Vauxhall has released prices and opened the order books for its Astra Sports Tourer Electric, the estate version of its mid sized model. It starts from £39,995, rising to £45,460. That’s £2,495 more than the equivalent hatchbacks and around £9,000 more than the big-selling MG5 estate.

The Astra Sports Tourer Electric features a new, more efficient 154bhp electric motor and a 54kWh battery. A heat pump and a focus on efficiency enables the Sports Tourer to achieve 4.2 miles per kWh (WLTP), resulting in an official range of 256 miles.

The battery is integrated into the chassis below the front and rear seats, resulting in a 31% increase in torsional stiffness compared to a petrol version. Combined with a new rear axle design, the increased stiffness also brings improved handling, while a focus on reducing weight means the All-New Astra Sports Tourer Electric weighs only 68kg more than the Plug-in Hybrid version.

Deliveries will start in spring 2024