Believe it or not, we first drove the Astra Sports Tourer estate in plug-in hybrid form over a year ago! However, like a lot of rival new cars, Vauxhall has suffered through the chip shortage and in an interview earlier this year, marketing director Phil Douglass admitted rightly that Vauxhall had prioritised hatchback production for UK customers. 

The fact that the Sports Tourer estate version of the Astra is available in the UK has got to be a good sign, as it's already been a busy year for our favourite family car. This year Vauxhall launched sportier GSe versions, then more recently there was the all-electric hatch that we drove in the last issue.   

Astra Sports Tourer versions are available in petrol, and eventually electric versions.  However, the GS Line spec car we've got to test is the plug-in hybrid version - just like our hatchback long-termer. It combines a 150hp, 1.6-litre petrol turbo engine with a 110hp electric motor and a 12.4kWh lithium-ion battery, with the result being 180hp, 360Nm of torque, 0-60mph acceleration in 7.7 seconds and a top speed of 140mph. Of more interest to business buyers is the confirmed 8% BiK figure, 23-24g/km CO2 emission figures, official combined fuel consumption of up to 256mpg, and it can even be driven 43 miles on electric power alone. Although sadly due to the short time we had with this car we couldn't verify this. 

The Sports Tourer hybrid starts off smoothly, keenly and quietly, as like every other Stellantis hybrid it defaults to Electric mode, although there are also Hybrid and Sport modes. So, we quickly swapped into Hybrid mode to make the most of the battery range. Jab the accelerator for overtaking and increased speeds out-of-town and the petrol engine slickly and smoothly takes over the power -although it does get quite noisy when worked too hard. Then, when the road situation allowed, we tried out the Sport mode, which gives more weight to the steering and throttle. It is not sporty, but the performance is best described as brisk. There are no surprises with the Astra Sports Tourer plug-in's dynamics either, as it remains the same decent drive. With the GS Line's modest 17-in alloy wheels, and the Sports Tourer's extra length, we've probably got the most comfortable version of Vauxhall's family car that we've tried. Although, the extra weight of the battery means bumps are still more obvious than they should be. The brakes are snatchy, too - especially when there's low charge in the battery.

The Astra has been on sale for a while but it has to be the sharpest looking of the set of family cars from the Stellantis brands. The good news is that it's equally handsome in estate form - although the 17in wheels look a bit lost under the arches. 

Inside, the Sports Tourer is unchanged from the hatch and other Astra versions, so think minimalist and distinctive in terms of design. In GS Line form it's well-equipped, too. The best news is that rear space is much improved over the hatch, and you do get the benefit of a bigger 597-litre boot. Although, this is 81 litres less than a combustion version. It is practically shaped, benefits from a split floor, there's space for the charging cable, and there's the convenience of a power tailgate. With seats fully folded, the space increases to an impressive 1,634 litres. 

Sports Tourer estate models are an attractive addition to our favourite family car, the already appealing Astra range. Choosing the plug-in version like we have here significantly adds to the price, so potential buyers will have to take into account how often you can plug it in, to make the most of the potential running cost savings. If you're in the market for a plug-in hybrid estate, the Astra Sports Tourer estate is well worth a look. 

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Hybrid GS Line