true all-rounder, which convinced our jury in every aspect. Incidentally, this also applies to emotional criteria such as design and driving pleasure, where it clearly distanced itself from the competing models," said Jens Meiners from the GCOTY jury.

Astra and Astra Sports Tourer: Eye-catching driving pleasure

During extensive test drives, the judges took a close look at the new Opel Astra. Driving behaviour, usability, comfort and many other aspects were considered. Disciplines in which the latest generation of the compact class bestseller shines. With a system power output of 133 kW/180 hp and strong torque of 360 Newton metres, the electrified Astra plug-in hybrid offers pure driving pleasure (WLTP fuel consumption²: 1.1-1.0 l/100 km, CO₂ emissions 24-23 g/km; both combined). The five-door accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 7.6 seconds. The new Astra is thus locally emission-free for the first time.

The intuitive operation of infotainment and assistance systems is made possible by the new HMI interface (Human-Machine Interface), the clearly designed, all-digital Pure Panel cockpit with extra-wide touchscreen and only essential switches, such as for air conditioning. State-of-the-art technologies such as the adaptive, glare-free Intelli-Lux LED^® Pixel Light headlamps with a total of 168 LED elements make driving more pleasant and safer, especially in the darker months of the year. The AGR-certified (Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V.) ergonomic seats for driver and front passenger, for example in Alcantara, ensure top travel comfort.

The “German Car of the Year” award is being presented for the fifth time this year. The independent jury of experts, currently consisting of 27 jurors, selects the respective class winners in five categories – compact, premium, luxury, new energy and performance. The selection of the competition participants is based on objective price and market availability criteria. The election was held for the first time in 2019.

^[1] German Compact Car of the Year” (compact class category, up to €25,000).

^[2] Values determined using the more realistic WLTP (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure) test method which replaces the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) test procedure. Vehicle not yet available. A vehicle’s consumption, CO2 emissions and range not only depend on the efficient use of energy by the vehicle but are also influenced by driving style and other non-technical factors. The information on consumption and emissions does not refer to an individual vehicle and is intended solely for purposes of comparison between the various vehicle types.