As Americans, we don’t really understand the concept of a hatchback nearly as much as our neighbors across the pond. They use their space and proportions more efficiently and often come off more stylish. While the hatchback has caught on more so in the U.S., most buyers will still scoop up a sedan body style. But we do hope the 2016 Opel Astra K finds its way on our shores sooner, rather than later.
The previous Opel Astra indeed spawned a sedan variant, which we took on as our Buick Verano. It was a stylish counterpart to the Astra hatchback, but lost a bit of charm when putting it side-by-side with the hatchback variant.
That’s why we want to bring the question to you. Do you think Opel should build a 2016 Astra sedan? Without it, Opel is forfeiting ground to Ford and its sedan variant of the Focus. With it, some of the delightful styling we’re seeing from the 2016 Astra may not be translated as well as we’d like.
But, enough of what we have to say on the matter. Vote in the poll, and let us know what you think in the comment section.
Comments
Yes offer a saloon, but not a dull saloon instead a youthful sporting saloon. The small saloon market is growing fast & rivals such as Mercedes CLA, Audi A3 saloon & forthcoming VW Golf CC shows there’s a market for such a car, it won’t sell nearly as much as the hatchback but IMO think it’s a market Vauxhall / Opel should be in.
Totally agree Jon, besides what you have identified there are also many east European countries where saloons are still very popular.
Let’s hope Vauxhall decide it’s worthwhile, obviously it would have to be marketed well for it to sell & they’d have to decide if is worth calling it Astra saloon or making it a model in it’s own right.
i dont know but i think they must something
Opel will offer the Astra K as a sedan anyway. All the previous generations were also offered as sedans, why sould it be different with this generation?
Do you really want the Astra Belmont back, Britain’s most stolen car? For some reason they were popular in Ireland and Scandinavia in the 80s, fleet buyers liked em too. Not seen here for a decade with good reason, not least the grandad image!
Apparently Ian it’s 30 something’s that’s buying these C segment saloons not grandads, with regards the Belmont name back in the day small saloons had different names than their hatch & estate versions & Vauxhall’s was Belmont.
This sedan has already been presented to the public in April of this year as the Buick Verano at the Shanghai Motor Show.
See http://media.gm.com/media/cn/en/buick/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/cn/en/2015/april/0419_verano.html
Also the current version has been presented first in China (as Buick Excelle (Kai Lue) GT) and came the following year to North America as Buick Verano and to the rest of the world as Opel/Vauxhall Astra sedan.
For me another variant would be more important: the Astra station wagon.
Observer7, I’d expect the estate model to launch next then the 3dr & possibly the saloon. I’ve had many Vauxhall’s including Astra hatchbacks (SRi model) & a Belmont back in the day. Also when sold as a Belmont more sold than when it was simply Astra saloon.
VAG-VW-VW GOLF
golf 3 door-golf 4 door- golf 5 door (variant)- golf sedan(JETTA)- golf crosser- golf electric- golf gtd-golf gti-golf r- coming golf gti supersport- golf r 420
and scirocco
+ golf cabrio ahhaaaa. sorry and golf sportvan to ahhaaa
OPC, I guess there will be many Astra models too such as 3, 5 hatch, saloon & estate, convertible is also a possibility & models SRi, GSi & VXR will be sold too. Also although not my cup of tea I expect a hybrid (possibly from launch) to replace Ampera. The Astra range has always been a large one covering everything over the years (2+4dr saloon, 3+5dr hatchback, 3+5dr estate, van, hi roof van, coupe, convertible, petrol, diesel, LPG, performance models & if your counting Zafira, MPV too. Astra has always had a strong competitive range long may it continue.
vw golf
sedaan
wagon
van
3door
4door
cabrio
crosser
scirocco
electric
gtd
gti
r
gti superspot
r420
and others
have nice day
Well how about this, should Buick offer an astral hatch to compliment the verano?
Whilst I have always been a really big Opel fan, in general, I don’t believe the Astra hatschback is going to cut it in the current Buick family. A real station wagon would fit in significantly better with Buick’s current image. Not a super-sized one, mind you, but something that could be positioned between the Verano & Regal or Regal & Lacrosse. Not too upscale but also not something that’ll take a bite out of the Encore, either.
Gm will be forcing Opel to sell the new Verano Wei Lang as an Astra. I don’t think we will see much more than a new front clip attached.
It’s a nice car but a bad fit for Astra.