- In 11th generation: Opel Kadett Caravan and Astra Sports Tourer define compact class
- Beginning of success story: First Opel compact estate Kadett A Caravan was bestseller
- Versatile allrounder: Lots of space, comfort and technologies for business and leisure
- Speaks for itself: Astra estates named Sports Tourer since 2010
- New era: Newest generation with Opel Vizor, Pure Panel and electrified for first time
Around 25 million Opel Kadett and Opel Astra cars sold – 5.8 million of them estates – is an impressive number and a strong performance. Lined up end to end, all Opel compact models built to date would break the magic 100,000-kilometre mark and form a line of vehicles that could reach two and a half times around the equator. Opel's compacts have made personal mobility possible for many, especially in economically difficult times. With each model generation, Opel also has made technologies from higher vehicle segments affordable for many car buyers – as every Opel product has done for 160 years, from sewing machines and bicycles to motorbikes and automobiles. At the same time, manufacturer continues to combine innovations from higher classes with dynamic design.
Introduction of the all-new Astra Sports Tourer in Opel’s jubilee year marks the beginning of a new era in the history of the brand’s compact class estates. All-new Astra Sports Tourer is the first Opel estate to feature the new Opel Vizor brand face and the digital Pure Panel cockpit, as well as a stylish two-tone paint finish as an option. In addition, it continues the Opel electric offensive. All-new Astra Sports Tourer is the first Opel estate to be electrified – already now as a plug-in hybrid and next year also as a battery-electric version.
But it all started with the Kadett A Caravan in 1963. Opel presented its first compact-class estate and quickly became the leader in the market segment. From then on, a car “like a van” was part of every new Kadett and Astra generation. Astra H (2004-2010) was the last Opel compact to bear the name Caravan until the end of production. In the meantime, estates had changed more and more from typical craftsmen's tools to lifestyle companions. Accordingly, every Astra estate has been called Sports Tourer since 2010.
Kadett A to Astra L – A success story over 11 generations
1963-1965: Opel Kadett A
As spacious as a bus: First CarAvan
Opel Kadett Caravan revolutionized the compact class in 1963. A large boot and plenty of room for six people thanks to a third row of seats plus a new, lively engine and low maintenance costs made up the recipe for success for the Kadett A. Opel built nearly 650,000 up until 1965. The contours were business-like and modern. Beltline was low down, the panoramic windows made for good visibility and a decorative strip running along the side accentuated the stretched form. Front fenders tapered off into the headlamps. Iinterior space deeply impressed owners of conventional small cars. The boot was a real baggage compartment, and the fuel tank cap was outside! “Opel Kadett, in brief: O.K.,” wrote Opel’s advertising team, unable to also resist a dig at their competitors in Wolfsburg. “You never have the smell of gasoline in the boot,” they said with a wink. With its modern, water-cooled front engine, the Kadett had another major design advantage over the Beetle. 993-cc four-cylinder unit developed a lively 40 hp.
1965-1973: Opel Kadett B Caravan
Strength in numbers: Kadett is an export success-story
B follows A, and a new series already replaced the first model in 1965. The new version was more than four meters long and thus a good deal bigger than its predecessor. The caravan with its 1.57-metre long loading area is available from start of sales with a choice of two or four doors. As for its fashionable figure – their colleagues overseas inspired the designers. Not only was the length increased – so, too, was the horsepower. Opel engineers enlarged the bore of the four-cylinder unit by 3 mm. The basic 1,078-cc unit developed 45 hp. Also available was a higher-compression 1.1 S engine with 55 hp. The Kadett quickly became a success, with over 2.6 million units produced from September 1965 to July 1973. And its success was certainly not limited to its country of birth. In 1966, the export quota reached 50 per cent as customers from 120 countries around the globe snatched up the Kadett.
1973-1979: Opel Kadett C Caravan
Solid as a rock: Quality in every shape
Kadett C family had many faces: a smart family car, a chic estate with a practical rear tailgate, or a competitive sports coupé (GT/E) in war paint. Caravan came first as a two-door, and then a four-door in 1976. A total of 1.7 million of them were built between 1973 and 1979. Rear-wheel drive Kadett C made its debut in August 1973 with a cleanly designed body and a new double-wishbone front axle. Most popular engine was the 1.2 with 60 hp and a modest 88 Nm of torque. Characteristic design features included a flat radiator grille, an engine hood with the brand’s signature crease, and a front apron in spoiler form. “Kadett not only drives exceptionally well, is also conscientiously designed and cleanly made. It requires little maintenance, is repair-friendly and economical to run,” praised the car-testing experts at “auto motor und sport” in the 20/73 edition.
1979-1984: Opel Kadett D Caravan
Remake/remodel: Space galore
Fourth generation of the post-war Kadett introduced a new compact class era at Opel. At the 1979 IAA, Opel’s first front-wheel drive model with transverse four-cylinder engine debuted as the modern-looking Kadett D. Packaging was truly convincing. 4.20-metre-long newcomer was only slightly longer its predecessor was, but offered significantly more space than many of its rivals. But it was not only the powertrain layout and the chassis with a torsion-beam axle at the rear that broke with tradition: the Kadett was given a new 1.3-liter OHC engine that generated 60 or 75 hp. In addition to the spacious estate with a load volume of up to 1,425 litres, Opel offered only fastback versions. For families there was a very plush Caravan “Voyage Berlina”. Other technical modifications included a tighter and lower chassis, new steering dampers and internally ventilated disk brakes at the front. A total of 2.1 million Kadett D units were produced from 1979 to 1984.
1984-1991: Opel Kadett E Caravan
Out of the wind-tunnel: Car of The Year
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Second front-wheel drive Kadett, built from 1984 to 1991, was named “Car of the Year 1984” and was an absolute winner. Selling a grand total of 3,779,289 cars in its lifetime, it was the bestselling Opel so far and a real aerodynamics world champion. Based on the engineering of its predecessor, the Kadett E was set for a stellar career. With a drag coefficient of 0.39, the Kadett D was already best in its class, but this figure paled in comparison to its successor. After spending 1,200 hours of fine-tuning in the wind tunnel, the five-door variant achieved a sensational 0.32 (Caravan 0,35). Buyers took to the new form after only a few months, paving the way for a new success story that provided the Kadett E with 625,000 new registrations across Europe in 1987. By this time, the two and four-door estate versions had already climbed to the top of the class. In 1987, two 54 hp Caravan diesels set out on a 30,000-kilometre trip from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego – both of them safely reach the final destination. From April 1989 onwards, all gasoline-engined Kadetts are sold with catalytic converter in Germany.
1991-1997: Opel Astra F Caravan
Reborn: Kadett becomes Astra
Some 4.13 million Astra Fs were built between 1991 and 1997, making it the bestselling Opel model ever. Development work focused on combining modern design with more interior space, enhanced comfort and greater emphasis on environmental protection.
Successor to the Kadett assumed the name of its British sister model (the fourth generation of the Kadett had been sold in the UK as the Vauxhall Astra since 1980). The Caravan is a popular variant from the start. Opel also launched a safety offensive with its new star. All Astras offered an active belt system with tensioners on the front seats belts, height-adjustable belts and seat ramps as well as side protection including double steel tube reinforcements in all the doors. For the first time, all engines came with catalytic converters.
1998-2004: Opel Astra G Caravan
Fully galvanized: Into the new millennium
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In spring 1998, the Astra was offered from the start as a three and five-door hatchback and as a estate. Progressive independent design, dynamic chassis and powertrain technology as well as nearly twice the torsional and flexural rigidity of its predecessor were just some of the characteristics of the completely new, second-generation Opel Astra. New model’s fully galvanized body played a key role in its high value retention. Boot volume rises to 1630 litres; private buyers prefer the highly equipped Caravan Club with up to 115 hp. Active safety was enhanced with a 30 per cent increase in the light output of the transparent H7 halogen headlamps and the completely redesigned Dynamic Safety (DSA) chassis. It combined comfort with agile and safe handling, even under full load. Wheelbase was around eleven centimetres longer, enabling more interior space, in particular more rear knee room in the rear and a larger boot volume of up to 1,500 litres. Fastest compact station ever – Astra OPC Caravan – hit the road in 2002; the modest family wagon caused many surprises as it hurtled along the Autobahn at speeds up to 240 km/h.
2004-2010: Opel Astra H Caravan
Adaptive headlights and suspension: A winning concept
With twelve engines ranging from 90 to 240 hp and seven body variants, the choice of models for the Astra H that sold over 2.7 million units was exceptional. When it was launched in March 2004, the third-generation Opel Astra boasted a progressive design, high driving dynamics and plenty of technical innovations, immediately winning numerous comparison tests in specialist automotive publications. The Astra’s technological highlights included the adaptive IDSPlus chassis system with electronic Continuous Damping Control (CDC), otherwise only found in luxury class and exclusive sports cars, as well as the Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) headlamp system with dynamic curve light. Astra also boasted high levels of safety. Caravan offered passengers plenty of space.
2010 – 2015: Opel Astra J Sports Tourer
Beauties can be useful too: First Sports Tourer
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Sculptural artistry combined with German precision – the dynamic estate is launched one year after its five-door sibling and for the first time carries the Sports Tourer nameplate. The Opel Astra J not only embodies the brand’s new design philosophy, it also retains the clever Flex-Fold system, up to 1500 litres of useful space, and assists drivers with a range of technologies that already made an important contribution to the success of the best-selling mid-size Insignia. The front camera recognizes traffic signs and informs the driver of speed limits or overtaking bans. It also warns drivers if they are in danger of veering out of lane. With the AFL+ headlamp system, the Astra can look around the corner and, if necessary, even automatically dim the lights or switch to high beam. With a chassis that can be enhanced by the FlexRide adaptive technology, the Astra Sports Tourer can play out its dynamic talents to the full. Astra drivers also benefit from a new generation of front seats developed according to the latest findings in safety ergonomics which have been awarded the seal of quality from the independent medical and back experts of the AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs) organization.
From 2016: Opel Astra K Sports Tourer
Pure efficiency: Lean but not mean
Up to 190 kg lighter, significantly more spacious inside despite almost identical dimensions, and more efficient thanks to exclusive use of new-generation engines – Opel Astra Sports Tourer was a quantum leap in development and immediately voted “European Car Of The Year 2016”.
Astra K continued the tradition of its predecessors. New Sports Tourer also stood out with its lighting technology. It was the first car to introduce the adaptive, full LED matrix technology IntelliLux LED – so far reserved for luxury and premium models from higher classes – into the compact segment. New-generation driver assistance systems also included Traffic Sign Assist, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning along with Following Distance Indication and Forward Collision Alert with Collision Imminent Braking. In addition, the new Astra K once again delivered on wellness with newly engineered ergonomic front seats, also certified by the AGR organization. These new front seats could even be enhanced with a ventilation and massage function.
As of 2022: Opel Astra L Sports Tourer
Electrifying: Stylish estate with Opel Vizor and Pure Panel
With the world premiere of the all-new Astra in autumn 2021 the German carmaker opened the next chapter – the compact model is available for the first time electrified, as five-door and Sports Tourer. Opel will offer the Astra Sports Tourer as plug-in hybrid and as of 2023 also as battery-electric estate. Variants with highly efficient petrol and diesel engines combined with six-speed and eight-speed automatic transmissions complete the line-up.
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All-new Opel Astra Sports Tourer is also a design statement for the brand. Dynamic as never before, with sheer, taut surfaces, detoxed of superfluous elements and with the new brand face – the Opel Vizor. In addition, the practical new Astra Sports Tourer also displays the brand’s typical talent for efficient packaging. While the overall length is 6.0 cm shorter than that of the previous model, the wheelbase is 7.0 cm longer – bonus points for comfort and luggage volume. Inside, the fully digital Pure Panel human-machine-interface (HMI) offers customers a pure, intuitive experience.
