Until recently, Vauxhall continued that central exterior feature line into the interior, but not on this car. The Astra’s dashboard is broad and boldly accented horizontally, with two clear 10in displays (one for instruments, one an infotainment touchscreen) and soft-touch materials above but hard materials in the lower cabin.
The generously sized and firmly comfortable front seats are some of the best in the class, and the driving position is good. Ergonomically, this being a Stellantis product on a group platform, it’s mixed. The temperature controls are buttons, as they should be, but changing the air distribution – notably disabling a centre vent that seems keen to blow air on somebody, anybody, and whose breeze can’t be stopped in isolation – is on the screen, as it shouldn’t be. The button to flit between two levels of regenerative braking is too small, too, given how often one uses it. Wheel paddles would solve that.
In the second row, space is tighter – and, a little annoyingly, the extra second-row space promised by the Sports Tourer doesn’t exactly transform it for passenger comfort. Astras used to be among the roomier cars of their kind, but now – after Vauxhall decided to prioritise design appeal and leave customers who want a roomy second row to seek out an SUV, basically – they are no longer. The second-row seats are still only suitable for smaller-of-stature adults and kids, despite the dose of extra leg room, and if you do need to carry adults back there regularly, you will risk shouts of complaint.
The estate car’s boot, however, may well be worth the price of admission. It’s 516 litres by volume up to the window line (the EV loses the underfloor storage of the 597-litre ICE car), with a lower loading lip than the hatchback, a wider loadbay and 40:20:40-split folding back seats as standard.