Like its five-door hatch sibling, the Sports Tourer is based on an all-new lightweight vehicle architecture with a new design, powertrains and technology.

The new Astra estate offers the same dimensions as the outgoing model with a length of 4,702mm, a width of 1,871mm and a height of 1,499mm but brings more space for passengers and luggage, with a total cargo capacity of 1,630 litres.

In addition, the Sports Tourer comes with 40/20/40 foldable rear seats to enhance loading space while the FlexOrganiser product range with side rails, dividing nets and various fastening options is available as an option.

The Sports Tourer is also now offered with automated tailgate opening. The tailgate can still be opened by a switch on the driver’s side of the car or via the key’s remote control.

Inside the cabin, clever packaging means that the driver can enjoy 26mm of additional headroom while passengers in the rear have 28mm more.

Design elements have been carried over from the five-door hatch and use the latest version of Vauxhall’s design philosophy, ‘Sculptural Artistry meets Technical Precision’.

Based on the latest D2 platform from General Motors, the new Astra Sports Tourer brings weight reductions of up to 200kg, contributing to its improved efficiencies.

The engine line-up runs from 99bhp to 198bhp, including an all-new 1.4-litre (148bhp) ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo and the recently launched 1.6-litre CDTi Whisper Diesel as well as the 198bhp version of the 1.6-litre ECOTEC petrol.

The Astra Sports Tourer also features Vauxhall’s OnStar connectivity technology, which is now available across Europe and includes high-speed 4G LTE mobile network, emergency response notification and stolen vehicle recovery alert.

The Sports Tourer also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available through a new version of the IntelliLink infotainment system.