The Chevrolet Astra is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet as the rebadged version of the Opel Astra from 1994 to 2011.
History of the Chevrolet Astra
First Generation Chevrolet Astra (1994–1996)
The Chevrolet Astra is the same car as the Opel Astra, with a few mechanical variations. In Brazil, the Chevrolet Astra was introduced in 1994 as a 1995 model exclusively in 5-door hatchback and station wagon body styles. It was offered solely in the GLS trim level with a 2.0L, 8-valve multipoint fuel injection engine with a 114 hp (85 kW) performance. The goal was to replace the Chevrolet Kadett, an Opel Kadett E constructed locally. Still, a rise in tariffs for imported automobiles (from 35 to 70 percent) led General Motors of Brazil to stop shipping the vehicle for the 1996 model year.
Second Generation Chevrolet Astra (1998–2011)
Only in 1998, with the second-generation model domestically manufactured, did Chevrolet bring back the Astra. Initially, the only available body choices were a 3-door hatchback, and a 4-door sedan with the GL and GLS trim levels. Two 8-valve, 1.8L and 2.0L engines produced 108 hp (81 kW) and 110 hp (82 kW), respectively. Eventually, models had the option of a 2.0L 16-valve engine, which initially had 126 hp (94 kW) and later had 134 hp (100 kW). The 2003 exterior refresh of the Astra range included a 5-door hatchback to round out the lineup. For the 2004 model year, a new 2.0L flex-fuel (ethanol and gasoline) engine replaced the outgoing 1.8L one. With the 2003 refresh came the introduction of the GSI 2.0 16V, which remained in production until 2005. Until its discontinuation in 2011, the lineup saw little change, serving as a forerunner to the Chevrolet Sonic and Cobalt.
Price
In 2008, General Motors retailed the Chevrolet Astra with a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of €31,630 for the 2.4-liter flex engine variant, which is around €40,926 or $40,819 in 2022.
Features of the Chevrolet Astra
Exterior Features
It was impossible to tell that the 2004 and 2007 models were different. Still, anyone with experience looking for such things would have noticed the updated lighting. More notably, this vehicle was the first to sell a compact market vehicle with an adaptive headlight system as an extra. The new bumper included redesigned air vents for the foglights up front, and the carmaker had given the headlights a chrome finish.
Interior Features
Opel maintained the highly regarded zero-gravity bucket seats within, increasing passenger comfort. It was easy to get to the bench seats in the back, and there was enough space for adults to stretch out comfortably. Even though three people could technically fit on the bench, doing so would require a lot of elbow-rubbing. Therefore, it was really only comfortable for two.
Release Date
Chevrolet used the Astra nameplate to market their vehicle in Latin American countries. Chevrolet released the Chevrolet Astra from 1994 to 2011.