Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric Review & Prices

If you’re looking for an affordable all-electric estate car, the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric is probably the pick of a very small bunch. It’s easy to drive and has a big boot, but it’s easy to find alternatives that go further on a charge.

The only other electric estates you might consider at this price are the MG5 EV and Peugeot E-308 SW. However, there are also SUVs such as the Kia EV3 and Vauxhall’s own Grandland Electric to consider.

Despite its stylish exterior, the Astra Sports Tourer Electric is not a flashy car. It’s fuss-free and gets the job done. It’s a bit like the defensive midfielder in a football team, rather than a skilful headline-grabbing winger, quietly going about its job in an effective way.

It really is stylish, though. It gets the same full-width black ‘Vizor’ front end that runs between the headlights and looks so good on the Corsa and Grandland, and although top-spec models get smart black design accents, even the entry-level model benefits from the sharp lines in the bodywork.

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 252-260 miles
Efficiency: 4.2 miles per kWh
Battery size: 54kWh
Max charge speed: 100kW
Charge time AC: 8h, 0-100%, 7kW
Charge time DC: 26mins, 20-80%, 100kW
Charge port location: Left side rear
Power outputs: 156hp

It’s a bit of a disappointment when you look inside, then, where the Astra just looks a bit uninspiring thanks to lots of dark materials and little in the way of design flourish. However, this has the benefit of being easy to use thanks to some physical buttons for stuff like the climate controls and assistance settings, meaning you don’t have to fiddle with the infotainment display on the move.

Speaking of which, the infotainment system isn’t great. The display is clear, but it’s pretty slow to switch between menus that can be infuriatingly unintuitive to navigate at the best of times. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted as standard and work seamlessly, though.

Space in the front is plentiful, while rear seat space is adequate if a touch underwhelming, meaning bulky child seats can fit, but without loads of space for toddlers to swing their feet.

Fortunately the boot is a good size, and at 516 litres offers more space than most electric alternatives you might consider, though the Peugeot E-308 SW and Grandland Electric do have bigger boots.

When picking a family car, driving excitement is probably not at the front of your mind, but if you’re considering the Astra Sports Tourer Electric it needs to be right at the back of your mind. You don’t get that instant punch of acceleration usually common to electric cars, and even in sport mode you really have to plan and commit to overtakes.

However, if you’re happy to plod around town and rarely feel the need to put your foot down it’s a refined and relaxing way to get around. The suspension soaks up bumps nicely and it’s pretty quiet on the motorway, too.

One thing to bear in mind is that the range isn’t fantastic. It’s 258 miles officially, which is comparable to the MG5 EV and E-308 SW, but there are similarly priced SUVs – such as the Kia EV3 and Vauxhall Grandland Electric – that top 300 miles. Charging speeds are on the lower end of average, too.

If this sounds like the family car for you, find out how much you could save with Carwow’s Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric deals. You can also browse used Astra Sports Tourer Electrics from our network of trusted dealers, as well as other used Vauxhalls. When it’s time to sell your car, Carwow can help with that, too.

The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric is reasonably priced among similar electric estates. It’s a bit more expensive than an MG5 EV, but it feels much nicer inside and is better to drive. It’s a fraction cheaper than the Peugeot E-308 SW, which again feels fair because that car is a bit plusher inside.

Value isn’t quite so good against SUVs. For the starting price of the Vauxhall you can get a Kia EV3 or Vauxhall Grandland Electric – both have a smaller boot, but much nicer cabins and longer range.

The Astra Sports Tourer Electric is comfortable around town and relaxing on the motorway, but it’s far from fun on a twisty road

In town

Driving around town is a breeze in the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric. Like all electric cars, the instant response makes city traffic easy to navigate, though it’s a shame you can’t quite zip through gaps in traffic and nip out at busy junctions as easily as you can in other EVs, which have punchier acceleration.

It’s pretty easy to navigate through tight streets as well thanks to decent forward visibility and a big rear window giving you a good view out of the back.

The steering is nice and light when you're manoeuvring, and the suspension does a good job of absorbing bumps in the road. Only the largest of potholes will send a thump through the cabin, otherwise it remains nicely composed.

A feature unique to the electric versions of the Astra is the ‘B’ mode for the regenerative braking. Push this button, and the car slows more aggressively when you lift off the accelerator, helping recover more energy and increasing efficiency. It won’t bring you to a complete stop like a Tesla will, but it means you don’t have to use the brake pedal that much in slow-moving traffic.

On the motorway

If you spend a lot of time slogging up and down the motorway, the Astra Sports Tourer Electric is a pretty relaxing way to do it. It feels planted at speed, and mid-spec cars get adaptive cruise control which can keep you a safe distance from the car in front.

Go for the range-topper and you get automatic lane change assist, which will scan the lane next to you and can make the switch automatically at the flick of the indicator if it’s safe to do so. This takes a lot of the strain out of long-distance driving.

Also worth a mention are the seats, which in GS and Ultimate models are approved by the Campaign for Healthier Backs. This means they’re very comfortable to spend a lot of time in, and the driver can even enjoy a massage function.

With no engine thrumming away under the bonnet, you do notice a little wind noise creeping into the cabin. The Tesla Model 3 is more refined on a long journey, but there’s not a great deal in it.

On a twisty road

Adequate is the word to describe the Astra Sports Tourer Electric when the going gets twisty. It’s not the most fun car to throw through the bends, but it does at least feel secure and planted, and the suspension irons out the bumps nicely. Take a look at a Cupra Born if you want an EV that will put a smile on your face.

You do have a sport mode, but all that does is make the steering feel a bit heavier and sharpen the throttle response a bit. However, the effect isn’t particularly noticeable, so you're better off keeping the car in its normal setting.

Space in the front is decent and the boot is quite big, but rear seat space isn’t huge

It’s usefully practical in the front of the Astra Sports Tourer Electric. There are plenty of places for you to hide your bits and bobs, with decent-sized door bins and a large glovebox on offer. The latter is lined with felt as well to stop things rattling around.

Hidden under the infotainment screen is a handy pocket, also felt-lined, where you can keep your sunglasses out of the way. There’s a huge storage cubby under the armrest as well, and the lid opens in two parts so you can still access it if someone has their arm in the way.

There are a few places to charge your phone, with two USB-C ports under a sliding cover in the centre console, and you can get a wireless charging pad here on range-topping Ultimate cars.

Getting comfortable behind the wheel is easy. There’s acres of adjustment in the seat and the steering wheel, so drivers big and small will be able to find their ideal position.

Space in the back seats

Rear seat space isn’t the Astra Sports Tourer Electric’s strong point. It’s fine for people of average height, but neither legroom nor headroom are particularly impressive, and it’s nowhere near as roomy as a similarly priced Volkswagen ID4.

Carrying three across the back seats could be a squeeze thanks to the hump in the floor and the way the roof curves in at the edges. If you do have three in the back, they’ll also have to fight over the single USB-C port back there.

Fitting a child seat is fairly painless. The ISOFIX anchor points are covered by some fiddly zips, but once they’re out of the way it’s easy to locate the seat. The doors open pretty wide, but you do have to bend down and try not to bang your child’s head on the low roof when putting them in. The higher seat position of an SUV makes this job easier.

Those in the back have some storage pockets on the back of the front seats, some moderately sized door bins and a centre armrest with a couple of cupholders.

Boot space

At 516 litres, the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric has a big, if not cavernous boot, and realistically all most people could ever need. The MG5 EV offers 479 litres, while the Kia EV3 has 460 litres. If you need a bit more space, the Peugeot E-308 SW has 548 litres of capacity, while the Vauxhall Grandland Electric has 550 litres.

The Astra’s boot is a nice square shape though, and has a low lip that makes it easy to get heavy items in. You do get a bit of storage under the boot floor, just enough to fit the charging cables but not the load cover.

Folding the back seats down is a breeze thanks to a couple of levers in the boot, and they lay completely flat making it easy to push heavy items to the front.

You get an impressive bank of screens, and material quality is decent. It’s just a shame that it’s a bit bland design-wise

In terms of interior quality, the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric gives the Volkswagen Golf Estate a run for its money. There are plenty of soft-touch plastics throughout the cabin, and everything feels very well screwed together.

That said, if it’s a bit of flair you’re after you’re better off looking at the Peugeot E-308 SW. The Astra’s interior is made up of a lot of black and grey plastic, making it feel a bit dark. If you go for the Ultimate trim level you do get a panoramic glass roof which lifts the ambience slightly.

In terms of the infotainment, all Astra Sports Tourer Electrics get a 10.0-inch touchscreen as standard. It’s clear enough, but the graphics are a bit dark and it’s not the most responsive screen out there. It can be quite tricky to navigate through the menus as well, but all cars get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so this becomes less of an issue when you hook your phone up.

You also get a 10.0-inch digital driver’s display as standard across the range. It delivers all the information you need in a clear and concise way, but it’s not all that configurable.

Unlike the Peugeot 308, the Astra has physical buttons for the climate controls, which are much easier to use on the move than the Peugeot’s touchscreen-based system. The Astra might also be the go-to choice for those who don’t get on with the Peugeot’s slightly strange driving position.

There’s just one motor option available, a 156hp unit powering the front wheels. It comes with a usable battery capacity of 51.5kWh (54kWh total) and an official range of 258 miles. That’s a bit better than the MG5 EV and Peugeot E-308 SW, which can both do a maximum of around 250 miles. However, the Grandland Electric has an official range of 325 miles in its base trim, while the longest-range Kia EV3 will go up to 375 miles.

During a three-month long-term test with the Astra Sports Tourer Electric, we averaged efficiency of 3.4 miles per kWh, which would equate to a disappointing range of 175 miles, or around 70% of the claimed range. However, our time with the car ran from December to February, and cold weather negatively impacts EV efficiency, so you could reasonably expect around 200 miles in summer. This would be about 80% of its claimed range, which is more in line with what we’ve seen from other EVs, but still not fantastic if you need to do regular long distances.

Charging speeds aren't great, with a maximum of 100kW on a public fast charger, compared with 128kW in the Kia EV3 and 160kW in the Vauxhall Grandland Electric.

Electric cars are a great option for company car buyers, because of the low Benefit-in-Kind rates. It’s a similar story for private buyers, who get low Vehicle Excise Duty rates.

The safety experts at Euro NCAP haven't tested the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, however the Astra hatchback was tested in 2022 and scored four stars out of five. Occupant safety scores were pretty good, but it struggled in the safety assist category.

That said, all Astra Electric models get autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition as standard to help take the strain out of day-to-day driving and keep you safe out on the road.

Vauxhall performed poorly in the latest Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, coming 26th out of 32 manufacturers. Owners praised the low running costs, but struggled in most other categories.

All Vauxhall models come with a three-year or 60,000 miles warranty, and electric models get an additional eight-year or 100,000 miles warranty for the battery pack. This will also cover a replacement battery if the capacity drops below 70% during this time.