Morning Drive: Vauxhall Astra’s bold refresh, budget EV waves, and why your hands still matter on the wheel

Today’s mix is very 2025: the freshly sharpened Vauxhall Astra, a Lotus with a plug (yes, really), a silent ute that still wants to work for a living, and a reminder that even clever robotaxis flinch at real-world chaos. If you’re here for the headliner, same. The Vauxhall Astra gets a bolder face and a more useful electric range—exactly the tweak owners have been whispering about since launch. Let’s get into it.

New metal and notable updates

Vauxhall Astra: new face, smarter battery plan

I’ve always liked the Astra for how it goes about its business—quiet, measured, none of that look-at-me fuss. The last one I lived with did the school run and a damp B-road with equal grace. This update finally gives it the jawline to match its manners, and the electric version’s extra range is the win owners kept asking for. Fewer midweek top-ups, less route anxiety, more “let’s just go” moments.

• What matters: cleaner aero face, better efficiency, improved EV range where it counts.
• The feel: still tidy steering, seats that actually support you, and a cabin that calms not shouts.
• Watch-for: infotainment polish—snappy responses and smarter route planning can make or break daily harmony.

Vauxhall Astra range: what changes on real roads

On my usual loop—stop-start town stuff, a fast A-road stretch, then a climb into the hills—the Astra Electric always impressed with its efficiency but left me budgeting miles on cold mornings. The added range should nudge it from “fine” to “comfortably capable.” Think: fewer rapid charges on a rainy Friday and enough cushion for the impromptu detour to pick up a forgotten football kit. Real life things.

Vauxhall Astra vs rivals: where it fits now

Stack it against the VW Golf, Ford Focus, and Peugeot 308 and the Astra plays the grown-up card: slick refinement, easy ergonomics, and now the all-important EV credibility. The Golf still nails that hushed autobahn vibe, the Focus is a giggle on backroads, and the 308 brings French flair. The Astra’s advantage? It just gets daily life right without trying too hard.

Lotus reveals its first PHEV—performance meets pragmatism

A plug-in Lotus. Ten years ago, I’d have laughed. Now? I’m curious. The magic will live or die in the details: steering feel, how the regen blends into braking, and whether the extra mass is tucked low and central. Lotus knows balance like chefs know salt. If anyone can make a PHEV dance, it’s Hethel.

• Hope: instant electric shove out of hairpins without numbing that trademark front-end chatter.
• Question: battery placement and cooling—sustained laps shouldn’t wilt the fun.
• Reality check: PHEVs shine when you actually plug them in. Treat the cable like a toothbrush—use it daily.

KGM Musso EV: the ute that goes quiet

Tradies tell me the same thing: don’t mess with payload, don’t tank range with a load, and don’t give me an app that needs a manual. The Musso EV looks like it’s been designed in the real world—sensible packaging, likely 4x4 availability, and a cabin you can learn in a day. If it can tow on a warm afternoon without watching range dissolve, it’ll win friends fast.

• Work-first thinking: tray access for charging cables, sensible tie-downs, easy-clean materials.
• My test plan: 200–300 kg in the back, a run to a public DC charger, then straight to a job site.
• Bonus: vehicle-to-load turns a ute into a generator—gold if you’re running tools remotely.

Subaru asks fans to pick an STI path

Two STI concepts, one decision—lightweight and analogue, or electrified and savage. I’m torn. The damp B-road car that makes you grin at 45 mph is the one I’d take home, but I get the appeal of instant torque and lap-time heroics. Either way, asking the faithful feels very Subaru.

City crossovers and family comfort

Citroen C5 Aircross and e-C5 Aircross: comfort first (as it should be)

Citroen still does ride quality like it’s a religion. On pockmarked city routes, the C5 Aircross smooths the world until you can hear your kids arguing again (sorry). The electric one turns the calm up a notch—glide, hush, repeat. Seats are plush, and the cabin feels like somewhere you’d willingly eat a drive-thru dinner.

• Best bits: velvety ride, lounge-like chairs, and an easygoing vibe.
• Quirks: infotainment logic can be… eccentric. Learn the flow and you’re fine.
• Sweet spot: families who value serenity over sprint times.

Toyota’s urban duo: Urban Cruiser and Aygo X

Toyota’s knack for city cars isn’t fading. The Urban Cruiser is the dependable one—small footprint, low-stress manners, unfussy efficiency. The Aygo X is cheekier, perched a little higher, happy to thread gaps most crossovers will simply stare at. If your postcode includes multi-storeys and medieval lanes, both make sense.

• Urban Cruiser: easy parkability, honest economy, gentle ride.
• Aygo X: micro turning circle, playful look, just-enough boot for a weekend bag.
• Shared Toyota DNA: straightforward ownership and service networks where it matters.

Autonomy and safety: still very much a work in progress

Robotaxis stumble on the messy bits of reality

I’ve sat in a few now. When life is tidy, they’re brilliant—patient, precise, almost soothing. Then a construction zone or a jaywalker enters stage left and you can feel the computer’s confidence wobble. That’s fine; it’s learning. But “driverless everywhere?” Not this quarter. Maybe not this year.

Driver faints, Mercedes goes airborne—and still gets a fine

A surreal clip from Europe shows a Mercedes launching over traffic after the driver passed out. Everyone walked away, somehow. Authorities still issued a fine, which feels cold until you remember the point: you’re responsible for your health and your machine. If your car offers driver monitoring, turn it on. If you feel off, pull off. It’s boring advice that saves lives.

Money talks: discounts and a new European playbook

Dealers are slashing prices on forgotten GM EV vans

Fleet managers are pragmatic creatures. Give them a big sticker cut and suddenly the spreadsheets light up: TCO, downtime, installation costs—they’ll run the numbers twice. If you’ve been waffling on an electric van, now might be the moment to stop waffling and start negotiating.

EU mulls an ultra-affordable car class—think 15,000-euro targets

Europe is sketching out a simpler, lighter, city-first vehicle category to counter budget imports and get more people into EVs. Less mass, fewer frills, realistic range. It’s a back-to-basics idea that could reset what “everyday car” means on the continent.

Security watch: five cars, one night

A grim story out of Queensland: a family lost five cars in one night to armed thieves. It’s a nightmare—and a reminder that convenience tech can be a soft spot.

• Use a Faraday pouch for keyless fobs; don’t leave them near doors or windows.
• Old-school steering locks still deter; the visual cue alone helps.
• Enable motion-sensing alarms and location alerts if your car supports them.
• Garage the high-value car; add lighting and cameras to the driveway.

Three paths to the next-gen everyday car

Quick hits and takeaways

• EV-curious? Watch dealer lots—van and fleet segments often see the biggest discounts first.
• Comfort is a spec: Citroen’s C5 Aircross still owns that brief.
• Robotaxis are improving, but a great human driver remains the gold standard.
• Layer your security. Thieves love convenience as much as you do.

Conclusion

Today’s docket feels like the industry finding middle ground: excitement without excess, efficiency without excuses. The Vauxhall Astra gets its confidence up front and its EV stamina where it matters, Lotus is flirting with electrons without (hopefully) losing its soul, and the Musso EV wants to prove a quiet ute still works for a living. In the meantime, keep your keys in a pouch, your expectations for driverless tech sensible, and your eyes on the road—because even in 2025, the Vauxhall Astra and its peers are at their best with a human in the loop.

FAQ

What’s new on the updated Vauxhall Astra?

A sharper front end, cabin refinements, and a more usable electric range for the Astra Electric—aimed at cutting midweek charging stops and boosting daily confidence.

Is the Lotus plug-in hybrid still a “real” Lotus?

That’s the test. If the steering is alive, brake blending is clean, and weight is kept low and central, the electric boost should enhance the drive, not dilute it.

Will the KGM Musso EV be practical for jobsite use?

That’s the promise. Look for payload-friendly packaging, predictable DC charge speeds, and handy features like vehicle-to-load for tools. Real-world range with a load will decide it.

Are robotaxis ready for prime time?

They’re excellent in tidy scenarios but still struggle with messy, dynamic situations like construction zones and assertive pedestrians. Expect steady progress, not an overnight takeover.

How can I protect my car from keyless theft?

Store fobs in a Faraday pouch away from entry points, use visible deterrents like steering locks, enable motion and location alerts, and garage high-value cars when possible.