​Vauxhall has announced pricing details for the new facelifted version of its Astra hatchback and estate, and intriguingly the electric version now costs exactly the same as the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. 

The price parity for the hybrid versus electric models represents a £5,000 drop over the previous version of the car says Vauxhall, which certainly makes the car a bargain if you’re switching to electric. 

Even more interestingly, the price is the same whether you opt for the hatchback version or the estate version of the car – Vauxhall certainly likes to keep its price list simple. 

Many model ranges across manufacturers that have similar diversity in their powertrain line-up have struggled to get prices between combustion and electric options closer because of the inherent added cost of the EV batteries, which still represent a significant chunk of the price. 

Of course, it helps that the Astra Electric is eligible for the Band 2 electric car grant, which means a £1,500 discount that’s automatically applied when it comes to buying a new car. 

The new facelifted Astra features a revised version of Vauxhall’s signature front end, with an (almost) full width light bar up front, an upgraded interior, and in the case of the electric version a new powertrain. 

Range, charging, specs and prices

The battery is larger at 58.3kWh, and the car now has 22 miles of extra range to play with (281 miles of WLTP) and comes with V2L functionality as standard so that you can run electronics off the car, plus 100kW fast charging that will get you from 20%–80% charge in 32 minutes.

The PHEV version of the car gets a 17.2kWh battery for 52 miles of WLTP range in EV mode. 

There are three trim versions on the Astra – Griffin, GS and Ultimate. The entry level Griffin trim comes with 17in wheels, a 10in infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple and Android connectivity and adaptive cruise control as stand. It costs £29,995 whether you go for the mild hybrid petrol, plug-in hybrid or electric option, hatchback or estate. 

The GS trim adds some sportier bits of design flair, 18in wheels, dual-zone aircon and keyless go for £31,495 and the Ultimate trim gives you heated massaging front seats, head-up display, wireless phone charging and extra electronic safety kit. If you go for the estate you’ll get an electric tailgate thrown in too, all for the bargain price of £33,995.