New Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric is a £40k EV estate

• 54kWh battery to provide up to 256 miles of range
• Practical estate bodystyle
• £39,995 starting price

Buyers who want a practical electric car, but without the size and footprint that comes with an SUV, can now order a fully electric Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer estate. It's one of few pure electric estate cars on the market, manufacturers now tending to overlook this sector in favour of taller, trendier crossovers. Prices will start from £39,995 for the entry-level Design trim and the first models should arrive from spring next year.

The Astra Sports Tourer Electric is essentially an elongated version of the regular Astra Electric, both sharing the same motor and battery combination. A 54kWh battery pack provides power to a 156bhp electric motor that lives under the bonnet, driving the front wheels. Even though the larger bodystyle brings extra weight, the Sports Tourer Electric matches its hatchback counterpart for acceleration, and maximum range is only reduced by two miles – up to 256 miles can be achieved (according to WLTP testing).

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Efficiency is boosted by a combination of eco tyres, a heat pump and a regenerative braking system, all of which can also be found on the regular Astra Electric. As with Vauxhall’s other electric cars, the Sports Tourer Electric is compatible with 100kW DC rapid charging, enabling a 20 to 80% charge in 26 minutes. An onboard 11kW AC charger means charging at home from a 7kW wallbox should take around eight hours.

Boot space is unchanged from the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the Astra Sports Tourer, with a capacity of 516 litres, increasing to 1,553 litres with the rear seats folded down. This is smaller than the boot found in the petrol-powered Astra Sports Tourer, which has a capacity of 598 litres seats up, and 1,634 litres seats down. 

Inside the Sports Tourer Electric, you’ll find Vauxhall’s latest interior technology, with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver and another 10-inch infotainment screen taking centre stage on the dashboard. There are physical buttons for the climate controls and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Also fitted as standard are front and rear parking sensors, lane keep assist, forward collision alert, LED headlights and 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

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Vauxhall will offer the Sports Tourer Electric in their usual three trim levels – Design, GS and  Ultimate. Design costs £39,995 and features the standard equipment mentioned above, whilst upgrading to GS trim for an additional £2,350 brings a 360-degree parking camera, adaptive cruise control and keyless start, along with heated seats and steering wheel. Externally, the GS trim pairs sportier-looking bumpers with black wheels, a black roof and a black ‘visor’ front fascia.

Ultimate is the highest trim level, costing £45,460 and featuring even more kit. There’s a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, wireless phone charger, Alcantara upholstery and a pair of upgraded headlights. Ultimate trim level can also be optioned with Vauxhall’s ‘Intelli-Drive 2.0’, a driving assistance package that includes semi-automated lane change assist and advanced speed adaptation, a system that can read road signs and weather conditions and adjust the car’s speed accordingly.

The Astra Sports Tourer Electric will be up against its only other electric estate rivals, the Peugeot E-308 SW and MG5 EV, when it arrives on our roads next spring.

If you’re looking for an electric car that fits the whole family, check out our top 10 list…