Browse
Log in / Register
Share
Stellantis is lowering the entry price on its European compact hatchback lineup, and the latest example is the Opel Astra Start. As of March 6, 2025, the automaker has detailed a new base trim for the facelifted Astra, a Volkswagen Golf rival that now starts at €31,890 for the mild-hybrid version—roughly $35,700 at current exchange rates.
That price undercuts the previous entry point in the Astra range by about €1,600. The Start sits at the opposite end of the lineup from the performance-focused Astra GSE, and it follows the same formula Stellantis already applied to the Frontera and Combo. Call it a value play, but one that still carries a substantial sticker price in today’s European market.
The most obvious cost-saving move is the wheel package. The Astra Start rides on 16-inch steel rims with multi-spoke hubcaps and taller-profile tires, a combination that reads as a direct flashback to 1990s econoboxes. It also happens to be a practical choice for buyers who deal with potholes, winter weather, or simply want cheap replacements down the road.
Despite the humble wheels, the rest of the exterior keeps the facelifted Astra’s modern look. Standard equipment includes LED headlights, the illuminated Opel Vizor grille—complete with small cooling intakes on combustion versions—plus the sculpted bumpers introduced with the refresh. There’s also an integrated rear spoiler and LED taillights.
In terms of equipment, the Start essentially matches the previous Astra Edition trim, with the main adjustment being the simpler wheel setup. The pictured Denim Blue Metallic paint is standard; other colors require extra payment.
Here’s where the Astra Start differs from some of Stellantis’ other recent budget trims. The Frontera Start, for example, drops the infotainment screen entirely in favor of a smartphone mount. The Astra Start does not follow that path. It comes standard with a digital cockpit built around dual 10-inch displays.
Also standard are six-way manually adjustable Intelli-Seats up front, automatic climate control, keyless start, LED interior lighting, a four-speaker audio system with DAB+, and a multifunction steering wheel. For a car pitched as the entry-level version, that’s a genuinely usable equipment list rather than a stripped shell.
The Astra Start includes the basic ADAS package required for European markets, and it adds front and rear parking sensors as standard. The rearview camera remains exclusive to higher trims, which is a notable omission for anyone who relies on a backup display in tight city spaces.
Buyers looking for a bit more can choose the Start Comfort Pack. It adds heat-insulating glass, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a center armrest, and roof rails for the Astra Sports Tourer wagon. These are the kinds of add-ons that push the bottom-line price back up, so Stellantis is clearly keeping the base number low while protecting margins elsewhere.
The Astra Start is available with three powertrain options, and notably, none of them come with a manual transmission. The gasoline option is a mild-hybrid turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder producing 143 horsepower, paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.
There’s also a 130-hp turbodiesel with an eight-speed automatic, and a fully electric version with a single motor rated at 154 hp. The EV uses a 55.4 kWh battery and offers a WLTP range of 282 miles. So far, Stellantis has only published pricing for the mild-hybrid variant; diesel and EV pricing remains under wraps.
The headline number is €31,890, which converts to roughly $35,700. That makes the Astra Start the most affordable way into the facelifted lineup, undercutting the previous base trim by €1,600. But the options list can quickly erase that saving:
Add a couple of those boxes and the entry-level Astra is no longer entry-priced. That’s not unusual for the segment, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
Opel doesn’t sell cars in the United States, so the Astra Start won’t appear in showrooms here. But seeing Europe’s “cheap hatchback” carry a $35,700 equivalent price says a lot about where the market has landed. Dual screens, hybrid hardware, automatic gearboxes, and mandatory ADAS all add cost. Even with steel wheels and hubcaps, a base compact in 2025 is a very different beast from the basic hatchbacks of a decade ago.
For budget-focused European buyers, the Astra Start works because Stellantis kept the core tech intact and cut costs in areas that don’t ruin the daily driving experience. The screens remain, the safety systems remain, and the powertrain choices are modern. The trade-off is corporate: fewer standard features, more optional packs, and a starting price that is still substantial. But as entry-level hatches go, this one makes more sense than most.
