It is something of a recent tradition among motoring writers to bemoan the rise in popularity of high-riding SUVs as family transport at the expense of the traditional estate car. While that's not a debate we're getting into here, there is still quite a lot to be said for the latter as an option for drivers who want increased practicality without sacrificing driving dynamics. So, what of the latest example of the breed? It's the estate version of the new Vauxhall Astra - although in common with many manufacturers, Vauxhall obviously has doubts about the buyer appeal of the 'estate' term, since the model we're testing here is officially the Sports Tourer. Like the hatch, engine options include petrol, diesel, and the one most likely to find favour with company car drivers, the low-BIK plug-in hybrid. This pairs a 150hp petrol engine with a 110hp electric motor, for a 180hp combined maximum output, while a 12.4kWh allows an equivalent all-electric range of 42 miles, incurring an 8% company car BIK tax rate.

On the road, the powertrain can sound coarse and be slow to respond when heavy acceleration is called for, but it works fine the rest of the time, so in most normal driving situations there won't be any problems. Performance is good, and despite the 180hp combined output being lower than some rivals it doesn't feel lacking. Motorway refinement is very good, with not much in the way of road or wind noise. Dynamically the Sports Tourer is a pleasure to drive. The steering is crisp and accurate, and it corners willingly and in an assured manner, while the suspension also offers a smooth ride despite the extra weight of the PHEV battery, which this car seems to accommodate far better than Vauxhall's Grandland SUV that we tested earlier this year. 

The Sports Tourer has launched with a choice of Design and GS Line equipment grades, with Ultimate to follow later this year, although only the latter two grades are available with the PHEV.

The Astra's cabin features some interesting angular design elements on the dashboard, and some good-quality leather and velour-type materials were deployed with our GS Line test car. The side-by-side driver display and infotainment screen set-up is attractive, with the latter element usefully angled towards the driver. It's usefully responsive and well laid out too, while physical ventilation and audio controls are also retained. There's a good sense of space and openness in the front of the cabin, and rear headroom is good too, although legroom is only OK.

Being an estate, the Sports Tourer's boot of course merits thorough examination, and it seems that Vauxhall's engineers have put in a decent amount of thought here. For instance, fitting a higher number plate than with the Astra hatch allows a lower loading height, while all of the car's extra length over the hatch - 268mm - is given over to boot space. To extend said space further, the rear seats can be folded with a 40:20:40 split, and with controls located by the tailgate. However, an under-floor parcel shelf storage space that comes with the petrol and diesel Sports Tourers is lost with the PHEV, due to the need to accommodate the battery - a requirement which also means the electrified model features a reduced load space overall, with a boot capacity of 516 litres, compared with 597 litres for an ICE model. Both those figures are slightly down on the Astra's cousin within the Stellantis group, the Peugeot 308 SW. However, the Skoda Octavia Estate, while bigger-booted in ICE form, actually offers less space than the Vauxhall with a PHEV battery in place. The Astra also looks good value on P11D compared with the other two, although the Octavia has stronger predicted residual values. Still, for those who remain in the market for an estate, the Astra is a tempting option.

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Plug-in Hybrid-E GS Line 

P11D: £34,145