2022 Holden Astra and other Opel hatchbacks, SUVs, electric cars that could help Holden against Mazda 3, Kia Seltos, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Hyundai Ioniq 5

With a choice of hybrid and electric powertrains, the updated 2022 Astra is the most progressive and flashy to date.

These are the future Holdens that we now hardly ever see in Australia, coming out of hiding in Europe with former General Motors (GM) nameplates, and yet thriving today under forward-thinking management.

Bright, bold and promising, these all-new hatchbacks, crossovers and SUVs from Opel reveal the fresh design and electrified engineering direction Holden might have taken if he'd been allowed to live.

Of course, history took a different turn when, in February '68, GM in Detroit abruptly discontinued the 2020-year-old Australian automotive icon - an inevitable action as it also phased out all other right-hand drive markets, including Africa and the UK. , after the sale of Opel and its UK division Vauxhall to the PSA Peugeot/Citroen Group (now Stellantis) three years earlier.

While we may never know for sure if these latest Opel models were destined for Australia, Holden certainly had an agreement with Groupe PSA to supply the Insignia-based German ZB Commodore and BK Astra within five years of production being discontinued in Australia in 2017.

Of course, if they both sold well, like their predecessors did before the mid-2000s, and not badly, then we could be witnessing a very different scenario unfolding for Holden right now. 

Perhaps the new Opel/Vauxhall crossovers and SUVs that are popular in Europe could add momentum; perhaps Groupe PSA might even consider taking control, saving a beloved local brand from extinction. Maybe we're just dreaming, hoping for the return of Australia's Own...

Stranger things have happened, too, so here's a timeline of Holden cars and SUVs from the alternate universe to the 2020s - via Opel - that may have seen the lion flourish today.

Astra L

No, not a base-class runabout, but Opel's 11th post-war runabout answer to VW Golf and company. since before Astra Kadett 'A' debuted the year EJ Holden hit the scene in 1962. Fun fact: his Vauxhall cousin was built in Australia two years later as a half-baked HA Viva, which in turn evolved into the legendary Torana. series not too long ago.

Unveiled this week to universal acclaim, the 2022 Astra L is the latest chapter in Opel's astonishing transformation from 88-year(!) GM-ruled money-losers to profitability and prosperity. Aside from the nameplate, outside, inside and below, the small car, designed and engineered by the Germans, banishes all traces of GM forever.

Yes, the Astra L is based on an evolution of the EMP2 platform that also underpins the criminally undervalued (in Australia) Peugeot 308, and unlocks PSA powertrains in both internal combustion and electrified versions, including plug-in hybrid and full EV options.

However, who cares? Everyone talks about Opel's talent for design - from the Vizor's rectangular nose to the razor-sharp creases, the perfectly proportioned newcomer is downright suave. The German sophistication is also reflected in the ultra-modern, fully digitized instrument panel and textured interior surfaces that look very fresh.

It's sublime subcompact design and brutal engineering that Holden had to hold onto. In Holden's "Still Alive" timeline, Astra is gearing up for a stellar comeback in 2022. If only.

Mokko B   

Remember Holden Trucks? Designed by GM Daewoo, the slightly baggy light SUV offshoot of TM Barina spawned a German cousin called the Opel Mokka. Until Holden pulled a short-lived local pin on Opel in 2013, Australians were almost able to buy one too.

Fast forward to 2021 and we have this - the Mokka B. Compared to the fairly new 2008 Peugeot below, this could be Holden's answer to the fast-selling Kia Seltos, but with more progressive and modern styling inside and out. Like the 2022 Astra, the Vizor's front end gives the crossover a very distinct presence on the road.

Again, the choice of a French platform and powertrain, including a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine and electric vehicles for the electrified Mokka-e, makes the kids' SUV modern, with nimble handling and improved driving performance.

Back in 2013, the Trax was a pioneer in lightweight crossovers and sold well for a while; we assume that the latest iteration will have a ready market for an alternate universe timeline that Holden can use. Again such a shame, it's just a pipe dream.

Corsa F

Not for "bad luck" but for number six, the Corsa F comes from a family tree familiar to Australian hatchback buyers thanks to the beautiful 1994 SB Barina (Corsa B) and its 2001 XC replacement (Corsa C). Holden also briefly sold an Opel Corsa D for the 2012/3 season.

So we're talking about replacing the good old Barina, but more technically advanced than anything Holden has ever offered. This is because Opel's takeover after Groupe PSA means the Corsa F is a second generation offshoot of the Peugeot 208, which unfortunately is not currently planned for sale in Australia. Apparently, city runabouts are too tough a nut to crack.

However, not abroad. A huge success, the little Opel is currently the fifth best-selling car in Europe, appealing to supermini drivers with its combination of brash looks, sensible packaging and affordable EV powertrain options in an intriguing Corsa-e guise. 

Yes, it's another affordable all-electric Opel that would push Holden to the fore - a mantle that Hyundai's gorgeous Ioniq 5 is likely to take on.

Grandland Serie A II

In fact, the Opel Grandland was released in Europe long before the Holden disappeared, suggesting it may have been considered for Australia at the time the previous (BK series) Holden Astra was imported instead.

Far from new, despite an extensive facelift this year, back then before GM sold the Opel Groupe PSA, as a joint venture first discussed in 2012 between US and French firms to help market the Toyota RAV4/Kia Sportage in Europe and Africa.

The Grandland was thus a sign of things to come, especially since it is based on the current Peugeot 308's EMP2 platform and closely related to the hugely popular 3008 model - the model credited with saving Peugeot's bacon.

If it were indeed offered by GMH, Holden's reasons for ditching the Grandland back in 2017 would no doubt be valid - it would probably be too expensive - but it's hard to believe the Australians wouldn't prefer his Chevrolet-based Equinox. who was chosen (and failed) instead.

If the Holden Grandland did show up, today it would be in Series II guise with a Vizor nose cone, eye-catching touchscreen technology and a plug-in electric vehicle option to chase the runaway best-selling RAV4 Hybrid.