Revamp for the Astravan
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• Vauxhall has released the first details of the new Astra, which will form the basis of a new Astravan towards the end of the year.
The Astravan will be based on the three-door estate model as before. For the time being, there will be no purpose-built van version of the new Astra, and the current Astramax will continue unchanged.
The new Astravan, like the saloons, is thoroughly revised inside and out, and as the photograph of the five-door estate shown here reveals, it continues the theme of sleek aerodynamic styling established by the current model. Dimensions are slightly bigger all round which brings the promise of a small increase in load space compared with the existing Astravan. The payload figures have not been announced as yet, but an improvement on the 550kg provided at the moment is likely.
Changes to the drivelines are minor: the staple engines are still the 1.7 diesel and 1.4 petrol units. However, they are cleaner — all petrol engines get a catalyst and fuel injection, while the diesel is likely to come equipped with a simple oxidation catalyst.
As well as the expected claims for improved handling and refinement, Vauxhall makes a great play of the greater safety of the new Astra, citing seatbelt tensioners fitted as standard and side-impact protection beams in the doors.
Now that both Ford (Escort Combi) and Peugeot (305) have left the estate-derived van market, the new Astravan should ensure that Vauxhall reinforces its position in this segment. But the new Escort van (backed up by the high-roof Fiesta Courier) means the older Astramax will have its work cut out.
More details on the Astravan, including cost, should be available before the saloon is launched in October.