New Vauxhall Astra Electric to arrive with 258-mile range and estate variant

By Sam Phillips

29 Nov 2022

The new Vauxhall Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric will join the British brand's line-up next year, growing the firm’s electric range to six models.

Vauxhall is planning to launch an electric version of every model it sells by 2024 and is aiming to wave goodbye to the combustion engine before 2028. The new generation of the hugely popular Astra family hatch is the latest model to get the EV treatment.

Intriguingly, the new Astra Electric will be offered in big-booted estate guise, with the Astra Sports Tourer Electric becoming one of a handful of electrified estates on the market. It will join the closely related Peugeot e-308 and e-308 SW.

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Both variants are equipped with the same powertrain, featuring a 54kWh battery being paired with a 114kW electric motor; torque comes in at 199lb ft.

The hatchback and estate models offer a range of up to 258 miles from a single, with a top speed of 105mph.

Vauxhall says its Astra Electric uses just 12.7kWh of electricity to cover 62 miles and features a number of driving modes - Eco, Normal and Sport - to suit all needs.

The Astra Electric uses the EMP2 electric platform from parent company Stellantis, with the forthcoming Peugeot e-308 using the same EV architecture.

The Astra Electric can be charged at up to 100kW, allowing for 0-80 per cent charge in just 30 minutes. All models will come as standard with a three-phase 11kW onboard charger suitable for wallbox use at home.

Styling-wise, Vauxhall’s latest electric model is largely identical to the combustion-engined version and features the same LED Pixel headlights. The front end also houses Vauxhall’s latest driver aids and safety systems. Both models come with 18 inch diamond-cut alloy wheels as standard.

Inside the new Astra Electric and Sports Tourer Electric get the latest technologies, driver aids and safety features.

Dominating the upper dashboard is a 10-inch central infotainment display which sits alongside a 10-inch digital instrument cluster. Vauxhall has added physical buttons for adjusting the climate controls.

The new electric Astra also gets the “Hey Vauxhall” voice control functionality and a host of safety systems, including front collision warning, automatic emergency braking, active lane keeping assist and drowsiness detection.

Thanks to the lengthier bodystyling of the Astra Sports Tourer Electric, the estate model offers up to 516 litres of luggage space and 1553 litres with the seats folded. The MG 5 estate can only manage 1367 litres with the seats down.

Order books open for the Astra Electric hatchback early next year, with first deliveries due from June 2023. The Astra Sport Tourer Electric meanwhile will be available to order next year with deliveries estimated before the end of 2023.

Vauxhall is yet to reveal the price of its forthcoming electric Astra models, but we anticipate a starting price of around £36,000 for the hatchback variant, with the Sport Tourer Electric commanding a slight premium at around £37,000.

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