The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.4T is the new equivalent of what used to be called the Vauxhall Astra Estate. It's the load-lugger of the Astra family, in other words plain old 'estate' no longer hits the spot.
Too right it doesn't. This is one good looking family wagon, extending the sharp design of the latest Astra Hatch to impressive effect. And the sense of class outside resounds throughout the interior as well.
The long front doors, tapering glasshouse and rakish C-pillar lend a coupe sleekness, and it’s all without any impact on practicality. Adams explains that the curvy glass combines with little steps in the metalwork above it to trick your eye into thinking the roof is lower than it is. The wraparound rear window is a trompe l’oeil too – your mind takes the end of the C-pillar to be the end of the car, whereas the stowage space actually ends a couple of inches further back. The result is a car that looks as sleek as an Audi A4 estate, but carries more than both it and the boxy-but-good old Astra.
It rides beautifully, steers with consistent response and weighting and handles with an easy fluidity we hadn't really found in Astras to date. By contrast the non-SRi, fitted with optional 18in wheels, feels more fidgety despite softer suspension and loses the steering sweetness.
Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.4 Turbo Sri
Price: £20,350; Top speed: 125mph; 0-62mph: 9.5sec; Economy: 46.3mp (combined); CO2: 144g/km; Engine type, cc: 4 cyls in line, 1364cc, 16V turbo petrol; Power: 138bhp at 4900rpm; Torque: 148lb ft at 1850-4900rpm; Gearbox 6spd manual
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