Facelifted 2019 Vauxhall Astra prices confirmed

Vauxhall has announced that the new Vauxhall Astra will start at £18,885 for the hatchback and £20,355 for the estate. Those prices make the facelifted car slightly cheaper than the outgoing model, despite a raft of updates. The new Astra will go on sale in August in both five-door hatchback and estate form, with first deliveries scheduled for November.

According to Vauxhall, design tweaks made to the new car mean the Astra is now the most aerodynamic model in its class. The aerodynamic improvements combined with a range of more efficient engines are said to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 19%. The engine range is now made up of entirely of three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

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Buyers will be able to pick from seven trim levels. The entry-level SE model features 16-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, cruise control and a seven-inch infotainment screen. Business Edition Nav versions get additional interior upgrades including a leather steering wheel and sat nav.

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The sporty SRi model features 17-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, LED headlights and a front camera system. The SRi Nav model, as the name suggests, adds sat nav.

A warm-hatch variant called the SRi VX Line Nav gets 18-inch alloy wheels and gloss black interior and exterior trim.

At the top of the range are the Elite and Ultimate Nav models. Vauxhall is focusing on luxury with these trims, so there are leather-trimmed heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. Both models get a larger eight-inch touchscreen and a digital dial cluster, along with electronic climate control.

The Elite Nav model gets 17-inch alloy wheels with chrome effect window trim. In Ultimate Nav trim, further upgrades include 18-inch alloy wheels, IntelliLux LED Matrix headlights and LED rear lights.

All trim levels of the new Astra feature Bluetooth, USB sockets and a DAB radio. Models fitted with sat nav feature real-time traffic information and online map updates. Smartphone users can use Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Ultimate Nav models also feature a Bose sound system.

The interior of the new Astra receives an array of new technology updates, including an upgraded digital front camera that is smaller and faster thanks to new hardware. Vauxhall claims this new system improves the Astra’s traffic sign recognition system. The digital rear-view camera has also been upgraded.

At first glance, the new Astra looks very similar to the outgoing model, aside from a new headlight design, revised grille and restyled front bumper. At the rear, the subtle changes continue with a slightly tweaked rear-light design and reshaped rear bumper.

There are four petrol and two diesel engines, which are all three-cylinder units. The 1.4-litre petrol engine produces 143bhp and comes as standard with a seven-speed CVT gearbox. A trio of 1.2-litre petrol engines are also available, each equipped as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox. The entry-level version produces 108bhp, with 128bhp and 143bhp versions also available.

Vauxhall claims the 128bhp version, which is likely to be the biggest seller, can achieve fuel economy of up to 51.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 127g/km. Figures for the more powerful 143bhp petrol engines have yet to be confirmed.

A new 1.5-litre diesel engine is also available in two power outputs. In entry-level form, it has 104bhp and comes equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. A more powerful 120bhp version is also available, delivering a claimed 60.1mpg and 124g/km of CO2. This range-topping engine can be specified with a new nine-speed automatic gearbox, which does affect fuel economy slightly.

To see how the new Astra compares to its rivals, check out our picks for the best hatchbacks to buy this year.