Opel Adds Cheaper Astra Electric Base Trim at €36,490

Opel has opened a fresh entry point into its electric compact lineup. With the rollover to the new model year, the Rüsselsheim-based brand has created a base specification called Astra Start and applied it across the whole Astra family — mild hybrid, diesel, and battery-electric alike. For the Astra Electric, the move trims €1,900 off the previous starting figure, bringing the list price down to €36,490. Buyers who want more kit can step up to the Edition grade, which pairs with the electric drivetrain from €38,490.

The savings come with a few omissions rather than a stripped-out car. The most consequential deletion is the heat pump, which is no longer fitted as standard — a detail that matters in colder markets, where a heat pump can meaningfully reduce winter energy consumption and preserve driving range. Also absent from the Start trim are the 180-degree rear-view camera and the keyless entry and start system. Everything else that defines the car underneath is untouched: a 115 kW motor, a 55 kWh battery, 11 kW AC charging, and DC fast charging at up to 100 kW.

Standard equipment still reads generously for an entry version. Six-way adjustable seats, automatic climate control, front and rear parking sensors, and the twin cockpit displays for instruments and infotainment all carry over. Opel has also added a new metallic blue paint finish to the palette. Customers who want a little more convenience can order the Comfort Package Start for an extra €500, which bundles heat-insulating glazing, an auto-dimming interior mirror, a centre armrest, and, on the Sports Tourer body style, roof rails.

Positioning the Astra Start as a value proposition rather than a downgrade is central to the strategy. Patrick Dinger, CEO of Opel Deutschland, framed the launch as a way to widen access to the brand’s German-built cars while undercutting rival offerings on price, noting that depending on the powertrain customers can save as much as €1,900. The logic is straightforward: an electric compact that stays well equipped but asks less money up front may appeal to buyers who are still weighing whether to go electric at all.

The Astra is not the only model receiving the treatment. Opel is rolling the Start equipment line out across additional vehicles, including the Frontera and the Combo, with the stated goal of offering attractively priced entry-level versions that deliver strong value for money. For shoppers comparing compact EVs, the effect is a lower barrier to entry into the Astra Electric — provided they can live without the heat pump and a handful of convenience features.