British-based correspondent Wayne Gorrett shares his firstimpressions of the all-new Opel Astra ahead of the newcomer's arrival in South Africain April2016

Seven. Nowthere’s a famous number– it features everywhere in popular culture.Think of the Seven Seas, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, the Seven Wonders of the World, The Magnificent Seven,the seven dwarfs, seven deadly sins.I could go on… (please don't– Ed).

Throughout international automotive markets, the achievement of producing aseventh-generation model is amilestone. To be honest, there aren’t many livingmembers in the current "7G" club; the Golf, Corolla, Corvette, Civic, Fiesta are a few of its still-mortal members.

This year, that small and elite club opens its doors to its newest member…Opel’s all-new Astra compact hatchback.

The model was launched in South Africa in 1991,although the Kadett name was retained for the hatchback versions of the Astrauntil 1999. Since then hatchback,sedan and station wagon models were offered under the Astra name. Both the Kadett and Astra won SA Car of the Year in ‘93 and ‘94, even though they were variants of the same car.

Now that it has recoveredfrom its financial difficulties, Opel’s parent company General Motors is spending big and overhauling its global model range –and it appears to be making up for lost time.

The new Astra may look familiar, but it's completely new. Underneath the evidently crisper styling is an all-new platform thatis approximately200kg lighter than that of the outgoing model. Combined with slippery aerodynamics, the Astra’s thirst for fuel is reduced too.

Sophisticated exterior styling

Banishing the image of the rather portlyprevious model, the new Astramanages to be smaller insize, butoffers more interior space.

Opel has not overhauled its compact hatchback's exterior design features;instead it has tightened up the look of the previous Astra and addeda few subtle extras that give it ahigher-quality feel. The new model is 5 cm shorter and 2.6 cm lower, making it more aerodynamic and feelbetter-planted to the road. The new lines make the car appear wider and more hunkered down to the road, giving it a sportier profile.

Opel has alsorestyled the grille with the addition of a chrome bar that frames the classic thunderbolt badge, while the rear end has also been spruced up with sculpted angular panelling. Best of all is the blacked-out C-pillar section that makes the roof appear to be floating unsupported. It's a design cue that has become quite de rigeur.

The reduction in exterior dimensionshas meant some small sacrifices, mainly noticeable in the reduction in wheel sizes (in the UK,18-inch rimsarethe largest alloys offered). The integrated front headlights with LED daytime running lights provide excellentvisibility at all hours of the day, while the new wing taillights are a definitive design feature.

That new lightness also benefits the Astra’s agility, making it feel much more nimble both around town and on windier back roads. Revised suspension settings and a suite of electronic systems are designed to make the Opel Astra more enjoyable to drive than before.

Upmarket interior

Inside, there’s more space for passengers (allowing four six-foot adults to sit comfortably), the dashboard's received a long-overdue revamp and themulti-function steering wheel looks and feels smart.

The interior takes many styling cues from the recently revised Corsa and Adam, but employs higher quality plastics. There is a sleek new Intellilink touchscreen panel, which, inter alia, links Apple and Android devices to enable users to control navigational functions.

The car has good boot space, with a 351-litres standard capacity that can be increased through some clever rear-seat adjustments.

The combinations of engine andequipment levels inthe local Astra line-up will be revealed byOpel SA when the range goes on sale in April, but there will definitely beEssentia, Enjoy and Sport models.

Engine, drivetrain & performance

Some may think that a little 1.4 petrol engine – even one that packs a turbocharger – would struggle to shift a car the size of an Astra and passengers with any measurable degree of efficiency, and in most cases they would be right. However, remember that 200kg weight loss? There you go.

The all-new 1.4-litre turbo engine as tested is the second-most powerful petrol unit available in the range (the range-topping 1.6-litre turbopetrol produces 147 kW). It has 110 kW of peak power and 230Nm of torque. With its 6-speed manual gearbox, you can get from standstillto 100kph in only 8.4 seconds and work your way up to 210kmh, at least according to the manufacturer'sofficial numbers.

The 1.4T is described by Opel as being "the big brother of the one-litre, three-cylinder unit"deployed in the Adam and Corsa. It offers sufficient power and when you change gears at the right time, real-world combined fuel consumption could nudge the claimed5.4 l/100km.

The 1.4-litre turbo is as refined as you’d expect from a four-cylinder petrol, and pulls strongly from low down in the rev range. It’s more about calm, mid-range progress rather than high-rev action, as the unit sounds a tad strained upwards of 5000 rpm. By comparison, VW’s 1.4 TSI demonstratesmore willingness to rev and Ford’s 1.5T Ecoboost sounds more characterful, but neither can match the Opel’s power plant for overall smoothness.

On the road

The 200 kg weight loss also suits the Astra’s newfound enthusiasm for the twisty bits. The ride and handling balance is as good as you’ll find anywhere else in the class, with strong grip levels and a tied-down, planted feel. The precise but overly-light electric steering isn’t blessed with an abundance of feel and the ride has a discernible edge to it. It’s communicative rather than unforgiving, rounding off the sharper edges of the nastiest bumps and potholes. You’ll know they’re still there, but you won’t complain as you go over them.

There are MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion-beam rear axle with aWatt’s link at the back – Opel chose not to go with an independent multi-link rear set-up for the sake ofabetter ride/handling/packaging compromise. And having ridden in both the front and the back of the new Astra, I’d say that wasa fine decision.

Shows much promise

When the new Astra arrives in April it should bea credible frontrunner in the compact hatchback segment of the South African market. It looks sharp, drives better than any Astrabefore it and the cabin execution is top notch. What's more, there’s plenty of cabin space, quality finishes andhi-tech equipment. With a range of frugal and efficient petrol engines plus a five-star Euro-NCAP safety ratingin its pocket, thenewcomer looks poised to continue Opel's recent market resurgence into the compact hatchback class… Watch this space.

* words by Wayne Gorrett