Astra be a winner as trims get a trimming
| Published date | 12 August 2022 |
| Publication title | Daily Star (England) |
And almost as importantly, it gives journalists with a poor memory (like this one) half a chance when wading through the specs offered on each car.
So may we now introduce the new Vauxhall Astra, available in only three different trim levels.
Hurrah! Ironically, as the number of trim levels has gone down, the number of types of powertrain available has gone up. You can buy this latest Astra with a petrol engine with two different power outputs, with a diesel engine and as a PHEV. Next year you'll also be able to buy it fully electric too.
Finally, six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic gearbox. es are available .
Vauxhall is part of the giant Stellantis group and shares its powertrains (and platform) with Peugeot which, in the case of the Astra, means the latest 308.
The estate version. of that car, called the 308 SW, is already on sale here but the Astra estate - or Sports Tourer - is coming in a couple of months. For our test we have an
Astra GS Line which is the middle trim bookended by entry-level Design at one end and by Ultimate at the other .
According to Vauxhall, GS Line is likely to be the most popular, specified with the 1.2-litre 130PS petrol engine and six-speed manual gearbox. On your driveway for £27,210.
In another feat of simplification
Vauxhall has cut options available to only five on this car. Metallic paint, even snazzier metallic paint, a tow bar, diamond cut alloy wheels and also leather seats with heating and cooling options.
Like Peugeot, Vauxhall is on a roll with its styling. Mark Adams has been in charge of that at Vauxhall for 20 years and has overseen some great designs - the Astra GTC coupe being one.
Vauxhall's Visor front end styling on the current Mokka has been incorporated onto the Astra. I think it looks great on the outside - and in the cabin.
That's down to Vauxhall's 'Pure Panel' display stretching from the A-pillar to the centre of the dashboard and it looks rather smart.
There are a good selection of buttons and knobs for heating and ventilation and other oft-used systems -...
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