Vauxhall Astra Review, Specs & Performance
Great styling and long equipment list that is a refined and comfortable car to drive
The eighth generation of the ever-popular contract hire Vauxhall Astra ticks just about every box for those wanting a stylish contract hire car. It looks great, there’s plenty of equipment and it's a rewarding car to drive.
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Overview of the Vauxhall Astra
ENGINES AND PERFORMANCE FOR THE VAUXHALL ASTRA
The Vauxhall Astra car lease comes with diesel, petrol as well as a petrol plug-in hybrid model that will travel up to 36 miles in electric power. There will be a new all-electric Astra-e to follow in 2023.
As a hybrid, the top model delivers 225 PS with torque of 360Nm to offer impressive fuel economy of up to 257 mpg, and emissions of 31g/km.
The hybrid uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine with four cylinders delivering 180 PS, while the electric motor adds 110 PS. The power is delivered using a refined eight-speed automatic gearbox to the front wheels.
There's another plug-in with less power but they both will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in either 7.2 or 7.7 seconds. The top speed is electronically controlled at 140 mph.
Otherwise, drivers get to choose a turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine with three cylinders that is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. It delivers 110 PS with fuel economy of 52 mpg and emissions of 125g/km.
For better economy, the 1.5-litre diesel engine with four cylinders produces 130 PS and torque of 300Nm. It returns around 64 mpg with emissions of 117g/km for the six-speed manual box; fuel consumption is slightly less for the automatic transmission.
All of the engines deliver great response and help to underpin what is a well-made and well-designed car.
Vauxhall Astra in a nutshell
EQUIPMENT AND HANDLING FOR THE VAUXHALL ASTRA
The eighth generation of the contract hire Vauxhall Astra has entered a competitive segment and it's a car that deserves to do well.
There's the dynamic styling that uses the firm's 'Vizor' face and it is available as a sporty five-door model which has a low-slung look. However, it is more spacious than the model it replaces.
The boot size is 42 litres and there's plenty of equipment to make it a serious contender in the compact class segment. Also, Vauxhall has added equipment that is normally found on pricier cars, including the firm's LED Pixel lights that feature 168 elements.
There's also the digital 'Pure Panel' to replace analogue instruments. The display utilises 'human-machine-interface' technology for an intuitive experience. And while most buttons and controls have been removed, drivers can still set the climate control using a switch.
The seats are very comfortable and have been certified as being ergonomic and will be a boon on long journeys. Drivers also get an intelligent head-up display, as well as a 360° camera to keep the car and occupants safe. There's also a semi-automated driving assistance system to boost safety.
There's no doubt too that this is an agile car to drive with good grip and the composed stance is down to the platform that the Astra has been developed for. The brakes are better than the previous model, and safety features include rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition and active lane position.
The new Vauxhall Astra is not only a stylish car to lease, it’s also a rewarding and well-designed offering that deserves to be a success and as a contract hire choice, it is definitely one to shortlist.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VAUXHALL ASTRA
Why not have a look at the Astra on the official Vauxhall company website? Or why not look at some of these similar car lease deals from First Vehicle Leasing the Volkswagen Golf, or the Ford Focus.