2026 Vauxhall Astra Specs, Price, Features
2026 Vauxhall Astra Specs, Price, Features – The eighth generation Vauxhall Astra, which debuted in 2026, has matured into a reliable family hatchback with strong technology, an abundance of useful features, and a fun driving experience. Business clients may choose the smart Astra due to the great fuel efficiency provided by efficient gasoline engines and the abundance of features given by the plug-in hybrid and all-electric variants.
Even with a little amount of rear seat cramping and a few areas where the interior quality might have been improved, the 2026 Vauxhall Astra is still a formidable competitor in the family hatchback segment.
Among the factors leading to the 2026 Vauxhall Astra’s present reputational issues are its uninspired appearance, subpar engines, and lack of personality, which drive off buyers searching for a reliable family hatchback. Nevertheless, after being acquired by PSA in 2017 and incorporated into the broader Stellantis company, Vauxhall has seen a rebirth.
With the arrival of the second-generation Mokka compact SUV in 2020, the Griffin style philosophy was formally introduced. With its angular form, the “Vizor” design made its debut and would go on to serve as the foundation for all subsequent Vauxhall models. Presently, the Astra is going through a comprehensive makeover to match the upgrades applied to the Grandland and Crossland SUVs. 2026 Vauxhall Astra Specs
2026 Vauxhall Astra Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior & Interior
The Astra’s new premium stance is all Vauxhall’s fault; the previous model was simply too plain and boring to compete with the class leaders. It now has angular lines that complement the manufacturer’s Vizor front end design, making it a stylish and contemporary family hatchback.
Inside are plusher materials, soft-touch plastics, and Alcantara inserts on the door cards of the Ultimate trim variations. Regretfully, the bottom door cards and center console still show some signs of cheap plastic.
Three standard trims make up the trim structure: Design, GS, and Ultimate. The solo GSe model represents a high-performance option. Even with all the bells and whistles, the base model Astra nevertheless looks better than the lower-spec vehicle thanks to its larger 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, stronger front and rear bumpers, and black external trim instead of chrome-effect pieces.
Our favorite trim level is the mid-range GS model, which has wider wheels, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, 360-degree parking cameras, and an improved infotainment system. The Astra Ultimate specification includes adaptive LED headlights, a more powerful stereo system, a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, and wireless smartphone charging. Approximately £35,000 (or over £40,000 for the electric and plug-in hybrid variants) will get you all of this.
The Pure Panel infotainment system from Vauxhall is standard on all Astra models, however the GS and Ultimate grade cars include an upgraded Pure Panel Pro system. Both include two 10-inch screens: one for media and the other for a driver-facing digital instrument panel. Accurate and user-friendly natural voice recognition technology is combined with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Nevertheless, there is a perceptible delay and somewhat slow loading times after choosing a function.
The Astra boasts a gorgeous dual-screen setup with clear visuals. The quality of the rear camera is also outstanding. Fortunately, the physical shortcut buttons and climate settings remain functional. Touch-sensitive sliders, which have been a significant complaint with the VW Golf, are less convenient to drive with than with them.
The car should take care of the little things that often make a family hatchback easier and more enjoyable to drive. This is where the 2026 Vauxhall Astra excels thanks to its wide array of interior storage choices and generous array of standard features.
Between the front seats is a roomy cubby where you can store your phone or sunglasses. There are two trays with sliding coverings and a fold-out part located beneath the central air vent. Keyless entry, automated wipers, cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors are included on less expensive Design versions. On GS grade cars and up, standard features include a heated steering wheel, heated front sport seats with extra settings authorized by AGR, The Campaign for Healthier Backs in Germany, and a front center armrest with cupholders. 2026 Vauxhall Astra Specs
2026 Vauxhall Astra Specs
Engine & Performance
The Astra is based on the third version of the Stellantis EMP2 platform, which is also used by the new DS 4 hatchback family and the most recent Peugeot 308. Vauxhall has implemented many modifications to preserve its unique driving character, with an emphasis on enhancing high-speed stability.
The Astra’s anti-roll bars, steering, and suspension have all been changed to give it a more aggressive appearance compared to its French counterpart. That isn’t as sporty as a Ford Focus, though.
outstanding quality The Ultimate and all-electric variants come standard with 17-inch wheels from the mid-range petrol GS model, but even with them, you’ll note that the Astra rides solidly. Still, you find yourself living in the now, speeding over little B-roads with little to no body lean. It doesn’t cause offense. The Astra Electric handles less sharply and may push wide in corners early due to its electric drivetrain and battery pack, which add around 400 kg to the car’s weight over the lightest 1.2-liter gasoline vehicle.
The base 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine isn’t particularly powerful, but it can be a bit difficult to operate at high speeds. The Astra can travel through the air more easily thanks to its low drag coefficient of 0.269. In order to increase economy and efficiency, Vauxhall has included lightweight components, such as a thermoplastic boot lid.
We appreciate that every Astra has a unique windscreen that reduces noise, making the vehicle quiet on the interstate. For commuting, the 1.2-liter gasoline engine is quiet and smooth at modest speeds. Furthermore, there’s no audible suspension noise over bumps and potholes. When driving in EV mode, the Astra Electric and plug-in hybrid are the most technologically advanced cars since there isn’t any engine noise to disturb the tranquility.
The Astra’s six-speed manual transmission is a practical feature that makes commuting easier. It has no benefits or drawbacks. Reactivity-wise, comparable hatchbacks with hybrid technology, including the Honda Civic, outperform the optional eight-speed automatic transmission. The Astra Electric accelerates more rapidly and offers a smoother ride throughout town since there are no gear changes. Even if the steering seems too weighted in Sport mode and the throttle response is sharper, we still recommend sticking with “Normal” driving mode.
The plug-in hybrid Astra is a better option if speed is your top priority. With a peak speed of 140 mph, the basic Astra PHEV can sprint from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 7.7 seconds thanks to its 178 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque. However, the 222 horsepower and 360 Nm torque of the plug-in Astra GSe allow it to reach 62 mph in 7.5 seconds.
The 1.2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine may be mated to either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. Sixty miles per hour (mph) is reached by the former in 10.5 seconds and the latter in 9.7 seconds.
The Astra Electric feels nimble about town despite its extra weight and completes the same sprint in 9.2 seconds. The first EV punch loses some of its power at highway speeds as you go farther away, but it is still more than enough to handle traffic. 2026 Vauxhall Astra Specs
2026 Vauxhall Astra Fuel Economy
The most notable aspect of the new Astra is unquestionably its fuel efficiency, but its excellent infotainment system and fashionable looks will also draw notice. Vauxhall claims that all gasoline-powered vehicles have combined WLTP fuel efficiency ratings between 50 and 52 mpg.
Our own testing indicates that the Astra is likewise a reasonably priced family vehicle. In our long-term test car, an Astra 1.2 Turbo petrol, we averaged 49.3 mpg after traveling over 5,200 miles. Still, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are even more fuel-efficient than the hybrid’s competitors. In our group test, the Civic got 50.3 mpg, while the 1.8-liter Corolla got an even better 54.2 mpg.
Corporate customers will pay Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) rates ranging from 29 to 31 percent since the Astra’s gasoline-powered engine generates 123 to 132 grams of CO2 per kilometer. These costs are hardly the most competitive in an increasingly electrified world where the Civic and Corolla are in bands 25 and 26, respectively.
Thankfully, Vauxhall has introduced a 43-kilometer plug-in hybrid vehicle that runs only on electricity. The PHEV will be far more tempting to consumers of business cars because of its 23–24 g/km CO2 emissions and 8% BIK rating. The 12.4kWh (10.4kWh useful) battery can be completely charged in around two hours using a 7kW wallbox.
If that’s not enough, the Astra is also offered in the Astra Electric, which is an all-electric variant. It can function in the 2% BIK band and has a maximum range of 258 kilometers on a single charge. It is projected to continue until 2025. You can charge from 20 to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes if you can locate a quick charger that charges at a rate of 100kWh. It will take eight hours to fully charge a flat battery using a 7kW wallbox at home.
2026 Vauxhall Astra Safety Features
All Astra models are equipped with Vauxhall’s PureSense active safety technologies as standard, including automated emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning with lane-keep assist, driver fatigue alert, and speed sign recognition. While the mid-range GS trim level has a more sophisticated and rapid collision warning system, the top-tier adaptive cruise control Ultimate and GSe trim levels are equipped with blind spot monitoring and lane position assistance.
Regrettably, the Astra was unable to secure the five-star Euro NCAP certification that its competitors, the Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, and Renault Megane E-Tech, managed to secure. The Astra and its parent car, the Peugeot 308, received four stars out of five from safety experts. They criticized the slow emergency braking system response time and the absence of a central airbag to protect front seat occupants in the case of a side-on accident.
In the most current Driver Power owner satisfaction assessment from 2023, the Vauxhall brand was ranked number 24 out of 32 manufacturers; the newest Astra was not included. This places it below SEAT, Skoda, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, Peugeot, Mazda, and Kia but above competing family vehicle makers VW, Ford, and Renault.
2026 Vauxhall Astra Release Date & Price
There are just three trim level options available for the most current Astra: Design (entry), GS (sporty), and Ultimate (luxury). This contrasts with the abundance of choices that earlier generations had. When compared to comparable competitors, the fuel Astra series is enticingly cheap, with a starting price of around £27,000. The starting price of the plug-in hybrid versions is around £37,000, which is not too far from the over £40,000 price of our favored GS-spec Astra Electric.
Note: The details included in this blog post are derived from pre-release material that was accessible when the article was written. If you want the latest information, you should check official sources or call your nearest dealership.
