Automatics arrived, questions remain: buying guide for Opel Astra J

Ground clearance of the Opel Astra, generations G, H and J. Exact numbers, recommendations and ways to increase or decrease the Astra's ground clearance, and the consequences of its changes.

The Opel Astra, the ground clearance of which is one of the decisive indicators for many car enthusiasts when purchasing, varies depending on the year of manufacture. The higher it is, the easier it is to overcome obstacles, which is especially important in the realities of our roads, but car control noticeably deteriorates. The lower, the less the car rolls when cornering, and, therefore, the handling is more sensitive, but the unevenness of the road surface becomes more noticeable.

On all Opel Astra models, ground clearance is provided based on the fact that the car is used within the city. In addition, the Germans produce cars that are mostly adapted for their roads. But drivers can change the height to suit their needs. In order to raise or lower the Astra, you need to purchase the appropriate suspension parts, namely shock absorber struts with springs or special spacers, and install them. This modernization can be done with your own hands, without much difficulty. Obviously, Opel does not produce such spare parts, so you will have to use non-original ones.

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Why is ground clearance important?

In a word, the higher the ground clearance, the higher the Astra's cross-country ability, and the less chance there is of damaging the underbody of the car and the parts located on it. In addition, increased ground clearance allows you to load the car more heavily. Low ground clearance will provide better driving performance and aerodynamic properties, but is less safe on bad roads and significantly reduces comfort.

Also, part of the Astra’s ground clearance is taken away by the crankcase protection; usually, after its installation, about 3-4 cm are lost in the engine area. There are more modern, less massive protections based on Kevlar, requiring no more than 2 cm.

It should be borne in mind that the ride height of the Astra, which Opel claims, can be immediately reduced by 2 centimeters, since the manufacturer does not take into account the weight of passengers and cargo. Exceeding the permissible load capacity is detrimental to the suspension of the Opel Astra; this should not be neglected.

The dimensions of the latest generation Opel Astra are not much different from the dimensions of the previous generation Opel Astra. Today we’ll talk about the sizes of 3- and 5-door hatchbacks, sedan and station wagon. All these cars share a common wheelbase, the distance between the front and rear wheelbase.

The most interesting thing is that the new generation Opel Astra has a slightly longer length and width of the 3-door body than the 5-door. At the same time, the ground clearance of the 3-door version is lower, as is the height. The Astra hatchback boasts a convenient luggage compartment, and if you fold down the rear seats, good capacity is added to the practicality. The ground clearance for the 5-door version is 160 mm, while for the 3-door version it is only 145 mm. Let's take a closer look at the dimensions of the 5-door Opel Astra hatchback.

Real ground clearance of Opel Astra H

Crawling on your belly for a long time near the car gives different results for measuring ground clearance in different places: Front rubber skirt height: 175 mm

Height under engine protection:
165 mm
Height of front sills (side):
245 mm
Height of front sills in depth (where 2 beams pass):
200 mm
Data is given for Opel Astra H hatchback and caravan (station wagon) on 16-wheel drives. The GTC version (and OPC) is 200 mm lower. But the caravan with the package for bad roads (NOT the lite version of the package) is 200 mm higher.

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Opel Astra is a compact model from the German manufacturer Adam Opel. The car is the ideological successor to the once popular 1962 Opel Kadett. However, the Opel Astra is a completely new car, with a new technical platform and design. It should be recognized that Astra is the best-selling car in the Opel lineup. “Astra” is a mass model intended for sale on world markets. Moreover, the car is produced under different names. For example, in the UK the car is known as the Vauxhall Astra. In Latin America, the car is sold under the name Chevrolet Astra, and in China – Buick Excelle XT. In 2015, Astra sales were discontinued in Latin America. In this country, the model was replaced by the Chevrolet Cruze sedan.

Sales of the new generation Opel Astra began in 1991. Since 2015, the latest generation Astra has been sold, with body index K. The car is known in hatchback and station wagon bodies.

Technical characteristics of Opel Astra GTC

Below are the main technical characteristics of the Opel Astra J GTC 2013 / Opel Astra J GTC 2014 hatchback.

Body

Engine and transmission

Owner reviews

• Konstantin, Stavropol region. My car is a 2010 hatchback. I took the basic package with a 90-horsepower 1.4-liter engine. Engine with manual gearbox. The car consumes from 6 to 9 liters depending on the load. The hatchback was purchased in 2011, and I gave my old Logan to my father, who happily agreed, because his ancient Ford Sierra ’86 had already rotted to pieces by that time. My Opel Astra H - with a minimal set of options, with Nokian Hakka 5 tires. There is nothing supernatural in the interior - a typical interior of the early 2000s. The front panel is made in a simple style, like the entire interior. The back seat is spacious, as is the rear. The car has a stiff suspension, but this is rather an advantage - the car almost does not roll when cornering, despite the ground clearance of 165 mm. Decent transport for Russian roads.
• Nikolay, Novosibirsk. Now my Astra has 60 thousand kilometers on its odometer. I am the first owner, I have a car with a 115 horsepower engine, a station wagon. Model of the previous fourth generation (at that time Asters were still sold here). The car's suspension is moderately stiff, not wobbly, and holds the road well. Despite the large one-volume body (station wagon), the Astra steers with excitement. Winter tires are installed, which in positive weather show some rolliness (they are wearing 16-shoes). On summer tires with a diagonal of 17 inches, the ground clearance is less, but ideally it should be at the level of 165 mm, like in generation H. Now I’m wondering whether it’s necessary to install spacers. Thanks to the elastic suspension, the car almost does not roll when cornering, despite the ground clearance of 165 mm. The Zata Astra pleased us with its good cross-country ability on broken roads and rough terrain.
• Maxim, Krasnodar. Before the Opel Astra, I drove the Soviet and Russian automobile industry, as well as old foreign cars. In particular, at one time I had a GAZ-24, VAZ-2109, Oka, VAZ-2108, as well as a Mazda 6, Ford Focus 2, Toyota Corolla and other cars. Of course, in comparison with them, the fresh Astra looks more advantageous - from the point of view of design, as well as the technical part. The car, although supported - a 2014 copy, is in perfect condition. The set is complete. There is even dual-zone climate control... I don’t think there’s any need to continue. The Astra rides on 17-inch alloy wheels with a multi-spoke design. Electric mirrors are heated. The automatic transmission works with delays, but this is the only drawback. A ground clearance of 165 mm is enough for country travel - for example, for country roads, for a trip to fishing, hunting, etc. At the same time, the Astra holds steady in turns, does not yaw or deviate from the given trajectory.
• Yuri, Tyumen. I have a 2007 Opel Astra sedan, with an automatic transmission and a 150-horsepower 1.8 engine. The car is equipped with ABS systems, and also has climate control, parking sensors, xenon headlights and fog lights. All this helps well in extreme conditions - for example, in the dark or during emergency braking. The car is quite rigid, but the ground clearance of 165 mm allows you to drive over high obstacles without fear. If you slow down, it is almost impossible to notice any breakdowns in the suspension. Fuel consumption is under 12 liters in the urban cycle. The car handles the road well, I really did not expect it from Opel. Roll in corners is associated with high ground clearance, but the car hardly sways on the highway, and there is no need to steer. In terms of road behavior, the Opel Astra can be compared to a Golf.
• Mikhail, Yaroslavl. I drive an Astra in the Cosmo configuration. The car is from 2007, with a 104 horsepower engine. Fuel consumption does not exceed 10 liters per 100 km. The cabin has everything you need, including security systems. Seats with lateral support support the lower back well, even in the sharpest turns - by the way, when performing maneuvers the car behaves predictably, almost does not roll, and the likelihood of capsizing is extremely low - you can verify this on the “snake”. The chassis is configured like modern crossovers - quite rigid, but the ground clearance reaches an optimal 165 mm - this is an excellent result for a sedan. But if you accelerate decently (say, up to 80 km/h), there is a risk of damaging the rear shock absorbers, which “break through” all the way. But at the moment not a single shock absorber has leaked.
• Nikolay, Penza. I have a 2021 Opel Astra. A new generation car, I ordered it directly from Germany. Old friends who work in Berlin helped us drive the car. The car definitely looks cooler compared to the previous Astra, which I once bought in Russia. Unfortunately, the Opel brand does not exist in our country now (premium models do not count). I have an Astra with a 1.4 liter engine with a capacity of 150 horsepower. The engine is quiet and torquey, humming only at high speeds - apparently, there is not enough displacement. It was disappointing that the car’s ground clearance is 145 mm, which is significantly less than 165 mm for its two predecessors. Therefore, you need to drive carefully on Russian roads, especially when parking near high curbs. I was pleased with the efficiency - the car consumes an average of 8-9 liters of 95 gasoline.
• Boris, Chelyabinsk. I have a 2012 hatchback, generation H. In my opinion, this is the most successful generation in the history of Astra. I chose the version with a 1.6-liter engine with a capacity of 116 horsepower, with a fuel consumption of 10 liters in the urban cycle. The car's dimensions are comparable to the 2011 Volkswagen Golf, which I had the opportunity to drive with a friend. The car is quite reliable and comfortable, despite the stiff suspension. Irregularities are smoothed out by a ground clearance of 165 mm, which is sufficient for safe passage of tram tracks, speed bumps, and driving over rough terrain. The inside of the car is boring, the design of the front panel is the height of minimalism. The monochrome display on the center console is pure misery. But despite the shortcomings, I still think that the Astra is a worthy alternative to the Volkswagen Golf.

What is clearance

Car enthusiasts are very familiar with this concept, but let us remind you again. – this is ground clearance or, more simply put, the distance from the bottom of the car to the road. This distance may vary in different parts of the machine, since sometimes additional protection is installed for the engine. If we talk about the clearance of the Opel Astra, then it is perfectly suited to the road conditions of our country.

It is worth paying attention not only to the ground clearance of an empty car, but keep in mind that when overweight people board and when the tank is full, it becomes even less, and this is already very good. There are several simple tips that will help owners maintain the Opel Astra's ground clearance at the proper level.

To achieve this, the engine protection must be as wide as possible. Use Kevlar protection, it will save space. The car's ground clearance and Nivomat suspension will be perfectly maintained.

Technical characteristics of Opel Astra hatchback: dimensions

If we talk about the technical characteristics of a car of any class and model, then these include dimensions and volumes. So the line of cars with a hatchback body type has its own characteristics. The length of the Model H car reaches 4.4 meters, the volume of the luggage compartment of the car is up to 375 liters. When the rear sofa is folded, the volume increases almost three times.

The most important thing when considering the size of a car is its ground clearance. If you choose the “bad roads” package for the Opel Astra hatchback, the ground clearance in this case will be 16.5 cm. This clearance indicator is relatively good. It will be quite enough for driving on the road, but off-road is not an option for this.

Dimensions of Opel Astra station wagon

Opel with a station wagon body type is not bad and belongs to the middle class. This body type is used in many Opel Astra models. If we talk about the specific dimensions of such a car, then, for example, the Opel Astra Classic has a length of 4.3 meters and a width of 1.7 meters.

The Opel Astra station wagon has a ground clearance of 16 cm. The car is quite powerful and comfortable and, along with a good clearance value, will behave well on the road. Approximately the same ground clearance for .

In general, if we talk about Astra cars, then along with other cars with similar parameters, they significantly benefit. They have already proven themselves among car owners, including excellent driving on less than ideal roads.

And if, in addition to the factory anti-corrosion coating of the bottom, you make a noise-insulating and anti-gravel coating, then the Opel Astra’s ground clearance will not change significantly, but it will add comfort.

About the clearance of the Opel Astra Family

And here again we will talk not only about the ground clearance itself, but also about the set of parameters that generally characterize the operation of the car. Family class cars are great for family use, outings, trips out of town and just to the nearest shopping center.

Every car owner first of all pays attention not specifically to one parameter, but to their combination.

So, the Opel Astra Family has a ground clearance of 17 cm, and along with excellent dynamic characteristics, high engine power, a smooth ride and a comfortable interior, it is simply a godsend among similar cars from other manufacturers. This car is an excellent solution for a close-knit family.

Dimensions of Opel Astra sedan

The Opel Astra with a sedan body type also found its fans in Russia. A wide range of these cars allows you to choose the right car. In addition to the excellent technical characteristics of the Opel Astra, the ground clearance also has the value necessary for driving on Russian roads - 16-17 cm, depending on the model.

Modernization of the Opel Antara, released in 2013, usually begins with modifications to the suspension. Having made the car more passable and better controllable, it is necessary to perform engine chip tuning. In this way, it will be possible to achieve maximum engine power and adjust the factory settings of other parts.

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Modernization of the Opel Astra - excellent solutions for independently transforming the model.

1 Car suspension modification - production and installation of coilovers

Most Antara models launched in 2013 are equipped with a basic suspension that provides a stable ground clearance of 176 mm. This is quite enough for safe movement in the countryside. But many official representatives of Opel are silent about the fact that the vehicle’s ground clearance is almost halved when the SUV is fully loaded. As a result, the driver no longer feels as confident as he should be behind the wheel of a modern SUV.

Opel AntaraMany experienced experts believe that the reason for the sharp decrease in ground clearance of the Antara is the standard shock absorbers. Indeed, these parts of the car's chassis are too soft; their design does not provide coils to contain additional weight. It is precisely because of the absence of these turns that the car body sits as low as possible. Coilovers or, as they are also called, screw suspensions can help solve the problem with adjusting the ground clearance. This design allows you to slightly increase the vehicle's ground clearance when unloaded. But the main advantage of coilovers is that they prevent the car body from sitting too low. By installing a helical suspension, the Opel driver has the opportunity to independently adjust the car’s ground clearance based on the condition of the road.

Prices for high-quality coilovers directly depend on the year of manufacture of the car. In the case of Antara, released in 2013, the cost of parts will fluctuate within 40 thousand rubles. And this does not include installation services. Of course, not everyone can afford such pleasure. Therefore, some drivers are thinking about making and installing a helical suspension themselves. Making such a design is not as difficult as it might seem. To work you will need to prepare:

stainless steel pipe;

welding machine;

removable key;

grinder;

new rubber insulators for springs.

Car suspension conversion The pipe for coilovers is the basis of the design. To tune a 2013 SUV, you will need 4 identical pipes with a length of 12.5 cm and a wall thickness of no more than 5 mm. The internal diameter of the pipe should not be less than 48 mm, since the diameter of the Antara stand is 46 mm. Before installation on the pipe, you need to make an M58 thread using a pitch of 2.3 mm. Once you have purchased the pipes and everything else, raise the car using a jack. After this, remove the Opel wheel and clean its seat. We completely remove the leaked grease and begin preparing the spring. To do this, we cut off the support cup from the standard rack. This must be done extremely carefully so as not to deform the Antara shock absorber. Then you need to make nuts that would fit perfectly on the previously purchased pipes. They will become a kind of stops and will not allow the car to lower its ground clearance when driving off-road.

It's no secret that many Opel Astra H buyers choose this car due to its decent ground clearance. As the car owners assure, the Astra's ground clearance is very decent. Is this really so and why the data in the technical data sheet and different sources differ - we will tell you in this article.