Vauxhall Astra ST Electric

FIRST DRIVE Estate version of electric family car comes with space to spare

- Alex Ingram

WHILE there has a influx electric SUVs, options in the estate car segment are still thin on the ground. At the sensible end of the market, there's the MG5, but it's only an estate in name - the boot isn't a practical shape and it can only carry slightly more than a conventional hatchback.

At the other extreme is the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo. It's a fantastic car to look at, sit in and drive, but starting at £80,000, it's not exactly a car you'll be too keen to stuff with garden waste.

As it stands, the new Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric - alongside its Stellantis cousin, the Peugeot E-308 SW has the potential to become the only credible battery-powered estate car available.

Even before getting behind the wheel, the Astra's figures look very promising.

We'll start with the boot, because that's the most important quality for any true estate car. An overall volume of 516 litres is less than the 597 litres you get in a petrol model, but the same as in the Astra PHEV, and 52 litres more than in the MG5. Fold the seats and that volume climbs to 1,553 litres, which is 186 litres more than in the MG5. Unlike that car, there's almost no load lip, and the space is wide, level and square. Useful nets sit either side of the main area, and there are hefty tethering hooks at each corner.