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Vauxhall is hoping to increase its presence in the compact estate sector with this improved version of the eighth generation Astra Sports Tourer. SUVs and MPVs might offer more interesting options for family buyers but the solid, practical virtues of a good estate are not to be under-estimated. This one's smarter to look at and nicer inside. Plus its powertrains are now more efficient. So, aided by its French- derived underpinnings, it's a better package all-round.
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Background
When what you need to fit in your car just won't, you need a bigger car. Family hatchback owners confronted with this nightmare scenario have a number of options at their disposal. They could take the rugged route with a compact SUV, choose the versatility of a compact MPV or step up to a medium range saloon. Alternatively, they could turn to an extended version of the family hatchback they already have. The estate car isn't the trendiest or most exciting option but when you need a little bit more room, it does the job. Vauxhall's eighth generation Astra Sports Tourer is little more than an extended Astra hatch but it could be all the car you need, especially in this improved form.
With the demise of Ford's Focus Estate, this Astra station wagon faces two key rivals - it's identically-engineered Stellantis cousin the Peugeot 308 SW; and the evergreen estate version of the Volkswagen Golf. Both of those estate rivals have sold quite well over the years but sales of Astra estates have traditionally been way down on those of the standard hatchback versions. The compact estate market looks likely to remain a niche one but with flashy Sports Tourer branding, this revitalised eighth generation Astra estate could be destined to take a bigger slice of it.
As for the recent changes made to prompt this review, well there's a smarter look, a bigger battery for the EV, more supportive seats, HD exterior lighting technology and recycled fabrics. As before, there's a choice of hatch or Sports Tourer estate body styles. And virtually brand new is the longer-ranging 17.2kWh battery Plug-in Hybrid drivetrain. Lots to talk about here then. Let's take a closer look.
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Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 29995 | 34995 |
| Insurance group 1-50 | 19 | 31 |
| CO2 (g/km) | 129 | 19 |
| Max Speed (mph) | 130 | 140 |
| 0-62 mph (s) | 10 | 7.9 |
| Min | Max |
| Electric WLTP-Rated Driving Range (miles) | 50 | 50 |
| Length (mm) | 4642 | 4642 |
| Width (mm) | 2062 | 2062 |
| Height (mm) | 1443 | 1443 |
| Boot Capacity (l) | 608 | 548 |
| Power (hp) | 130 | 195 |
Driving experience
For the time being, the majority of Astra Sports Tourer sales will continue to be either of the conventional 1.2-litre petrol combustion version, a 130PS manual or auto transmission powertrain that continues unchanged. Or of the Turbo Hybrid e-DCT6 variant, which uses a 48V self-charging Hybrid unit with 145PS and a dual-clutch 6-speed auto gearbox with a little 28hp electric motor built into it.
But let's get on to what's different under the bonnet. The main updates here concern the powertrains you can plug in. The Plug-in Hybrid variant had only just been updated at the time of this facelift with a bigger 17.2kWh battery (up from 12.4kWh before), with EV range consequently improved to 52 miles (EAER). The powertrain on offer here is the usual now-uprated one that the Stellantis Group fits to its latest PHEV models, a 1.6 litre turbo petrol unit producing 150PS allied to a single electric motor delivering 110PS, the combined maximum in the mainstream Hybrid 195 variant being 195PS and 360Nm of torque. There's now a 7-speed auto gearbox (replacing the previous 8-speeder) and you can set the car to run in a dedicated pure electric mode. If you want to go faster in an Astra PHEV, you can talk to your dealership about the pricier, more powerful Hybrid 225 variant, which offers 225PS and has to be had with sporty GSe trim, featuring lowered, stiffer suspension.
The Astra Sports Tourer Electric gets significant changes too, with a bigger 58kWh battery offering a range of up to 282 miles (22 miles further than the original version of this model could go). As before, there's a front-mounted 152bhp electric motor putting out a healthy 270Nm of torque. This kind of output ought to be enough for a car of this size, but because of the plump kerb weight, the initially rapid start-off punch tails off pretty rapidly, the 62mph benchmark finally reached in just 9.2 seconds, on the way to a modest top speed of 105mph. Through the corners, you'll feel the extra weight of that big battery, but as usual in an EV, its central low-down positioning minimises the downside by lowering the centre of gravity.
Whatever version of this car you choose, it's refreshing to find when you set off down the road in this Vauxhall that an Astra Sports Tourer feels significantly different to the Peugeot 308 SW it's almost entirely based upon. With slightly more of a focus on handling than comfort. True, there's not the rewarding depth of dynamic prowess that you'd get in this class in, say, an old Focus Estate, but we reckon this Astra still qualifies as a good pick if you like your driving, mating the fluid gait you get with its Peugeot cousin with a slightly sharper feel. That's partly down to a bit more steering feedback; and partly down to fractionally firmer damping, though this Vauxhall rumbles a little over poorer surfaces as a result.
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Design and build
This improved eighth generation Astra is without doubt a sharper looking thing and it makes an assertive car park statement in this Sports Tourer form. This isn't one of those compact estates that's hardly any larger than the family hatch it's based upon. Measuring in at 4,642mm long, this Astra Sports Tourer is a full 268mm longer than the hatch model. The rear remains perhaps this Sports Tourer model's most visually challenging perspective point, but the subtle roof spoiler looks smart.
As for the changes made as part of the most recent update, well there's a smarter, more purposeful look for the Vauxhall 'Vizor' front face, while the brand badge is now illuminated, with lighting strips either side, flowing into redesigned headlamps now featuring the brand's anti-glare 'Intelli-Lux' technology. The front bumpers have also been redesigned - as have the wheels, available in 17 or 18-inch sizes. Plus there are additional colour choices.
With a conventional engine, the boot of this compact estate provides up to 597-litres of useful storage space with the rear seats upright, and up to 1,634-litres when folded. In addition, when the 40:20:40-split rear seats are folded, the floor is completely flat - making it easier to load long and bulky items. The Plug-in Hybrid and EV variants both offer a cargo volume of 516-litres - with 1,553-litres seats-folded.
Conventional petrol versions get the brand's 'Intelli-Space' feature. This moveable load floor can be easily adjusted with one hand to high and low positions and tilted at a 45-degree angle. In addition, for more convenience, the retractable boot storage cover can be stowed when the moveable floor is in both the upper as well as the lower position - in contrast to competitors that only allow stowage of the cover when the floor is in the upper position. The Astra Sports Tourer with 'Intelli-Space' can also make life easier in the event of a flat tyre. The kits for tyre repair and first aid are stored in clever underfloor compartments that can be accessed from the boot or rear passenger seating area. This means that the kits can be reached without needing to fully unpack the boot.
Inside up-front, the main change with this updated model is the installation of the brand's more supportive 'Intelli-Seats'. These are characterised by a recessed channel running up the middle of the front seat bases, which - inspired by the saddle design on road bicycles - reduces pressure on the tailbone (coccyx). Further up the line-up, the car now comes with multi-adjustable, AGR-certified seats for driver and front passenger with covers made of an eco fabric called 'ReNewKnit'. This mono-material, with a high-quality suede appearance, is 100% recycled and, unlike composite materials, does not have to be laboriously separated, reducing the CO2 footprint and helping to avoid waste. These chairs include multi-stage seat heating, electro-pneumatic lumbar support, and massage and memory functions.
The dashboard's 'Multimedia Pure Panel Pro Navigation' design is much as before, with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch central colour touchscreen. But Vauxhall says that central monitor's user interfaces have been made clearer and more intuitive, in line with those on the Grandland SUV.
Everything else is as before. Which means that in the rear seat, you get 680mm of leg space, 10mm more than in the Peugeot 308, but it still feels a touch more cramped than the class norm: a SEAT Leon for instance, has 20mm more room for stretching out. A third central passenger could be accommodated but, as with most cars in this class, it'd be a bit of a squash.
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Market and model
In an interesting approach to pricing, Vauxhall has recided that all electrified versions of this model - Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and Electric - should be priced at exactly the same level. And that there should be no price premium to graduate from the hatch body shape to this Sports Tourer estate. Which is a huge change from the approach taken with the pre-facelift version of this model, where the price difference between the Hybrid and the Plug-in Hybrid variants was vast; and there was a premium of at least £1,250 (and sometimes much more) if you wanted the estate version rather than the hatch.
All of this means that prices start from around £30,000 with base 'Griffin' trim for either hatch or Sports Tourer versions of the Astra Hybrid e-DCT6, the Astra Electric or the Astra Plug-in Hybrid e-DCT7. If you want to pay less than that for this Astra, ask your dealer about the more conventionally-powered unelectrified 1.2 Turbo three cylinder petrol version of this model. There are two other mainstream trim levels, also featuring electrified engine price parity - mid-level 'GS' (from around £31,500) and top 'Ultimate' (from around £34,000). Choose the Astra Electric and you can deduct a £1,500 government grant from these quoted figures.
With all Astra Sports Tourer derivatives, you can expect plenty of equipment for the money, with standard features like full-LED headlights, digital instrument dials, a head-up display and standard wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring for the centre dash screen. Plus heat for the front seats and steering wheel, a wireless charging mat and a 180-degree reversing camera. You'll be able to specify your Astra Sports Tourer with large wheels - up to 18-inches in diameter - and above base trim, you get a 2-tone paint finish.
Top 'Ultimate' variants get the brand's 'Intelli-Drive 2.0' technology, which includes Advanced Intelligent Speed Adaptation (which monitors both road signs and weather conditions to adjust the vehicle speed) and Semi Automated Lane Change (which works at speeds between 45mph and 70mph, with the driver able to instruct the vehicle to change lanes). conditions permitting. The 'Intelli-Drive 2.0' package also includes Rear Cross Traffic Alert, which uses radars on the rear bumpers to detect moving objects to the rear sides of the vehicle, such as cars or motorcycles manoeuvring in a car park, alerting the driver when reversing.
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Cost of ownership
The Peugeot and Citroen-derived PureTech engines in use here have already proven to be extremely efficient in other Stellantis Group cars we've tried them in and of course the same is true of this Astra Sports Tourer. Think 49.6mpg on the combined cycle and 129g/km of CO2 for both versions of the 1.2 Turbo petrol engine with manual transmission; and 50.4mpg and 127g/km of CO2 for the 1.2-litre Turbo 130PS auto. These figures are helped by this eighth generation Astra's relatively light weight, gained through the use of high-tech materials such as the latest thermoplastics. Low rolling resistance tyres also play their part.
Combustion engines though are soon to be no more in Vauxhalls. For the time being though, the Astra's electrification is varied. Your first option lies with self-charging 48V Hybrid tech, which sees a 136PS version of the usual 1.2-litre petrol engine paired with a 6-speed dual clutch transmission which has a little 28hp electric motor built into it. In this form, the Astra Sports Tourer Hybrid can return up to 57.6mpg on the combined cycle and up to 114g/km of CO2.
Otherwise, if you want an Astra Sports Tourer with an engine, you'll need the pricier PHEV version. Opt for either of the two available Plug-in Hybrid variants and as we mentioned in our 'Driving Experience' section, up to 52 miles of EAER-rated battery running is claimed, while CO2 is rated at between 52 and 53g/km and combined fuel economy is rated at 122.8mpg. From a household plug, both Astra Plug-in Hybrid variants can be replenished in 7 hours 24 minutes. Plug into a 3.2kW home wall box or public charger and replenishment will take 4 hours 17 minutes. Connected up to 7.4kW home wall box or public charger, you can reduce that to 2 hours and 5 minutes.
Of course, you'll need to allow longer to charge if you choose the full-EV version of this car, the Astra Sports Tourer Electric. This has a 400-volt battery with a now-larger 58kWh of usable capacity and should go 282 miles between charges. An 11kW on-board charger is offered as standard and the charging figures shouldn't be much different from those of the previous 54kWh model. For reference, these saw a full charge from empty achieved in 5hr 45mins using a public charger. Supporting up to 100kW rapid charging, a 10% to 80% charge can be completed in just 30 minutes.
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Summary
With all the other options facing family car buyers in the modern marketplace, the compact estate car is sometimes overlooked. Admittedly, it's not the most exciting option next to the plethora of tough-looking compact SUVs and MPVs with their elaborate seating arrangements but it is reassuringly simple in what it offers and surprisingly practical too.
Vauxhall's revitalised eighth generation Astra Sports Tourer seems to fit the bill very nicely in this regard, especially in this improved form with its sharper looks and more supportive seats. If you're in the market for a car of this kind, it should be on your shopping list.
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