Vauxhall Astra PHEV gets 52-mile electric range boost
The Vauxhall Astra plug-in hybrid hatch and Astra Sport Tourer estate have received an update, which includes an EV range boost courtesy of a new battery.
Previously, the Astra PHEV came with a 12.4kWh unit offering up to 39 miles of electric-only range. The updated versions now benefit from a 17.2kWh pack, boosting range to 52 miles.
Despite the increase in range, Vauxhall has not hiked the price of the Astra PHEV – the hatch is still priced from £39,150, and the Astra Sport Tourer remains priced from £40,695. This falls in line with the Stellantis-owned British brand’s aim of facilitating motorists’ switch from petrol and diesel to electrified motoring.
The Vauxhall Astra PHEV’s added range is good news for company car drivers: the entry-level Astra GS drops from the 13% bracket to 9% for company car tax. More expensive versions will fall into the 16% BiK (Benefit in Kind) bracket.
On top of the additional miles, Vauxhall has given the Astra plug-in hybrid a new seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, and increased the car’s combined power output from 178bhp to 192bhp. This translates to a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds for the PHEV Astra hatchback and 8.0s for the estate, making them both a second quicker than the regular hybrid and 100% electric versions of both models.
The Astra PHEV’s powertrain gets three drive options: ‘Hybrid’ (returning a balance between efficiency and performance), ‘Electric’ for silent, electric-only driving, and a more spirited ‘Sport’ mode.
Like the rest of Astra PHEV range, the sportier, 222bhp GSE hatchback and Sports Tourer also benefit from the new 17.2kWh battery, albeit with a slightly lesser range of 50 miles. The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is also standard on both body styles.
The Astra GSE plug-in hybrid gets more aggressive styling over the regular car, 18-inch wheels, a 10mm lower ride height, tuned suspension with stiffer springs, plus Frequency Selective Damping. Further under the skin changes include quicker steering, and with sport mode engaged, the electronic stability control kicks in slightly later.
Despite its more appearance, the Astra GSE’s performance remains somewhat mild. Running on electricity alone, the GSE PHEV has a maximum speed of 84mph, while the 0-62mph takes 7.6 seconds for the hatchback and the 7.7 seconds for the Sports Tourer wagon. Acceleration, however, is accompanied by a “specially tuned GSE engine sound.”
Prices for the Astra GSE hatch plug-in start at £43,600, while the Sports Tourer starts from £44,950.
