Passenger & boot space
How it copes with people and clutter
Front space
Those over six-feet tall won’t find themselves having to squeeze into the Vauxhall Astra, thanks to a generous amount of head and legroom for those sitting up front. You won’t be bashing your elbows with each other or with the doors, either.
There’s plenty of storage space on the centre console, with two cupholders and a large cubby that has a tray big enough for your phone, as well as a wireless phone-charging tray ahead of it on Ultimate models. If you press a button on the centre air vent, a neatly hidden sunglasses holder hinges down from below it.
If you want the more flexible 40/20/40 folding arrangement, and useful handles in the boot to easily fold the seats, you’ll have to head for the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer.
Boot space
With a 422-litre boot, the Astra beats most of its rivals, including the Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Corolla, with a useful square shape and a low lip to lift heavy items over. The plug–in hybrid-e (PHEV), which has a smaller, 352-litre boot, is still competitive against some family cars.
What does that mean in the real world? Well, we managed to fit five carry-on suitcases in the boot of the Golf, so the larger space at the back of the Astra should be more than enough for a large weekly shop, a couple of buggies or luggage for a family holiday. Of course, if you plan to fill the boot often, the Astra Sports Tourer is even more practical.
