The refreshed Vauxhall Astra gets more e-range and an illuminated grille

Big news in the world of medium sized cars: Vauxhall has bestowed upon its long-serving Astra boons of range and illumination, which will debut IRL this January.

Both the Astra and Astra Sports Tourer (fancy word for ‘estate’) get a slightly remodelled fascia, taking cues from the wild Corsa GSE Vision GT car unveiled earlier this year. The ‘griffin’ on the nose is now permanently illuminated, while the ‘vizor’ is said to be “narrower and more precisely designed”. Wasn’t it precisely designed before, Vauxhall?

Anyway. Along with the facelift, there are new wheel options in 17in and 18in sizes, new paint options – white and green – and a standard fit contrast black roof. Both cars also come with reactive HD lights, new seats said to be more comfortable than before, and the option of adjustable AGR-certified seats. Good for your back, in other words.

Vauxhall says the UI and cockpit have been given a once over to make them “even clearer and more intuitive”, while the Astra Electric gets more range out of its 58kWh battery. It can now go 282 miles on one charge, which is 22 miles more than the outgoing one. That’s a day’s commute, give or take.

V2L tech is also thrown into the mix for the first time, too.

No word on how much the new Astra will cost, but we’ll find out more when it debuts at the Brussels Motor Show IRL this January.