Vauxhall has cut the diesel engine option from its Astra line-up on the back of declining demand.

The Astra line-up cuts its diesel option as the new Sports Tourer Ultimate arrives

It’s part of a range of updates that also introduce a new top-of-the-range trim for the Sports Tourer and latest technologies.

Plummeting demand for diesels saw just 244 diesel Astras sold last year. The removal of the 1.5 130PS EAT8 diesel from the line-up means the Astra is now solely available in the UK as a petrol or plug-in hybrid vehicle, ahead of the arrival of Astra Electric soon.

The Grandland is now the only Vauxhall passenger car that offers a diesel variant.

Latest SMMT figures show the extent of the decline in demand for diesels. For the first quarter of 2023, a total of 39,764 diesel cars were registered, including mild hybrids, accounting for just 8.1% of the new car market.

Vauxhall has also updated the Astra line-up with a new range-topping Ultimate grade for the Sports Tourer. Available with both petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains, it builds on the existing GS models with the addition of IntelliLux adaptive LED pixel headlights, lane change assist with side blind spot alert and rear cross traffic alert technologies.

Other standard features on Ultimate models include a powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, heated ergonomic active sports-style front seats in Alcantara trim, certified by Germany’s AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs), head-up display and wireless charging for smartphones. Exterior upgrades include 18-inch grey diamond-cut alloy wheels and high gloss black roof rails.

Prices for Sports Tourer Ultimate models start from £33,765.

Other changes to the Astra line-up include exterior trim upgrades for Design models and the arrival of the Intelli-Drive 2.0 technology suite for Ultimate and GSe models, across both Astra and Astra Sports Tourer.

The replacement to the Intelli-Drive technology, it debuts new driver assistance features such as semi-automated lane changes and intelligent speed adaptation, which monitors both road signs and weather conditions to adjust the vehicle speed.