Vauxhall has expanded the new Astra range with the introduction of a six-speed manual gearbox, reducing the starting price of the popular family car to £26,495 OTR.
Available to order now, the manual transmission is paired with the Astra's 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine and can be specified across all three trim levels, as well as both the hatchback and Astra Sports Tourer.
Most notably, Vauxhall is charging exactly the same price for the hatchback and Sports Tourer, meaning customers can choose the additional space and practicality of the estate without paying extra.
New Lower Entry Point for the Astra Range
The new six-speed manual is available with Vauxhall's 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 130PS and 230Nm of torque.
The Astra hatchback accelerates from 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds, with the Sports Tourer completing the same sprint in 10 seconds.
Both offer a top speed of 130mph, while official WLTP fuel economy reaches up to 50.4mpg.
An eight-speed automatic petrol model remains available for customers who would prefer an automatic transmission.
Hatchback or Sports Tourer for the Same Price
One of the biggest changes to the Astra range is Vauxhall's simplified approach to pricing.
The manual Astra starts at £26,495 in Griffin trim, regardless of whether you choose the conventional hatchback or the larger Sports Tourer.
Pricing rises to:
Griffin: £26,495 OTR
GS: £27,995 OTR
Ultimate: £30,495 OTR
The same prices apply to both body styles.
For drivers needing additional luggage capacity or family practicality, the Sports Tourer could therefore represent particularly strong value, as there is no additional purchase-price premium over the equivalent hatchback.
Plenty of Standard Equipment
Despite becoming the new entry point into the Astra range, Griffin models come with a strong level of equipment as standard.
Exterior highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows, Vauxhall's illuminated Vizor and signature compass lighting, while Sports Tourer versions also include roof rails.
Inside, drivers benefit from the ergonomic Intelli-Seat, heated front seats and a heated vegan leather steering wheel.
A 10-inch Pure Panel infotainment display incorporates wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with satellite navigation also included.
Adaptive cruise control and an electrochromatic frameless rear-view mirror are also standard.
Petrol, Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid or Electric
The arrival of the manual model further broadens an already extensive Astra powertrain range.
Alongside conventional petrol models, customers can choose a 48V hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric Astra.
The latest Astra Electric has also received a larger 58.3kWh battery, increasing its official WLTP driving range by 22 miles to 281 miles.
Vauxhall is also applying the same OTR price to Electric, Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid versions within each trim level.
With the Government Electric Car Grant applied, Vauxhall says the Astra Electric can cost less than the equivalent Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid model.
New Denim Blue Paint Option
The updated Astra range also introduces a new colour, Denim Blue.
It joins six other available paint colours, while Electric Yellow is exclusive to the Astra hatchback and Clover Green is reserved for the Astra Sports Tourer.
All Astra Models Remain Below £40,000
Every version of the new Astra remains below the £40,000 threshold at which the Expensive Car Supplement applies.
According to Vauxhall, this could save customers £2,200 in Vehicle Excise Duty over the first six years of ownershipcompared with a vehicle exceeding the threshold.
With a lower starting price, additional gearbox choice and no price premium for choosing the Sports Tourer, the latest changes make the Astra range considerably broader.
For customers who still prefer the simplicity and involvement of a manual petrol car, the new £26,495 model also provides a significantly more accessible route into the Astra range.
