All-new Vauxhall Astra Electric arrives this summer

General Guides  New Launches 

Amongst the ever-growing list of SUVs on the market it's good to see one well-established name is still going strong. Not only going strong but embracing the future and reinventing itself once again. SUVs may be popular for lots of very good reasons, but the family hatchback is still the car of choice for many. And now the Vauxhall Astra has gone fully electric it clearly still has a place on our roads.

Technically, we should say the Astra is going electric because this brand-new version won't actually be on the road until summer 2023. Order books will open in the spring so it's definitely one to bear in mind if you're likely to be leasing in a few months' time.

There isn't much point in telling you all about the Astra considering it's been around in one form or another since 1980. You really don't need us telling you the latest models are reliable, affordable, practical family cars with a good range of petrol, diesel, and hybrid options because you already know. Although we seem to have inadvertently done exactly that so we'd better move on.

The growing range of electric Vauxhall models

The Astra Electric joins an expanding line-up of electric Vauxhall models. Vauxhall has committed to being an electric-only manufacturer by 2028 – ahead of the UK Government target of 2030. Adding the Astra to that list is a major milestone in the programme. The new all-electric Astra line-up will also include the Astra Sports Tourer, the first fully electric estate from the brand as well as one of just a handful on the market.

The All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric feature Vauxhall's distinctive bold and pure design you can already find on the current variants. The Vizor front end houses Vauxhall's latest driver aids and safety systems, the new Griffin logo, as well as Vauxhall's IntelliLux LED Lighting. Featuring 84 individual LED elements in each headlight, this technology provides amazing visibility at night thanks to the clever way the light beam pattern adapts to suit the driving conditions and surroundings. From launch, all Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric models will also come as standard with 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, which can be specified in a black finish for added styling.

Both the hatchback and estate versions feature Vauxhall's Pure Panel interior with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch central display. The latest generation of displays show all the important functions such as battery charge status or range, while important settings such as climate control can still be easily adjusted at the touch of a physical button.

But as we said earlier, you already know all about the Astra so none of this is likely to come as much of a surprise. What's really going to make this particular Astra stand out is what's under the bonnet…or not.

As the name suggests, both hatchback and estate versions of the Astra Electric feature the same, fully electric, emissions free powertrain.

Comprising a 156bhp electric motor and 54kWh battery, Vauxhall is crediting the Astra Electric with a top speed of 105mph and a range of 258 miles from a single charge. As with the rest of the fully electric Vauxhall range, the electric Astra supports up to 100kW DC rapid charging, with an 80 per cent charge taking just 30 minutes to complete. From launch, all Astra Electric models will come standard with a three-phase 11kW AC onboard charger, suitable for wall box charging at home. And because all the batteries are stored under the floor there's no compromise on interior space for people and things.

There really isn't a reason why the all-new Astra Electric wouldn't be the ideal choice for your next lease, whether it's the hatchback or sports tourer estate. The only downside is the fact you'll have to wait until the summer to get your hands on one.

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