IT'S not enough for an estate car to be merely proficient at load-lugging these days. Indeed, the "estate" moniker has largely been discarded by several motor manufacturers.

Take the new Astra Sports Tourer. It's the most streamlined Astra estate ever and far removed from a boxy holdall.

With a cheaper price tag than the outgoing model, a tasty interior that's packed with kit, a choice of better engines and a weight loss of up to 190kg, it is now a serious contender for the top sales spot in its segment.

Priced from £16,585, it is based on an all-new lightweight architecture with a new design, powertrains and technology.

And although 80 per cent of these tourers will be sold to fleets, it should also appeal to private buyers who are looking for a practical family car.

Built at the Ellesmere Port manufacturing plant in Cheshire and designed by a team led by Brits Mark Adams and Malcom Ward, it has similar exterior dimensions to the outgoing model but a more spacious interior that equates to 26 millimetres of additional headroom for the driver, while passengers in the rear have 28 millimetres more legroom. It can also take up to three child seats in the rear and can also carry up to 1,630 litres of luggage with the rear seats folded down.

The aerodynamic exterior is matched with a fuss-free and inviting cabin whose centrepiece is the IntelliLink connectivity system.

Smaller powertrains, reduced tyre diameters, reduced mass and the use of more high-strength steel have contributed to the lightness and agility.

Another plus on the efficiency side is the latest-generation Vauxhall engines. Lightweight construction sets the latest engine range apart from previous generations. They are smaller, more compact and lighter while simultaneously being more powerful and frugal. The new diesel with 110PS, for example, achieves 83.1mpg while only emitting 89g/km of CO2.

All diesel units have a displacement of 1.6 litres – including Vauxhall’s top-of-the-range BiTurbo engine. In combination with six-speed manual transmission, Start/Stop, the 1.6 BiTurbo CDTi with 160PS can achieve up to 67.3mpg and emits as little as 112g/km of CO2.

Performance and power generation of the BiTurbo engine are comparable to that of a 2.0-litre engine. The Sports Tourer with the 1.6-litre BiTurbo can reach a top speed of 137mph. Its performance is almost identical to that of the 35PS more powerful and higher displacement 2.0-litre predecessor.

The superiority of the common rail engine comes from the sequential, two-stage turbocharging.

A small turbocharger is responsible for the responsiveness without “turbo lag” in the low rpm range. The specifically designed larger turbocharger takes over more and more as engine-speed increases. Therefore, the Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTi can react spontaneously to accelerator commands and has reserves at all power ranges. The new two-stage turbodiesel is around 20 per cent more efficient than the outgoing 2.0-litre unit of the predecessor.

The 1.6 Ecotec Direct Injection Turbo is the most powerful petrol engine available for the Astra Sports Tourer. The 200PS turbocharged direct injection engine boasts an impressive 300Nm of torque, enabling the Astra Sports Tourer to achieve 0-60mph in 7.2 seconds. Maximum speed for this engine is 146mph and achieves fuel consumption of 45.6mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions as low as 142g/km.

The rack-and-pinion steering system is electrically powered to help reduce fuel consumption. This speed-sensitive system is 18 per cent lighter and more energy-efficient, requiring less power assistance at all speeds.

With a stack of driver assistance systems, infotainment technology and safety features on offer too, the Astra feels like it has moved up in class.

Occupants can get state-of-the-art connectivity thanks to Vauxhall OnStar. The infotainment offering includes two latest-generation devices of Vauxhall’s award-winning IntelliLink system, bringing the connected world of smartphones and apps into the car.

With the integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, users can access maps, message reading and third-party apps via the car controls and its touchscreens.

All models come with Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, audio streaming, aux-in and USB ports plus DAB+ for better radio selection and reception. Alloy wheels, LED daytime lights and a seven-inch colour touchscreen also come as standard.

There are four trim levels to choose from - Design, Tech Line, Sri and Elite - with the SRi specification likely to find most homes.

The sibling Astra hatchback has already taken the European Car of The Year trophy and been voted best small hatchback in the UK Car of the Year Awards. The tourer may well cause Vauxhall's mantlepiece to run out of space.