Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer review

The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer is a small estate car that’s easy to drive and comes with a decent amount of equipment. It might not look quite as stylish as the likes of the Crossland X SUV, but it’s more practical and feels nicer inside.

You’ll spot a few hints of chrome on the outside that make the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer look a little more interesting than the likes of the VW Golf Estate and Skoda Octavia Estate, but don’t expect it to turn heads on the school run.

Things don’t improve massively when you climb inside. You get some glossy plastics and metal-effect trims, but they don’t feel quite as sturdy as the materials you get in a VW Golf Estate and you can’t spruce up its cabin with any colourful details.

At least all the buttons are nicely placed and easy to use. And this goes for the touchscreen infotainment system, too. It’s bright, the graphics are sharp and you get sat-nav on all but the most affordable versions. Unfortunately, you can’t get the Astra Sports Tourer with a flashy look-at-me digital driver’s display like the Golf Estate, but we’re nit-picking here.

The Astra Sports Tourer’s seats won’t give you anything to gripe about, either – they’re nice and supportive and come with a decent amount of adjustment as standard. You’ll have plenty of space to stretch out in the front if you’re tall and there’ll still be enough legroom in the back for six-footers to get comfy.

If you don’t want a small family SUV, the Vauxhall Astra Sports Touring estate could be worth a look. It’s spacious inside and comes with a fairly big boot but doesn’t look all that exciting.

On the subject of passengers, the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer’s raised roof means it’s is better at carrying tall adults in the back than the standard Astra. Its relatively wide cabin leaves enough room for a smaller passenger to squeeze into the middle seat without feeling overly cramped, too.

The Astra Sports Tourer’s boot is also pretty roomy. There’s plenty of space for a few suitcases and a baby buggy or, if you prefer, a set of golf clubs. Flip the back seats down and there’s space for some bulky flat-pack furniture or a bike with both its wheels attached.

If you’ll be lugging heavy loads regularly, one of the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer’s economical yet punchy diesel engines is worth a look. If pottering around town is more your thing, there’s a smooth one-litre petrol unit or, if your commute requires a mix of city and motorway driving, a range of more powerful 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines.

The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer isn’t quite as relaxing to drive for long periods as the smoother VW Golf Estate, nor is it as agile as the Ford Focus Estate. Still, it handles twisty country roads without leaning much so passengers won’t feel car sick.

You can also get it with some pretty advanced safety kit that’ll accelerate, brake and steer for you on motorways to help make long journeys easier to bear. Combine this with a practical cabin and wide range of engines, and the Astra Sports Tourer makes a solid choice if you’re looking for a small family estate car. Check out our Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer deals to see how much you can save on one.