Vauxhall Astra Electric review

The electric version of the Astra is a decent choice but there are better rivals out there worth considering

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Electric

Estate

Family

Jump to:

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Buying & owning

Stuart Milne

Updated: 11 August 2026

How we test cars

While most of its model name dates back to 1980, the Vauxhall Astra Electric is far from old-fashioned. It’s sharply styled and fully electric.

The Astra Electric sits alongside the rest of the eighth-generation Vauxhall Astra range (which offers petrol and plug-in hybrid options), and is available with one battery and motor combination.

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Vauxhall Astra Electric reveal video

This review covers the family car model, and also the estate car version, the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric, which could be for you if you want more boot space but don't fancy an electric SUV.

Verdict

The Vauxhall Astra Electric is practical – especially in estate car form – and relatively comfy. It is very good value, and both hatchback and Sports Tourer estate bodystyles are matched on price – and the Electric Car Grant means it’s cheaper to buy than hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. Nevertheless, the Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID 3 are much better to drive, while some versions of the MG4 can travel further on a full charge. If you do buy an Astra Electric, we recommend Griffin trim.

What's new?

• August 2026: We drive the facelifted Astra in the UK for the first time
• June 2026: First drive of facelifted Astra in Europe
• June 2025: new well-specced entry-level Griffin trim released

Pros

• Comfortable ride
• Easy to use climate controls
• Estate version has plenty of boot space

Cons

• Not particularly fun to drive
• Depreciates faster than rivals
• Rivals can charge faster

What's new?

• August 2026: We drive the facelifted Astra in the UK for the first time
• June 2026: First drive of facelifted Astra in Europe
• June 2025: new well-specced entry-level Griffin trim released

New car deals

Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

Strengths

• Controlled and comfortable ride
• Not much road noise
• Simple battery/motor line-up

Weaknesses

• Numb steering
• Some rivals have longer ranges
• Inconsistent braking

How fast is it and which motor is best?

The Vauxhall Astra Electric and Sports Tourer Electric both come with a 55.4kWh (usable capacity) battery with a 154bhp electric motor driving the front wheels. There's no long range or four-wheel-drive version, as there is with some electric cars.

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That's enough power for a 0-62mph time of 9.3sec, which matches the Peugeot e-308 but is slower than entry-level versions of the MG4 (7.5sec) and VW ID 3 (8.2sec), while the Leapmotor B05 completes the same sprint in 6.7 seconds thanks to its 218 PS electric motor. Vauxhall gives a 9.5sec sprint time for the estate car version.

You need to select Sport drive mode to experience full power, and even then the Astra Electric is more spritely than sporty. You’ll never get the sensation of being thrust back into the driver’s seat as you might with other EVs.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

Body lean is kept in check but there’s little in the way of precision or driver engagement. That’s largely due to the numb steering, which gives you only a vague idea of what the front end is up to. The Cupra Born is sharper and more enjoyable to drive on a winding road.

It’s best to enjoy the Astra Electric in a more laidback manner. The low-speed ride is on the firmer side, and you sometimes experience a small amount of head toss, but it’s otherwise calm over most road surfaces, soaking up bumps and imperfections well.

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The firmness means it doesn’t pitch and roll over undulations, and has better body control than softer-riding electric cars including the BYD Dolphin.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

There’s no electric motor whine to disturb the peace, while wind and road noise are relatively well contained. The Astra Electric is more hushed inside than an MG4, although the Born and ID 3 are even quieter.

Brakes are the Achilles heel of some electric cars, and while the Astra Electric is better than some, the sensation when pressing the brake pedal feels a little inconsistent: spongy when you initially press the brakes, firmer and more positive when you press further. The Leapmotor B05 features a firm, progressive brake pedal feel for smoother stops, but there’s no complaints with the Astra's stopping power, and there are three levels of regenerative braking – allowing you to charge the batteries as you decelerate. There’s no one-pedal driving mode, though, so it won’t come to a stop unless you press the brake pedal.

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

According to official figures, the Astra Electric can travel up to 281 miles on a full charge, or 275 for the Sports Tourer Electric, which matches the entry-level MG4 and Peugeot e-308, although the Cupra Born 58kWh can travel even further, and the Leapmotor B05 offers a WLTP-certified range of up to 300 miles from its 67.1 kWh battery.

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The market for family-sized electric estate cars is still small, but the Astra will travel farther than a Peugeot e-308 SW and the now-discontinued MG5.

All Astra Electric models feature battery preconditioning to help achieve its peak charging rates more quickly and a heat pump to boost efficiency in cold weather.

It’s worth noting, though, that the cheapest Tesla Model 3 doesn’t cost a huge amount more than a top-spec Astra Electric, especially since Tesla routinely offers fantastic PCP and leasing deals.

I fear the Astra Electric’s range is beginning to feel behind the times, seeing as some rivals are pushing beyond the 300-mile mark.

Oliver Young, Senior Reviewer

Tips & Advice

Charging an EV at home

You can charge your EV from a three-pin socket, but a home EV charger is faster and more convenient. Here are the best

Do I need to use public EV chargers?

Charging at home is almost always cheaper, but if you need a quick top-up, we have revealed the best charging networks

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

Strengths

• Comfortable driving position
• Physical air-con controls
• Crisp digital driver's display

Weaknesses

• Rivals have classier interiors
• Strangely positioned air vents
• GS models feel particularly sombre

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

In the Vauxhall Astra Electric, it doesn’t take long before you notice how dark everything is, and the materials used are a step down from rivals. There are soft plastics on the dashboard, but the hard, cheap-feeling plastics (especially on the doors) would be more acceptable on a smaller, more affordable car, even if they do seem to resist scratches.

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You do get some coloured trim finishers on the doors and dash but they don't really lift the sombre mood. The Peugeot e-308 is more pleasant inside while the Cupra Born’s interior feels more upmarket.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

As with the exterior, the interior of the Astra Electric (and Sports Tourer Electric) is very similar to what you find in a petrol Vauxhall Astra.

That’s not particularly a bad thing, because it means you get comfortable and supportive front seats that offer plenty of adjustment. With a steering wheel that has plenty of movement up, down, in and out, you shouldn’t struggle to find your perfect seating position.

Visibility out of the front is generally good, but it’s slightly annoying that the slim front pillars are angled in such a way that they can sometimes get in the way of your view at junctions.

Rear visibility and the view over your shoulder, meanwhile, is hampered by wide rear pillars. Luckily, parking should be easy enough, thanks to the standard front and rear parking sensors.

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Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The Astra Electric has two 10.0in screens – the digital driver's display behind the steering wheel and an infotainment touchscreen to the left of it.

The driver's display is larger than the 5.3in display in a Cupra Born or VW ID 3 and – unlike in the Peugeot e-308 – you look through the steering wheel at the driver's display, not over the top. The buttons on the Astra's steering wheel are more precise to use than the touch-sensitive pads in the Born and ID 3. 

The touchscreen's responsiveness could be quicker, and it’s hampered further by the way one screen animates and transitions to the next. And while its home screen has a simple grid lay-out to help you find the function you want quickly, the 10.0in screen is quite small and the text in the sub-menus is tiny.

All Astra Electrics have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring so you can use your choice of sat-nav app through the touchscreen – although if you use the built-in sat-nav you get directions on the driver display.

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You control the majority of the infotainment functions through touch or using the hit-and-miss voice-control system. We’d prefer that there was a physical control because that would be much less distracting when you're driving.

More positively, the Astra has physical buttons for the climate-control system. The temperature and fan speed buttons have a lip underneath so they’re easy to find without taking your eyes off the road. While it’s far more straightforward to use than the e-308’s climate controls, which are in the touchscreen, the buttons don’t feel all that satisfying to use and, depending on your height and driving position, they can be a stretch away.

The air vents feel arbitrarily positioned, and are a little more fiddly to use than you might expect.

I was happy to see physical shortcuts and proper buttons for the climate control in the Astra Electric because the Cupra Born’s touch-sensitive ones are rather annoying.

Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Tips & Advice

Which smartphone integration should I have?

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fantastic – and free – technologies. Here we show you the benefits, drawbacks and best apps

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

Strengths

• Plenty of front space
• Decent boot
• Lots of cubbies in the front

Weaknesses

• Less rear-seat space than rivals
• Hatchback boot is tricky to open
• So-so rear-seat storage

How much space does it have for people?

The Astra Electric and Sports Tourer Electric have identical footprints to the petrol Vauxhall Astra and Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer so space inside is largely the same.

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The hatchback offers a good amount of front-seat space. Its back seats have plenty of space for children but are rather tight on leg and head room for adults. If you often drive with adults in the back, we’d recommend taking a look at the more accommodating MG4 and Tesla Model 3.

Meanwhile, the estate car version has more head room in the back but is still tight on leg room. That’s about the same as what you get in a Peugeot e-308 SW, and while the Seat Leon Estate and Skoda Octavia Estate are roomier, they're not available as electric cars.

In either model, you’ll find the floor is quite high relative to the seat bases, so adults won’t have much thigh support. There’s not a great deal of space to slide your feet under the front seats, either.

Storage space in the back could be better: the backs of the front seats don’t have pockets, and only top-spec Ultimate has a fold-down armrest with integrated cupholders. Things are far better in the front, with three cubbies in the centre console, a felt-lined compartment for your sunglasses and a large glovebox.

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How much room does it have for luggage?

The Astra Electric hatchback's boot offers 352 litres of space so it should easily swallow your weekly shopping, a buggy or luggage for a modest family holiday, which is slightly more than the 345 litres of boot space provided by the Leapmotor B05. The boot in the Born is slightly larger, but the square shape of the Astra’s is more useful. It’s tricky to open the boot, though, because the rear is flush, and doesn’t have many protuberances to get hold of.

The Astra Sports Tourer Electric, meanwhile, gets 516 litres of boot space. That’s a good increase over the regular Astra Electric’s amount, but you will find a bigger boot inside the rival e-308 SW (548 litres), as well as the Seat Leon Estate in plug-in hybrid form (470 litres).

When you need to carry more luggage, you can drop the Astra Electric's rear seats. They split in a 60/40 configuration in the hatchback and 40/20/40 in the estate, and you get a useful ski hatch between the rear seats, meaning you can carry two rear passengers and longer loads like, well, skis.

While there are better load-luggers than the Astra Sports Tourer Electric, I never found its boot small. Far from it.

Will Nightingale, Reviews editor

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

Strengths

• Plenty of standard kit
• Competitive list price
• Hatchback and estate price parity

Weaknesses

• Rivals have better safety ratings
• Depreciates faster than rivals
• Some active safety kit reserved for top-spec trim

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

To buy outright, the Vauxhall Astra Electric and its estate car counterpart match the MG4, but it’s cheaper than a Cupra Born, Peugeot e-308 or VW ID 3, though, while the Leapmotor B05 starts at £30,495 on the road, dropping to £28,995 for private buyers who qualify for its £1,500 grant. It’s also worth bearing in mind that hatchback and estate models are priced identically across trims – other car makers charge around £1500 more for estate versions. Even more impressive is that hatchback versions of the Electric are the same as hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

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When it comes to depreciation, the Astra Electric is predicted to lose its value a fair bit more quickly over three years than any of those rivals. That can make it more expensive to buy using PCP finance than a model with the same list price. However, Vauxhall often has competitive offers, so make sure you check for the best prices using our New Car Deals pages.

Ways to buy

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Regardless of which version you go for, the maximum charging speed is 100kW, meaning that a rapid public EV charger will take the Astra Electric from 20-80% in around 30 minutes. An 11kW charger will get it from 0-100% in five hours, 45 minutes and a more common 7kW home EV charger will need eight hours. The Cupra Born and VW ID 3 charge more quickly, while the Leapmotor B05 supports DC rapid charging up to 174 kW to achieve a 30% to 80% charge in 17 minutes.

No matter which trim you go for, you get plenty of standard equipment, with entry-level Griffin models getting 18in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, automatic LED headlights with high-beam assist, and heated front seats and steering wheel. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) tech to charge external devices is standard, too. All of this makes Griffin our top pick.

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Next up with GS, which features black alloys and sportier bumpers, a 180deg reversing camera, sports seats, dual-zone climate control. Ultimate adds beam-shifting LED headlights, wireless phone charging, a head-up display and massaging seats, but it’s too pricey to recommend.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

The Astra Electric was absent from our 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey. However, petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions came 18th out of 30 family cars. As a brand, Vauxhall fared better, ranking an impressive fifth out of 30 manufacturers.

Like all Vauxhall car models, the Astra Electric comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. That's in keeping with cover from most other manufacturers, though the Leapmotor B05 gets a slightly longer four-year, 60,000-mile vehicle warranty, and it still can’t beat Hyundai's five-year warranty, Kia's seven-year cover or Toyota’s up to 10 years of cover. There’s also an eight-year and 100,000-mile battery warranty, which is transferable and guarantees at least 70% charging capacity throughout the warranty period.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

Safety wise, the model was awarded a slightly disappointing four out of five stars when it was tested by the experts at Euro NCAP in 2022. The Cupra Born, MG4 and Tesla Model 3 have all scored five stars, a maximum rating also achieved by the Leapmotor B05, which is equipped with seven airbags and 21 advanced driver assistance systems as standard.

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At least the Astra Electric has plenty of safety equipment fitted as standard, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assist and speed-limit sign recognition. It’s disappointing that only Ultimate trim has lane-change assistance and rear cross-traffic alert.

Buy it if…

• You need an electric family car on a budget
• You want a conventional, easy to use EV
• You want the choice of a practical electric estate

Don’t buy it if…

• You regularly carry adults in the back
• You want a sporty drive
• You want something that’s quick to charge

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Reduce your car finance bills

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Hire purchase allows you to make monthly payments to buy your next car – although these will be higher than with a PCP

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Vauxhall Astra Electric specifications

RRP price range

Battery range (miles)

257 - 260

Available fuel types (which is best for you? )

Electric

Available colours

Number of engines (see all)

1

Number of trims (see all)

4

Warranty

3 years / 100,000 miles

FAQs

What is the range of the Vauxhall Astra Electric?

The Astra Electric has an official range between charges of up to 281 miles, or 275 miles for the estate car version. That’s matches the entry-level MG4 and Peugeot e-308, but less than the Cupra Born or Tesla Model 3.

How much is an Astra EV?

Unusually, both the Vauxhall Astra Electric hatchback and Astra Electric Sports Tourer estate car have the same list price. Including a £1500 discount under the Government's electric car grant, both cars cost about £28,500. That's similar to the MG4's starting price, and undercuts the Cupra Born, Peugeot e-308 or VW ID 3.

New car deals

Best price from £25,935

Vauxhall Astra Electrics available to buy

In partnership with

Vauxhall Astra Electric

54kWh GS Auto 5dr

RRP £37,900

£26,999

Vauxhall Astra Electric

58kWh Griffin Auto 5dr

RRP £29,995

£27,495

Vauxhall Astra Electric

58kWh Griffin Auto 5dr

RRP £30,645

£27,995

Vauxhall Astra

54kWh Ultimate Auto 5dr

RRP £36,645

£29,585

Vauxhall Astra Electric

58kWh Ultimate Auto 5dr

RRP £34,645

£30,995

Vauxhall Astra Electric

58kWh Ultimate Auto 5dr

RRP £40,055

£30,995

Vauxhall Astra Electric

58kWh Ultimate Auto 5dr

RRP £34,645

£31,000

Vauxhall Astra Electric

58kWh Ultimate Auto 5dr

RRP £33,165

£31,282

Vauxhall Astra Electric

58kWh Ultimate Auto 5dr

RRP £34,645

£31,400

See all available cars

About the writer

Name: Stuart Milne

Title: Digital editor

Follow Stuart Milne on

Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.

More Vauxhall Astra Electric

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• Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric long-term test: report 2
• Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric long-term test: report 1

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