by New Opel Astra: Abandoning the traditional hatchback and betting on the station wagon
Station wagons are gradually disappearing from the European market, but some automakers see them as a way to stand out among the multitude of hatchbacks and crossovers. It seems Opel is one of them. The brand, part of Stellantis, is rethinking the concept of the next-generation Astra, moving away from the familiar hatchback body style, but making it clear that the station wagon is not going anywhere.
The current Astra appeared in 2021 as a close relative of the Peugeot 308. Both models received mid-lifecycle updates at the end of 2025 to keep pace with the VW Golf and Toyota Corolla. A successor is already planned, and Opel has confirmed it will arrive by the end of this decade.
The Astra has been produced in hatchback and station wagon body styles since the original model debuted 35 years ago, after sedans, coupes, and convertibles disappeared from the lineup. The next generation may finally break this tradition, and it will all start with the body shape that buyers have always taken for granted.
Management’s position: The station wagon makes sense
Our colleagues from Auto Express spoke with Opel CEO Florian Huettl, asking whether the compact hatchback needs to evolve. His answer left room for maneuver.
“This doesn’t necessarily mean the new Astra will be a traditional hatchback,” he said.
Unexpectedly, the executive added:
“I can tell you that there will be a station wagon, because our domestic German market demands it, and we will deliver it,” revealing that interior space will be one of the key focuses for the next generation.
Such a move contradicts what some main competitors are currently doing. Just last week, the President and CEO of Hyundai Europe almost confirmed the discontinuation of the i30 Wagon, directing investments towards higher-margin crossovers.
New platform and new possibilities
The next Astra will be based on the new STLA One architecture. Huettl noted that the car will “definitely be a BEV” (electric vehicle), although the platform supports not only electric powertrains, so Opel is “currently studying the right calibration of the powertrain offer.”
The CEO explained that although Opel sells plug-in hybrid versions of the Astra and Grandland, their sales are “by no means at the same level of importance as fully electric or hybrid versions.”
He added that range extender technologies are “quite interesting,” although early examples of such technology “may have difficulties” when driving on German autobahns at speeds of 130-140 km/h. This could change in the future, possibly with the help of Stellantis’ Chinese partner, Leapmotor.
Production will remain in Germany
Despite recent cuts in research and development departments at its headquarters in Rüsselsheim, the new Astra will be built at the same plant, backed by new investments.
However, the major Astra update is not the nearest event on the calendar. Opel will first release more new models, starting with the new generation of the smaller Corsa, expected in 2027, followed by a compact crossover based on Leapmotor and an updated Mokka. And, unlike its Stellantis colleagues Citroën and Fiat, who are busy developing budget electric vehicles (the 2CV and the next Pandina), Opel is not aiming for that segment.
Thus, Opel’s strategy looks like a deliberate departure from the mainstream. While competitors are trimming their model ranges in favor of crossovers, the German brand is betting on the station wagon, which is still in demand on the domestic market. The combination of the new STLA One platform, flexibility in choosing powertrains (from hybrids to pure electric vehicles), and maintaining production in Germany could be a competitive advantage. However, whether such a tactic will attract buyers outside of Germany, where the love for station wagons is waning, only time will tell. Abandoning the traditional hatchback is a risk, but it could pay off if the new Astra offers something truly unique in the compact car market.
