Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer review

We’ll kick off with the plug-in hybrid, because not only is that the most powerful powertrain, it’s also the most interesting. The combined 178bhp makes for a 0-60mph time of 7.7 seconds, with the 128bhp petrol auto the only other engine/gearbox combo that dips below double figures. Keep the battery topped up and the PHEV gets about its business with decent purpose, and there’s impressively smooth integration of the electricity and internal combustion power. 

There are Electric, Hybrid and Sport drive modes which all do exactly what they say on the tin, but all the controls do seem a little light in anything but Sport mode – the steering and brakes especially. Sport weights things up but also harms precious fuel economy by keeping the petrol engine running.

So is the PHEV efficient?

Well, on an hour-long drive that encompassed town, country and motorway driving, we managed just over 85mpg when starting with a full battery. Impressive. That’s compared to Vauxhall’s claim of 256mpg, but we all know by now that PHEVs can throw out some barmy numbers on the WLTP cycle. Head to the Buying tab if you need to know more.

What if I don’t want battery power?

We drove the 128bhp petrol with a six-speed manual on the very same route as the PHEV and managed 43mpg. Not bad. The little three-cylinder turbo petrol engine pulls well and sounds good too; the benefit of an odd number of cylinders. The manual gearbox doesn’t have the most engaging shift action but does the job.

The 1.5-litre diesel offered in some other markets is fairly well refined and makes 221lb ft of torque available from low down in the rev range, and the smooth eight-speed auto ‘box complements it nicely. All steer reasonably well too with better feel than the PHEV.

Is it refined?

Here's where we've been particularly impressed with the Astra Sports Tourer so far. We first drove it on smooth German roads outside the factory in Rüsselsheim and were impressed, and it turns out that even on shocking Brit roads it's exceptionally quiet and comfortable. Tyre and wind noise are extremely well suppressed too. Vauxhall quotes the ST’s Calibra-worrying drag coefficient as helping with the latter.