Vauxhall Astra Electric 2023 review: The sensible but stylish electric car

The Astra is a stalwart of the hatchback segment, and with its latest generation Vauxhall is hoping that it will be all things to all people.

Buyers can already pick from the five-door hatchback or a more practical estate, the Sports Tourer. Although the diesel Astra is no longer offered for sale in the UK, there is petrol and plug-in hybrid power to choose from. And now there’s a pure-electric version too, the imaginatively named Astra Electric.

It’s a sensible name for a sensible line-up approach from Vauxhall. Better still, the Astra Electric isn’t the most expensive model in the range, and it even undercuts the electric variant of the Mokka crossover while offering more boot space.

Is the humble hatch finally fighting back against the onslaught of SUVs?

Design and rivals

Vauxhall’s previously dowdy-looking model range has been mostly banished, with its latest models carrying more modern and attractive styles. The designers in Vauxhall have also been wise not to make the Astra Electric stand out all that much from its siblings. Not everyone wants an electric car to visually stand out from the crowd, so the Astra should appeal to more conservative buyers.

It’s less striking than the Peugeot 308 — which shares much of the same mechanical underpinnings — and the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric, but it’s a more mature design than the quirky Ora Funky Cat, for example.

The only way to tell that you’re looking at the Astra Electric, and not a version that drinks petrol, is by catching a glimpse of the ‘e’ badge on the boot lid (which is made from thermoplastic to help reduce weight and increase efficiency, Vauxhall told us).

Both specification grades get 18in alloy wheels that look attractive and feature plastic inserts that improve the aerodynamics.

As GS trim level is the minimum available for the EV, the Astra Electric gains a sportier-looking front bumper and it means both versions also get a black roof and matching door mirrors, though a roof painted to match the bodywork is available as a no-cost option.

That all ties in with the “Vizor” grille design at the front.

LED headlights are standard, upgraded on the Ultimate trim level to the IntelliLux Pixel technology that uses 168 LED elements to dynamically illuminate the road around other moving vehicles for enhanced visibility at night.

Interior and practicality

When you climb into the Astra Electric you are met by a dual 10in screen set-up that is part of what Vauxhall calls the Pure Panel Pro. This single piece with a high gloss black finish spans two-thirds of the dash and incorporates the air vents on the driver’s side.

Visually, it all works quite well and makes the Astra seem as modern as all the latest new cars, but we’re fans of Vauxhall’s decision to still provide physical buttons, spread over two rows at the touchscreen’s base. Here is where you do all the more common things: adjusting the cabin temperature, clearing windows, etc.

Up front, the seats are designed to provide plenty of comfort and support and get the approval of AGR (Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V) — a German body representing the campaign for healthier backs.

Besides plenty of manual and electric adjustment options, they are heated as standard, as is the steering wheel.

On the practical side, there are door bins large enough to hold a drinks bottle and smaller oddments. The Ultimate version gains a wireless charging pad. That higher-grade model also gets a colour head-up display and a panoramic sunroof.

Rear passenger space is in line with the segment, and it does feel airier than some rivals thanks to its large side window.

Middle-seat passengers get slightly less legroom due to the position of the seat rails and the back of the centre console, but kids won’t find much of an issue with this, and of course the two outer rear seats feature Isofix mounting points for child seats (it’s been the law since 2011).

Where the Astra Electric does lose out in comparison to the petrol-engined version of the Astra is boot space. At 352 litres (1,268 litres with the rear seats folded), it’s not bad but significantly less than the 422 litres (up to 1,339 litres) accommodated by the petrol model.

Technology and safety

Both versions of the Astra Electric come with a 360-degree panoramic parking camera system that provides a clear view around the car and overlays lines to help you squeeze into tighter parking spots.

Numerous driver assistance systems are on hand, many of which fall under what Vauxhall calls Intelli-Drive 2.0. This enhanced system now features semi-automatic lane changes on motorways combined with lane keeping and intelligent speed adaptation, meaning the car knows the correct speed to drive on any particular stretch of road. As it approaches a new speed limit zone, it can alert the driver and, when confirmed, will reduce speed in the right amount of time.

Turn-by-turn navigation is also projected into the colour head-up display to make navigating easier.

Performance, range and charging speeds

The Astra Electric uses parent company Stellantis’s 54kWh battery, and in the Vauxhall it’s is sufficient for a WLTP driving range of 258 miles. A relatively low weight (by EV standards) of 1,679kg, means it can bequite economical in using the energy on offer.

Just one powertrain is available, Stellantis’s new 152bhp electric motor that drives the front wheels via a single-speed automatic transmission.

Performance is modest, with the 0-62mph dash taking 9.2 seconds, while the top speed is 105mph.

This car is more about extracting the best real-world performance from the battery rather than chasing hot hatch acceleration figures, and it’s all the better for it. Sub-five-second sprints to 62mph might impress some, but that’s a novelty that soon wears off, and having more range is far more useful than how quickly you can reach the next red light. Besides, it’s in 0-30mph that electric cars most impress.

The benefit of the Astra Electric’s low height, weight and modest power output is that it consumes less energy than many of its higher-riding crossover competitors. Officially, the combined consumption figure is 4.17 miles per kWh, though during our time with the car it delivered better consumption figures even with some stretches of motorway driving thrown in. After a day’s driving, our trip computer displayed 4.81 miles/kWh, which is seriously impressive.

Helping to maximise efficiency, the Astra Electric is fitted with a heat pump, to reduce the energy needed for climate control, as standard.

With AC charging at 11kW, a full charge takes 5 hours 45 minutes, though a typical 7kW home charger will need around eight hours for a full charge.

On long journeys, the Astra Electric’s 100kW DC charging peak rate means that its battery can theoretically go from 20 to 80 per cent in 26 minutes.

Ride and handling

If there’s one word to describe how the Astra Electric drives, it’s ‘normal’. We mean that in a good way, as the Vauxhall doesn’t attempt to wow or impress with flashy graphics and spaceship-like sounds inside while you drive. It’s rather pleasant and hushed, even at higher speeds, and has a suspension set-up just on the edge of firm but never uncomfortable.

The ride does a solid job of suppressing all the usual lumps and bumps you’ll experience on a journey and when you want to drive with a bit more enthusiasm, it responds well.

In city and urban settings is where the Astra Electric is most at home, making light work of traffic and pumping out zero emissions.

The steering isn’t artificially heavy when Sport mode is selected and provides a good level of feel and feedback, giving drivers plenty of confidence.

Having the bulk of its weight set low down in what is already a low car does wonders for the handling. The Astra stays level through faster bends with the front turning in predictably and without argument.

Lacking are paddles on the back of the steering wheel for adjusting the degree of energy recuperation by the electric motor. In other cars, this lets you play with different levels to suit your preference or driving style, but as with current Peugeot EVs, the Astra only allows you to choose between the default setting or a higher ‘B’ mode via a button on the centre console.

Pricing and on sale date

A starting price of £39,995 makes the Astra Electric look expensive when you compare it with what’s available from the Chinese brands, such as the MG4 and BYD Atto 3, though their ability to undercut Western carmakers may have come unfairly.

Vauxhall can justify that price to a degree, as the GS trim level does come well-equipped.

The jump to £43,110 for the Ultimate specification is a bit much given the more notable additions are a panoramic roof, head-up display, upgraded upholstery and matrix headlights.

However many will lease the car and a workplace salary sacrifice scheme could make even the best-equipped Astras look more attractive.

The Astra Electric is available to order now and comes with no-cost home delivery in most parts of the UK mainland.

Verdict: Vauxhall Astra Electric review

The Vauxhall Astra Electric nails the brief of making an electric hatchback seem perfectly normal. There’s plenty to like, with exterior styling that’s modern without being polarising and an interior that’s well-made and has decent standard equipment.

Its battery range should suit many people, especially as it seems economical in how it gets through a full charge and is pleasant to drive.

Vauxhall could earn even more sales by offering a cheaper model with slightly less high-tech equipment inside, but overall the Astra Electric delivers a polished performance.

After reading this review of the 2023 Vauxhall Astra Electric, you might want to read our review of the MG4
Want to know what other EVs are coming? Here are the car makers’ electric vehicle plans for 2023 and beyond
Vauxhall also has a plug-in hybrid version of the Astra, read our review of it here