Vauxhall has tweaked its Astra PHEV with a bigger battery, lower price and more range - but it still can’t match the efficiency or company car tax rates of key rivals, with certain models being pushed into higher tax bands by just two g/km of emissions 

Prices now start at £36,145 for the hatchback GS and £37,365 for the Sports Tourer estate. This means that both models are available under the £40,000 threshold for the Expensive Car Supplement for VED (road tax).

The hatchback sees considerable price reductions versus of up to £4,955 for GSE, £4,835 for Ultimate, and £3,570 for the GS. There are similar cuts for the Sport Tourer.

All models have a larger battery capacity of 17.2kWh, with an electric driving range of up to 52 miles for the GS hatchback – up from 35 miles previously. Power output is increased to a total of 190hp from the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor combination.

The new plug-in hybrid benefits from a new seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission that’s been optimised for the higher performance from this powertrain.

The sportier GSE has a more powerful 125hp electric motor, resulting in an electric range of up to 50 miles and a total power output of 225hp.

However, it’s not all good news. The entry-level GS’s 52-mile all-electric range and emissions of 49g/km mean it will benefit from a low 9% Benefit-in Kind tax rate for company car drivers in FY25/26. But the Ultimate, GSE and Sport Tourer estates are above 50g/km at 51 to 52 g/km and are therefore stung with a 16% rate - that's much higher than rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf and even some rival SUVs. It means the bill for 40% tax payer in a Golf GTE will be £959 per year, versus £2,009 for an Astra GSE driver. 

Sport Tourer versions are all saddled with the higher tax band - by just two g/km