Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer

With the eleventh generation of the Astra, Vauxhall gives a special interpretation of the estate car phenomenon. That is: Vauxhall has been very active and very lazy at the same time! Some brands limit themselves to extending the roofline, which makes the estate car a reality. Vauxhall goes one step further by lengthening the wheelbase (+57 mm) and increasing the overhang behind the rear wheels (+211 mm), so that the boot is not only taller but also longer.

Vauxhall has been lazy in a way by keeping the rear doors and even the rear lights of the hatchback. This is a unique approach for an estate car, but it saves a lot of money because no new parts have to be developed. Also, despite reusing parts from the hatchback, the estate looks good.

Space

This is partly due to the black colour of the roof, which even extends to the side. This makes the Sports Tourer look slimmer than it actually is. Likewise, the ascending line under the rear side window provides a dynamic element. And because the window line rises slightly, Vauxhall was able to raise the rear shelf as well. Therefore, taller pieces of luggage fit under the rear shelf and it needs to be dismantled less often (after which it fits neatly into a custom-made recess under the load floor).

The boot 103 cm long and wide. By folding the back seat (ratio 40:20:40) the length increases to 185 cm. But... the Sports Tourer offers much more than just space. Vauxhall did everything possible to use that space as efficiently as possible.

For example, the rear seat lock is accessible through the boot as well as through the rear doors. Behind the wheel arches there are nets to safely separate small items from the bulk. The loading floor can be placed in two heights, so one can choose between a flat loading floor and a little less space or a lifting threshold and enjoy maximum space. Also handy: the side walls have lights, hooks and a 12-volt socket. Depending on the chosen trim level, the tailgate can be opened and closed electrically.

Equipment

Characteristic for this eleventh generation of the Astra is the so-called "detox cabin". This means that the occupants are confronted with anything unpleasant as little as possible. For example, the "intelli-air" air filter automatically ensures a supply of clean air. The windscreen is fitted with sound-insulating film as standard (on all trims above the "Edition" including " Business Edition" and other variants, the side windows are also equipped with additional sound insulation).

At Vauxhall, unpleasantness also includes distractions. To keep things calm, the dashboard is dominated by a black panel in which two displays are mounted: one behind the steering wheel and one centrally on the dashboard. These are used to control almost all functions, so the number of buttons and levers could be limited. Vauxhall has chosen a simple and clear layout for the screens, without any frills or distractions.

Depending on the chosen trim level, the Astra offers everything that may be expected from a modern car in this price range. What is noticeable is that the promised voice-activated assistant lags behind the competition. Vauxhall's assistant reacts poorly and understands very little. This is exactly why the assistants of a phone connected via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are so easy to use (by pressing the speech button on the steering wheel for a shorter or longer time).

Plug-inhybrid

Versatility in the Astra Sports Tourer also comes from the drive train. The Astra is available with conventional petrol and diesel engines, as a plug-in hybrid and as a fully electric car. Because of the small price differences and the large difference in price per kilometre, the plug-in hybrid and electric version are preferred.

For this test, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was driven, consisting of a 1.6 litre petrol engine and an electric motor. Thanks to a 12.4 kW battery under the floor, in theory 60 km and during this test under ideal weather conditions 55 km can be covered fully electrically. The Astra has no smart features to distribute the electricity optimally over a journey. By default the battery is drained first, after which the petrol engine takes over. The driver can decide for himself which engine to use, but practice has shown that similar cars that distribute the energy optimally based on the destination in the sat nav drive even more economically.

When both engines combine their power (180 PS / 360 Nm) the Astra is a seriously fast car. Moreover, performance is delivered with great ease, which makes the Astra hybrid feel like a class above the variants with only an internal combustion engine. Good to know: the brakes are more than a match for the might of the hybrid powertrain.

Handling

SUVs are so popular nowadays that the Autozine editors test these luxury off-road vehicles for recreational use more often than traditional hatchbacks and estate cars. However, the test drive with the Astra Sports Tourer proves that when it comes to road holding, a traditional low car with a low centre of gravity is still far superior to the SUV.

Even without a complicated (and expensive!) suspension with variable dampers the Astra handles very well. On bad surfaces comfort is more than sufficient. At high speeds the Astra is stable and when cornering the Sports Tourer gives a confidence boost that no SUV can match. Compared to other estate cars, the Astra has fair handling and if desired the dynamics promised by the name "Sports Tourer" will be delivered.

Conclusion

How versatile is the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer? Very versatile! As it should be with an estate car, the Sports Tourer combines the luxury and refinement of a hatchback with lots of space. Opel goes further than usual by not only increasing the overhang behind the rear wheels, but also the wheelbase. On top of that, the Sports Tourer provides almost every ergonomic gimmick and space-saving trick in the book.

Just like the standard Astra, the Sports Tourer has a rich and modern equipment. On details the Astra goes that little bit further than usual. Think about the smart lighting, a head-up display and the seats that have been developed together with the German institute for healthy backs (although this time they were found to be too narrow).

The versatility of the Astra also comes from its many powertrains. The Astra is available with conventional petrol and diesel engines, as a hybrid and as an electric car. The plug-in hybrid does exactly what is expected of it: it makes the Astra fast, comfortable and economical.