Usually I don’t pay a lot consideration to the color of a automobile as a result of, properly, you shouldn’t actually, as a result of it’s just about irrelevant, with the attainable exception of resale time when an retro shade can cut back the residual worth a bit.
An exception to that is the lustrous cobalt blue “tricoat” metallic end on my press automobile, which is a £700 possibility and value each penny. The most recent Astra is a good-looking automobile as it’s, however this hanging paint job makes it stand out much more. It deserves to take a bow, and particularly now that the most recent model, the all-electric battery powered one, is making its presence felt out there.
This, the eighth era of Astra, consider it nor not (the primary got here out in 1980), is well the most effective trying, and, with its Opel roots, is made in Russelsheim, Germany, and that most likely means first rate high quality too (the sister plant at Ellesmere Port, as soon as “the house of the Astra” has now been dedicated to electrical vans).
Each manufacturers are a part of the enormous Peugeot-led Stellantis group now, so the controls and engineering have a lot in frequent with different variants, such because the Peugeot 308, and that’s principally no dangerous factor in any respect. If nothing else, it is a Vauxhall that you simply actually ought to be proud to be seen in, and it recaptures a few of that respect and sense of aspiration that the model had within the Eighties, when the Astra and Cavalier conquered the fleet market and carried all earlier than it.
An Astra GTE in white, or a Mark 2 Vauxhall Cavalier in CD or SRi trim and the two-tone gray and black color scheme was the mark of somebody going locations, with full expectation of getting there. From what I’ve seen, the Astra Electrical could be very a lot in that spirit.
In prime quality Final trim, the Astra is extraordinarily properly geared up. There’s even a voice recognition system, a full suite of semi-autonomous driving aids, some wise security techniques and a head-up show.
The screens for the devices and infotainment are enticing and simple to make use of and will be set as much as your personal bespoke wants, however with loads of buttons and switches so that you simply don’t need to spend your time stabbing on the 10-inch touchscreen. Because it’s electrical the Astra can be fitted with a warmth pump, which helps protect battery energy on a chilly day.
Which brings me to one of many extra perplexing features of utilizing an electrical automobile, which is the impossibility of ever actually understanding fairly what the vary goes to be.
Vauxhall declare an official determine for this mannequin of 258 miles on a mixture of “actual world” driving. It sounds a bit optimistic in my restricted expertise of the automobile, however let’s go along with it. The purpose is that, based on the wonderful ev-database.org web site, which I’ve discovered a dependable supply, you will get something from 140 miles (chilly day, motorway) to 295 miles (heat day, pottering round city) out of your Astra Electrical.
A lot depends upon the climate circumstances, ambient temperature and driving method that it takes a bit of getting used to, and, unhappy to say, it provides to the vary nervousness that some individuals nonetheless undergo from. I don’t suppose there’s a lot of a solution to this, count on for the federal government to put money into extra quick business charging factors, levelling down the VAT paid for fuelling up at them, and for the automobile makers to maneuver as rapidly as attainable to the following era of battery expertise, which can show transformative.
Simply piling increasingly heavy batteries into larger and larger (three tonne plus) electrical SUVs to spice up vary, which is what’s been occurring on the premium/luxurious finish of the market, is seems like one thing of a useless finish (properly, not actually with a 400-mile vary, however you are taking my level).
On this context, it’s additionally price me noting that, on steadiness, the Astra, in frequent with the remainder of the Stellantis merchandise, is a bit much less gasoline environment friendly and thus has a shorter vary than the commotion from the VW group, Korean (Hyundai, Kia) and Chinese language (BYD, MG) manufacturers.
It’s one of many solely actual weaknesses within the Astra proposition, however ought to be made up for by the driving expertise, which is actually very spectacular certainly, although possibly not fairly as accelerative to 60 as one may like.
It’ll get to 100mph, the place authorized, boasts a alternative of driving choices (economic system, regular, efficiency), and has a snug experience. The inside is trimmed in sober, tasteful type, and once more very a lot according to the most effective traditions of the Astra heritage.
The key disadvantage with the Astra Electrical is the pricing – about £40,000 plus in high trim ranges, or the very enticing property model. Like all electrical vehicles there’s a premium of near £10,000 over the (additionally extremely succesful) petrol model; however the excellent news is that the present mismatch within the provide and demand for electrical vehicles implies that there are some hefty reductions and bargains available, even by way of the official community. This implies a brand new or practically new electrical Astra will be yours for nearer to £30,000 than £40,000, with commensurate leasing offers.
That is all as a result of the federal government continues to be mandating the automobile corporations to promote a lot of electrical vehicles, however has pushed again the date of the ban on new petrol automobile gross sales to 2035 (after all there’ll be an ample provide of used petrol and diesel vehicles for many years to come back).
So, with sturdy provide and weak demand, it’s now a purchaser’s market, which makes a refreshing change. The VW ID.3, Kia Niro, MG4 and Renault Megane are all fascinating options, however the Astra ought to be in your shortlist. Particularly in cobalt blue.