Does the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer improve on the Hatchback
Exterior – Front
So, lets start with the styling at the front. There is no surprise that the front of the Astra Sports Tourer and Hatchback are identical. This means you get the usual Vauxhall Visor which has the grill and the headlights all in one unit. These lights are LED but on the top of the range trim level you can have their Intellilux Pixel Light technology. Moving lower down we get this sporty looking central air vent and connected to it is a pair of side vents that look quite sporty for this type of car. On the base model we do get a different bumper which is not as sporty looking.
Exterior – Side
Moving round to the side we get the same as the astra hatchback from the b pillar forwards. We also get the same wheel options as the hatch too. From the b pillar backwards, it is different. We get a less sloping roof line and more glass area. We still get a sloping roof design and a reverse shark fin design on the side. This makes the car looks sporty and the rear end of the car helps this too.
Exterior – Rear
Moving round to the back we get these thin taillights that are very sporty looking. We get a sloping rear window which almost makes it look like a shooting brake. Up top we get this spoiler and a vertical brake light which again gives this car a sporty look. Lower down on the bumper it is simple and conservative which I am fine with. Let’s have a look at the engine options that you can have with the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer.
Car and engine specs and price
So, the engine range for the astra is quite simple. There are 2 petrol engines and 1 plug in hybrid engine. The 2 petrol engines are 1.2 litre turbo units with either 110 bhp or 130 bhp. Both can be had in a 6 speed manual whilst the 130 bhp can only also be had with an 8 speed automatic gearbox. For the plug in hybrid option you get a 1.6 litre turbo engine with an electric motor. This gives you 180 bhp which suits the car much better. You can also do about 35 to 40 miles of electric only driving which is more than enough for your average commute. The price of the Astra Sports Tourer starts at £28,010 for the regular petrol models and £38,985 for the plug in hybrid models.
Interior – Design
So, getting inside the new Astra Sports Tourer there are some differences over the regular Astra hatch but these changes that are in this car have just started to show up in the astra hatch. The biggest and only difference is that the Vauxhall Pure Panel is all one glass panel. This means that you cannot see the screens when the system is off. This looks much more futuristic. The screens are both 10 inches just like the regular display, but it looks and feels much more modern and less cheap. The software that is running on it is very good and is much better than what you would find on the Mokka and Corsa. The dashboard design is very modern and sporty looking, as too is the steering wheel. The centre console is simple and clean looking. The only thing I would want to change is that the cubby covers are not this rubber material and the same piano black material. This will make it look more premium although this piano black material does scratch quite easily which is a shame. We do get this split arm rest though like what you would find on a Mercedes and these seats are very supportive and comfortable and are certified AGR seats. AGR is a campaign for healthier backs. Let’s have a look at the rear seats.
Practicality
So, getting in the back and the Astra is not as practical as it used to be. Legroom is not as good as the previous gen Astra but because this is an estate headroom is fine. You can fit 6-foot people behind another 6-foot person, but it is a squeeze and I wouldn’t want to do it for a long journey. Let’s have a look at the boot.
Boot Size
So, opening the tailgate to the Astra Sports tourer and you are welcomed to 597 litres of boot space with the seats up. With the seats down it is 1,634 litres. This is a decent size, but it is not as big as the Volkswagen Golf Mk 8 estate boot size, but it is better than its sister car the Peugeot 308 estate.
Summary
So, what do I think of the Astra Sports Tourer. Well, it is a decent estate car. Practicality is decent and it has good styling. To be honest though I don’t think it is good enough in its current form. This is because there is an electric version called the Astra Electric Sports Tourer. This will rival the MG5 SW and the Peugeot e308 SW, this will make it unique and to be honest possibly the best electric estate car.
Exterior 5/5
Interior 5/5
Practicality 3/5
Total 13/15
Model | Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Ultimate PHEV |
Price | £42,300 |
Engine | 1.6 litre Turbo Petrol engine with Hybrid Motor, 40 mile electric range |
Transmission | 8 Speed Dual Clutch Automatic |
On Sale | Now |
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