Best-looking Astra to date, but is the EV worth €10,000 more?

Coupe looks catch the eye, and while it has a fine cabin, this Opel also has strong competition

We keep talking about the same problems. In my case with the new electric Opel Astra, the focus was on the availability, number and capacity of public charging outlets along our routes.

Others – those thinking of buying – might criticise the erosion of purchase incentives and other issues.

I’m not going to go over old ground, but I think there isn’t enough money being allocated to the electrification process. It needs a big injection of cash to give buyers confidence. There’s a simplicity to this whole affair.

You’re not going to change enough people’s minds if a compact electric car costs €10,000 more than its petrol stablemate. People with a budget mindset of €30,000 will baulk at being asked €40,000 for an EV. Most will turn away.

So we need to get back and support the smaller electric models with incentives. Indeed, an incentivised €35,000 price instead of €40,000 would, I think, appreciably change perceptions of affordability.

The Astra I had on test is a case in point of a morethandecent electric option coming into the stagnant waters of the Irish market. It starts at €39,598 in SC trim. The corresponding price of the 1.2litre petrol, in similar trim, is €29,995. There shouldn’t be a €10,000 gap.

There are justifiable reasons for some price differences: the electric model has more power (156hp v 110hp). It also has an automatic transmission and lower road tax (€120 v €200). The big divided batterybank is costly to produce, as are electric motors.

I’m sure Opel has tried to keep the Astra EV price down, but there’s only so far it can go without losing money.

The realignment of prices across the electric market still hasn’t closed the gap sufficiently.

I know dropping newcar prices can destroy the secondhand value of oldertech versions. Maybe the Government needs to offer a bonus to those who trade in their EV every two or three years. That could put a floor on prices. Maybe it’s crazy, but it’s worth a thought. Better minds than mine can surely work on a formula.

Our main drive was to Belfast, 197 kilometres away, and the return journey 200km after some expected divergence and slow traffic. The battery capacity is officially 405km tops, though my test car gave a reading of 422km.

There was no hope of making the round trip without recharging, but I was confident we’d pick up power easily and quickly along the way.

I drove at a steady 96kmh on cruise control up the M1. The remaining charge gauge, so slow to move on previous daysabouttown, clicked downward relentlessly since I refilled the night before.

We felt a 20minute coffee charge at Castlebellingham would ease fears. The only usable (CCS) charging point was occupied. Several Tesla outlets stood idly by, but they weren’t for us. Scarcity amid bountiful. Maddening. Typical. (Tesla does allow use of its chargers at some points. Sadly, we weren’t in a position to benefit).

Despite that setback, we reached Belfast with 170km in the tank (from an initial 422km). Local friends told us the chargers at Sprucefield, south of the city, would get us plenty of power to get home.

After what seemed an age over a piffling problem with the charge card, we replenished to 380km in no time. Great. Confidencebuilding. And for just under €13. (You wouldn’t do it on petrol).

Don’t write off the Astra because of the mileage it covered on the long trip as opposed to what it projected. Motorway driving is notoriously hard on juice and it most definitely was mean with the power around town. I’m merely giving my drive as an example of how uncertain it can be to find available and suitable charging points.

Northern folk know their charging points – and their cars. They really fell for the Astra – its deep blue hue and elongated body conveys a stretched coupe look.

At one stage I had four passengers for a short trip. The three in the back, while admiring the black fascia with Isabella trim inserts, declared themselves comfortable. I’d like to see how they felt after 100km.

Like them, I thought the cabin was excellent. The digital displays, smart and clear, were accompanied with plenty of frequently used buttons.

Driving on the motorway was a doddle. The suspension also dealt well with far rougher surfaces across south Co Dublin where every second road seems to be halfdugup.

The boot was small and shallower than I expected, with just 352 litres of space.

If I was in the market for a compact EV, I’d have it on my shortlist, but rivals, including the Volkswagen ID.3, MG4, Renault Megane ETech, Peugeot e308 and others pose big challenges.

It’s definitely the bestlooking Astra Opel has made. Worth a test drive.