OPELAstra 5 doors 1998 - 2004

　　Opel introduced the second generation of the Astra in 1998, and right off the bat, it was available as a three and five-door affair, plus a station wagon.

　　The German brand was still under GM’s umbrella when it developed and produced the Astra. It was a very important car for the European compact-sized segment, and that’s why it was produced in various shapes until the third generation of this nameplate replaced it in 2009. The five-door version played in the highly competitive market segment against the Volkswagen Golf, the Renault Megane, and the newly introduced Ford Focus. GM used the same blueprints to create the Chevrolet Astra for the Brazilian market and the Holden Astra for Australia and New Zealand.

　　By combining the rounded body panels with a few sharp lines, Opel’s designer created a best-of-both-worlds shape for the vehicle, combining the elements from the bio-design era with those from the new-edge styling. As a result, the Astra featured horizontal headlights with a clear but arched cut on their upper side and a straight lower line. These flanked the hood, which incorporated the main grille. On the lower bumper, the automaker added an apron that hosted a second air intake and, as an option, a set of fog lamps.

　　From its profile, the short overhang and low nose were elegantly followed by a raked windshield and a well-proportioned greenhouse compared to the car’s overall size. The body-colored door mirrors were highly appreciated by customers, but the black door handles for the entire range were clear signs of cost-cutting measures. The slightly flared wheel arches didn’t provide the image of a sporty vehicle, but they matched the car’s overall design. At the back, the raked-forward tailgate was flanked by thick C-pillars and integrated a short deck with a window wiper.

　　Inside, it was a form-follow-function design layout with everything centered around the driver. The bucket seats provided low bolstered areas for the front occupants, while in the back, a split-folding (60/40) bench seat could host three adults. Fronting the driver was a clean-designed instrument panel with a large tachometer and a speedometer in the center section, which were flanked by the fuel gauge on the right and the coolant temperature on the left. Depending on the options and grade, customers could get either a simple steering wheel or one with buttons on it for the sound system and the onboard computer. On the center stack, Opel installed a simple stereo cassette player for the lower grades while a CD player was available.

　　Under the hood, Opel installed a wide choice of engines ranging between 1.2- and 2.2-liter, with gasoline or diesel. Most versions were paired with five-speed manual transmissions, while a four-speed automatic was available for selected engines.