New Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer priced from £25,005
Still want that SUV? Vauxhall’s handsome estate reminds us how sleek big-booted cars can be
)
Lovers of estates, time to don your sunglasses. Because Vauxhall’s new Astra Sports Tourer is a perfect example of why estates are cool. With the announcement that pricing for the Ford Focus Estate rival will start from £25,005, we’re reminded once again that practicality and style needn’t cost the Earth – and why SUVs aren’t the only option for people who like big boots. Vauxhall’s sharp-looking estate has a boot that can swallow up to 608 litres of luggage, or – in human talk – a family load of suitcases and room for holiday souvenirs.
Fold down the back seats, and that grows to a maximum of 1,636 litres, or about enough space to swallow a living room’s worth of flat-pack furniture. So, the Astra Sports Tourer is ruddy practical, while managing to look sharp and handsome, and appropriately sleek. With petrol, plug-in hybrid and diesel versions all due when the model reaches showrooms this summer, offering between 180hp and 110hp respectively, the Sports Tourer ought to be one of the most versatile offerings out there.
)
You get a decent supply of kit, too, with the entry-level Design trim coming as standard with 16-inch alloy wheels to go with that nice exterior design, while the interior gets a 10-inch-wide touchscreen infotainment system and a digital instrument cluster for the driver of the same width. The tech comes with Bluetooth connectivity and wireless smartphone integration – including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while drivers are assisted with lane departure warning tech, parking sensors front and rear, and even a driver drowsiness detector.
The new Vauxhall estate doesn’t quite beat its arch-rival from Ford for outright value, with the Focus Estate starting from £24,125. But dare we say it, the Vauxhall’s look might sway a few people to its 4.6-metre-long profile. And rightfully so. Although you needn’t wait until Vauxhall’s entrant arrives for estate sleekness, as we have alternatives in our online showroom, including the previous-generation Astra, ready for you and your sunglass-wearing noggin. For those still leaning towards an SUV, don’t worry. We’ve plenty of those spacious machines for you to peruse, too.
)
)
)
)