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By Jonathan Crouch

The Plug-in Hybrid powertrain electrifies Vauxhall's Astra. Jonathan Crouch takes a look at the improved version.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 65

Vauxhall's improved Astra Plug-in Hybrid offers family hatch customers undecided about the switch into full-EV motoring an appealing interim option. There's a useful EAER-rated electric driving range of up to 49 miles, fashionable looks, fast battery replenishment times and an eager petrol engine for longer trips. Plus an estate model option if you want something a whole lot more practical than an SUV. Sounds promising.

Backgroundword count: 145

In the automotive world, EVs are in everyone's thoughts right at present. And if not EVs, then SUVs. Yet there remains a significant group of motorists who don't want either of these things. They see the need for electrification, but they don't want the limitations of an EV. They share a desire for a more fashionable family car, but for them, that isn't delivered by an SUV. For these people, Vauxhall's Astra Plug-in Hybrid, could be ideal. It competes in the growing PHEV sub-sector of the family hatchback segment, started by the Golf GTE and now also populated by Plug-in Hybrid versions of the Peugeot 308 and the DS 4. Plus if you've more to spend, PHEV versions of the Audi A3 and the Mercedes A-Class. Lots of choice in the class then. Why would you select this Astra in preference? Let's take a look.

Driving Experienceword count: 302

There's very much an EV-style feel here thanks to the way that, like most Plug-in Hybrids, this one reverts to electric power as long as there is charge in its battery. This means you start up and pull off in impressive silence, plus manoeuvring at low speeds and most of your town work will also be done emissions-free. The powertrain on offer here is the usual now-uprated one that the Stellantis Group fits to its latest PHEV models, a 1.6 litre turbo petrol unit producing 150PS allied to a single electric motor delivering 110PS, the combined maximum in the mainstream Hybrid 195 variant being 196PS and 360Nm of torque. There's now a 7-speed auto gearbox (replacing the previous 8-speeder) and the electric motor is now powered by a larger 17.2kWh battery (it was 12.4kWh in size before). Vauxhall reckons this can take the car up to 49 miles (EAER-rated) on electricity alone (9 miles better than before but still well short of the 89 mile figure of a rival VW Golf eHybrid). As before, there's an EV top speed of 84mph. For that, there's a dedicated pure electric mode. Shift out of that and employ the engine and rest to 62mph can be dispatched in 7.9 seconds on the way to a top speed of 140mph. If you want to go faster, you can talk to your dealership about the pricier, more powerful Hybrid 225 variant, which offers 225PS and has to be had with sporty GSe trim, featuring lowered, stiffer suspension. The GSe 225 variant gets to 62mph in 7.6 seconds en route to 146mph and has a 50 mile EV range. Either way, the PHEV powertrain adds quite a bit of weight to this car's EMP2 platform, but that shouldn't be particularly obvious unless you really start throwing car about.

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