► First pics of 2016 Astra estate
► Second bodystyle in range
► Due at Frankfurt show
Vauxhall is booting up its new Astra Sports Tourer estate at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show, with a sizable loadbay now stretching to 1630 litres with the rear seats flopped away.
But this wagon is about more than just load-lugging, as the name implies. Vauxhall and Opel are making great claims about the Astra’s handling and fun quotient, too, citing a weight loss programme that’s saved up to 200kg model-for-model and the usual Astra engines which top out with a 197bhp 1.6 Ecotec petrol engine, new at Frankfurt.
Read our review of the new Astra hatchback here.
How big is it?
The new Astra Sports Tourer shares the footprint of its predecessor, at 4702mm long and 1871mm wide, but clever CAD packaging has liberated an extra inch of headroom front and rear. That boot is bigger, too, and comes with a FlexOrganiser system to split the loadbay into different compartments.
Moreover, Vauxhall has caught up with arch-rival Ford in offering niceties such as a ‘foot-waggle’ boot opening and closure. The (optionally) electric tailgate can be operated from within the cabin or the key fob, for those who don’t like doing a 70s disco move in the Tesco car park.
Also new on the Astra Sports Tourer is OnStar – GM’s new connectivity system now available across Europe. It incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus calldesk functions for driver assistance and stolen vehicle tracking.