The third and final bodystyle to the Holden Astra range launches in Australia in October, with the British-built Astra Sportwagon launching almost a year after the Astra hatchback. Offering superior practicality to the small SUVs that it will inevitably be compared with, the Astra Sportwagon offers a total of 1,630-litres of bootspace with the rear seats folded.
Instead of following the naming structure of the Astra hatchback, the Sportwagon lineup consists of two well-equipped models based off models in the Astra sedan range – the Astra Sportwagon LS+ sits at the entry point of the range, with the upper-spec LT sitting above it.
“Astra Sportwagon gives our customers a real alternative to small SUVs. It’s got the space and practicality you’d expect of an SUV but with the style and performance of the award-winning Astra Hatch,” said Holden’s Executive Director of Sales, Michael Filazzola.
“Astra Sportwagon is also packed to the brim with technology, like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic park and a kick-gesture power tailgate which is great when your hands are full with the week’s grocery shop!”
Priced from $25,740 plus on-road costs, the Astra Sportwagon will compete against small wagon rivals such as the $24,990 Skoda Octavia, $28,490 Renault Megane and $28,990 Volkswagen Golf. Powered by the same 110kW/245Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as both the Astra hatch and sedan, the Sportwagon is available only with a six-speed automatic transmission. Holden lists combined fuel consumption of 5.9L/100km – just 0.1L/100km more than the Astra hatchback.
The Astra Sportwagon’s bootspace is one of its strong points – its seats down figure of 1,630-litres eclipse both the Golf and wagons, though the Octavia’s total of 1,718-litres is still superior. Holden is yet to release a seats-up figure, though the UK figure of 540-litres is unlikely to change dramatically for Australia.
The Astra Sportwagon will be available in two different specifications in Australia – a lower spec LS+, and an upper-spec Astra LT. Unlike its Astra siblings, the Sportwagon will arrive with the Holden Eye forward facing camera system, which incorporates active safety equipment such as autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, forward collision alert and a forward distance indicator. Buyers of the Astra hatchback must pay for the R+ variant to receive AEB, and Astra sedan buyers aren’t able to buy it at all – a good reason to buy the wagon then.
Otherwise, the Astra Sportwagon is well equipped for the money. Standard equipment on the $25,740 LS+ includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors, a 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, a rear camera, DAB+ digital radio, automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control with a speed limiter, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Step up to the $29,940 LT, and blind-spot monitoring, automatic parking with front and rear parking sensors, larger 17-inch alloys, leather upholstery, an electric tailgate, keyless entry and start, a larger 8-inch infotainment system with inbuilt satellite navigation and dual-zone climate control and heated mirrors are added to the equipment list.
With both the Astra hatchback and sedan known as some of the most dynamic choices in their respective segments, Holden took the opportunity to locally tune the Astra Sportwagon to handle our lesser road quality, as well as giving and overall more dynamic and involving drive than its Euro-spec cousins. Holden’s name choice of Sportwagon instead of the Sports Tourer moniker it is given in the UK is a likely hint to the car’s overall dynamic mission, though unfortunately Holden is yet to offer a sportier 1.6-litre turbo model, like Astra RS and RS V hatchbacks.
The Astra Sportwagon launches in Australia in October, and continues the brand’s recent product offensive of 24 new or updated models before 2020 – the Astra Sportwagon is number 13. Next afterwards is the mid-size Equinox SUV before the end of the year, and the newly-European NG Commodore in February. The Astra is likely to receive a mid-life facelift over the coming years, with a hot version likely to be in the works for release in 2018.
Stay tuned to Chasing Cars for news regarding the Holden range.
