Vauxhall Astra Plug-In Hybrid review (2021-2026)

Driving position 

If you’ve spent any amount of time around other Vauxhalls of this era, then this Astra won’t feel much different. 

You can sit right down low or up close to the steering wheel, and there’s plenty of steering wheel adjustment, too. 

We're big fans of the seat padding and lateral bolstering in our mid-spec GS trim test car, which made for a really supportive ride.  

It’s pretty figure-hugging for a standard hatchback, but it’s still easy enough to climb in and out of. 

If you want electric adjustment for your seats, you’ll need to go for the top-spec Ultimate trim. 

Tech and features 

Vauxhall Astra PHEV trims 

– GRIFFIN 

– GS 

– Ultimate 

Every version of the eighth-generation Astra comes with two 10-inch displays – one central and one digital instrument cluster. 

The system works seamlessly and offers high-definition graphics, but we’d suspect most drivers will just connect their phone up and never look back. 

Speaking of, each car comes as standard with six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and front/rear USB ports. 

Some of the switches are borrowed from Peugeot, Citroën and DS models because they’re part of the Stellantis group, which means it’s all very familiar if you’re used to those other brands. 

You can control a lot of the car’s functions through the touchscreen, but key controls like the climate are still accessible via physical buttons. We’re always happy to see proper buttons rather than fiddly screens for climate controls. 

Certain trim levels have a wireless phone charger, heated seats and a heated steering wheel, all of which are very welcome conveniences. 

Engines and power 

Vauxhall Astra PHEV performance stats 

– Power: 195hp 

– 0-62mph: 7.9 seconds 

– Top speed: 140mph 

– Driven wheels: Front-wheel drive (FWD) 

We’ve driven every version of the Vauxhall Astra, including the petrol, mild hybrid (MHEV), fully electric and now the plug-in hybrid (PHEV). 

They’re all great in their own right, but the PHEV may be a great choice if you can benefit from the best of both worlds – a petrol engine for the motorway and electricity for up to 52 miles in and around cities. 

Power comes from a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine mated to a battery and electric motors, giving you a combined power output of 195hp. 

It’s not going to break any performance records, with a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 140mph, but it’s plenty punchy enough for everyday driving. 

We covered a range of motorways and country lane roads and found performance to be consistent throughout.  

Our only small gripe is the six-speed DCT automatic gearbox, which felt jerky at times and not as refined as, say, the gearbox in a VW Golf eHybrid. 

And while Vauxhall will sell this generation of Astra with a manual gearbox, the plug-in hybrid is only available with the automatic, which will suit most people. 

Handling and ride comfort 

We’ve already mentioned that Vauxhall forms part of a broader group of manufacturers within Stellantis. Citroën has been known for its comfortable suspension, and Peugeots have been a little more engaging to drive. 

Vauxhall has generally been somewhere in the middle. But this version of the Astra stiffens things up a bit, which has its pros and cons. 

It’s quite firm, so bumps and potholes can be more noticeable, but no more than in many other family hatchbacks of this size. The cabin is also well-insulated, so you won’t be disturbed when driving over rough surfaces or at motorway speeds. 

Our PHEV test car had the same trait as the fully electric model, where it felt slightly ‘crashier’ on uneven surfaces, but that’s because they have stiffer suspension to handle the extra weight of the batteries. 

Boot space 

Vauxhall Astra PHEV boot space:  

– Boot space: 310 litres 

– Incl. rear seats folded: 1,368 litres 

The standard hatchback (with petrol and mild-hybrid powertrains) has a 422-litre boot, which is well above the class average of sub-400 litres, but the PHEV falls short. 

Vauxhall’s Astra plug-in hybrid has just 310 litres of boot space, which is due to the extra batteries under the boot floor. It’s still okay for a weekly food shop or some small suitcases, but not much more. 

Fold down the rear seats and space grows to 1,368 litres, which makes it much more usable if you’re moving house or transporting longer items. 

By comparison, the Peugeot 308 PHEV has a 314-litre boot, the VW Golf eHybrid has 273 litres, and the CUPRA Leon e-Hybrid gets 270 litres. 

So, yes, the Astra’s boot is small, but it does well among its competitors.  

Rear seats 

Rear legroom is on the tight side, especially when sitting behind a six-footer. Children will be fine, and adults should have enough space on shorter trips – just don’t expect acres of legroom. 

Headroom is fine because there’s no sloping roofline to impact you, but other models like the Ford Focus and VW Golf do offer a bit more space. 

The addition of a sunroof (available in Ultimate trim cars) will make the space feel much airier and more open, allowing more light (and air) into the cabin. 

Storage solutions 

The Astra isn’t a big car, but there are still plenty of spaces to hide loose odds and ends. 

The cup holders and centre console storage – which is home to the wireless charger on top-spec cars – are all covered by sliding doors to keep things tidy. 

Its door bins are deep and fairly wide too, making storing water bottles a doddle. 

Vauxhall Astra PHEV dimensions  

– Height: 1,441mm 

– Width (incl. door mirrors): 1,860mm 

– Length: 4,374mm 

– Kerb weight: 1,678kg 

Safety 

The standard model has all the modern aids, like a driver drowsiness alert system, lane departure warning and speed sign recognition. 

They also get front and rear parking sensors, automatic high beams (or adaptive LED headlights on high-spec editions) and adaptive cruise control. 

When it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2022, the Astra got a four-star safety rating. It might sound like a downgrade from the previous generation’s five stars, but the tests have become even tougher, and the newer model is inevitably safer than the old one rated five stars. 

The Peugeot 308 and DS 4, which share many parts with the Astra, also got four stars, but some hatchbacks like the Ford Focus and SEAT Leon are considered five-star cars for safety. 

Fuel economy 

Being a plug-in hybrid means that, as well as the petrol engine, you benefit from a fully electric range, which you can use around towns or cities. 

In the Astra’s case, Vauxhall claims it’ll do 52 miles on a full charge, and it more or less does that in the real world. 

Vauxhall also claims it’ll return up to 122.8mpg, but this is irrelevant because official benchmark tests only run for a short distance, so the effects of the electric-only range are more pronounced.  

Instead, you can expect around 55.4mpg in mixed driving, which is what we saw over a few hundred miles. A very respectable figure. 

For reference, the VW Golf eHybrid returns around 68mpg, the Peugeot 308 Hybrid at 62mpg and the CUPRA Leon e-Hybrid at 55mpg. 

Reliability 

Vauxhall tends to perform pretty average in consumer satisfaction surveys, but the company has changed a lot in recent years. 

Under the guidance of parent company Stellantis, it can borrow tried-and-tested parts from other manufacturers, helping to cut development costs and boost reliability. 

Plus, if you’re buying a used one with us, you can add on cinchCover for added protection.