David Ross, editor
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Vauxhall has opened the order books for its new Astra Sports Tourer Ultimate models, which come in petrol and plug-in hybrid versions.
Astra Sports Tourer Ultimate models start at £33,765 OTR and offer several upgrades over the existing Astra Sports Tourer GS models.
Ultimate variants include IntelliLux Adaptive Pixel LED headlights, Lane Change Assist with Side Blind Spot Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert technologies. The car has active sports-style ergonomic heated front seats with Alcantara trim, certified by the Campaign for a Healthier Back.
Ultimate models also have Intelli-HUD (Head-Up Display) and wireless smartphone charging, making it more convenient for drivers.
In addition, Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Ultimate models get exterior enhancements including 18-inch gray diamond-cut alloy wheels, gloss black roof rails and a power tailgate for easy access. The cabin of the car has a panoramic sunroof, which enhances the ambience of the car.
Vauxhall has also made several updates to the Vauxhall Astra range. Intelli-Drive 2.0 technology is now standard on petrol and Ultimate Plug-in Hybrid auto variants, as well as Astra GSe and Astra Sports Tourer models.
Intelli-Drive 2.0 technology features Vauxhall’s most advanced and intuitive driver assistance technologies, including Advanced Intelligent Speed Adaptation. The car also features semi-automatic lane change, which allows the driver to signal the vehicle to change lanes.
Vauxhall has dropped the 1.5 130PS EAT8 diesel option from its Astra range in line with recent market trends. This means that the Astra is now only available in the UK market as a plug-in hybrid or petrol vehicle.
The Vauxhall Astra Electric will also be added soon. Existing customer orders for diesel variants will still be placed. This change also means that the Vauxhall Grandland is now the only Vauxhall touring car to offer a diesel variant.
Astra Design models will have their chrome Vizor frame and lower bumper stripes replaced by a gloss black color variant. This change improves the look of the car and brings it in line with the GS variants.
Ask HJ
The best mid-size petrol hybrid under £30,000?
I’m looking to buy a new mid-size petrol hybrid for under £30,000. I’ve tried a Toyota Corolla and the new Honda Civic, both are good. Are there other cars I should consider before making a decision?
Let’s say you’re not looking for a plug-in hybrid, but a “self-charging” hybrid? There aren’t many more mid-size hybrid hatchbacks to choose from, but the Peugeot 308, Vauxhall Astra and Skoda Octavia iV are worth considering as plug-ins. Another hybrid car to consider is the new Kia Niro.
Answered by Lawrence Allan
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