Holden Astra Sportwagon checks in

HOLDEN has added the third and final body style to its Astra line-up, with the Sportwagon hitting showrooms next month in two specification grades starting from $25,740 plus on-road costs.

The Sportwagon misses out on the base LS and highest grade LTZ of the sedan range and instead kicks off with the LS+ and tops out with the $29,940 LT.

Rivals for the Astra Sportwagon are limited to other Euro wagons including the Volkswagen Golf priced from $28,990, the Renault Megane from $28,490 and the Peugeot 308 that starts at $39,490 excluding on-roads.

The load-lugging version of the Astra will be built at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port factory in the UK, while the hatchback launched late last year is sourced from Poland and the Chevrolet Cruze-based Astra sedan hails from South Korea.

Holden says that the Sportwagon has received the same suspension tuning as its hatchback sibling which was co-developed by Holden’s local engineering team on several European test drives.

One powertrain will be offered, with the Sportwagon using GM’s 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivering 110kW and 240Nm paired exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel consumption sits at 5.9 litres per 100km, just 0.1L thirstier than the 1.4-litre auto hatchback, while the booted auto sedan drinks 6.1L/100km on the combined cycle.

The Sportwagon can swallow 1630 litres of cargo with the 60/40 fold-flat rear seats down, which is up on the 1550L of the old Astra wagon that was briefly sold in Australia with Opel badges.

It is also 10L more than the VW Golf, 46L more than the Megane and 152L more than the old Cruze wagon, but 110L less than the Peugeot.

Standard gear in the LS+ includes idle-stop, leather steering wheel, a reversing camera and sensors, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, 7.0-inch colour touchscreen, DAB+ digital radio, six-speaker audio system, cruise control with speed limiter, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain sensing wipers, LED daytime running lights and 16-inch alloy wheels.

It also has active safety equipment such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keep assist, forward collision alert and a forward distance indicator.

Over the LS+, the LT adds leather interior trim, keyless entry and start, climate control, heated exterior mirrors, hands-free power tailgate, an 8.0-inch colour touchscreen, satellite navigation, a side blind spot alert, automated parking and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Holden executive director of sales Michael Filazzola said the practicality and features of the Astra Sportwagon compares well to a similarly sized SUV.

“Astra Sportwagon gives our customers a real alternative to small SUVs,” he said. “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.

“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.”

Holden says the Astra Sportwagon is the 13th model to launch as part of Holden’s commitment to launch 24 new models by 2020.

The Sportwagon is available in two standard colours (Heron White and Absolute Red) and four ‘prestige’ paint colours that attract a $550 premium – Nitrate Silver, Cosmic Grey, Phantom Black and Darkmoon Blue.

While Holden is yet to confirm it, a hot hatch version is likely to surface in the next 12 months, possibly sporting the VXR moniker that was attached to the previous-generation three-door Astra Sport and will be used for the upcoming imported Commodore.

2017 Holden Astra Sportwagon pricing*

LS+ (a)	$25,740
LT (a)	$29,940

*Excludes on-road costs