Like the best family hatchbacks, the Astra is packed with plenty of handy cabin storage and lots of useful standard equipment. There’s a big cubby located between the front seats, two trays with sliding covers and a fold-out section below the central air vent that can be used to store a phone or sunglasses. The glovebox is a good size, too.
Keyless start, front and rear parking sensors, automatic wipers, and cruise control are all standard features, along with a heated steering wheel and heated front seats.
Dimensions and size
The eighth-generation Astra has increased in length by a few millimetres over the previous model and now measures 4,374mm, which is 128mm longer than the VW ID.3. However, at 2,675mm, the Vauxhall’s wheelbase is around 100mm shorter than its German rival’s, which has a knock-on effect on interior space. The Sports Tourer estate is a little bit better in this regard at 2,732mm, and is longer overall at 4,642mm.
Dimensions | |
Length | 4,374mm (hatchback), 4,642mm (estate) |
Width | 2,062mm (with mirrors) |
Height | 1,441mm (hatchback), 1,443mm (estate) |
Number of seats | 5 |
Boot space | 352-1,268-litres (hatchback), 516-1,553-litres (Sports Tourer) |
Boot space
The standard internal combustion-powered Astra hatchback features a generous 422-litre boot, but accommodating the battery and any of the other electronics that go with it necessitates a smaller 352-litre load bay in the electric version. However, the rear seats can be quickly and easily folded flat to increase the available space to 1,268 litres. Of course, if you need even more space, the electric Astra Sports Tourer estate increases carrying capacity to 516 litres, which increases to 1,553 litres with the rear bench lowered. That rear bench also folds in a more versatile 40:20:40 split.
Towing
Despite its healthy torque output, the Astra Electric isn’t rated for towing, so potential buyers looking to pull a trailer or small caravan will have to look towards the petrol and hybrid versions of the Astra.