The VAUXHALL ASTRA at a glance
- Price from* £0
- CO2 emissions from 119g/km
- MPG up to 72.4
- Insurance group from 3
- *Price PLUS 1st Reg Fee & Road Fund Licence
Hard working with a host of cosmetic tweaks and engine enhancements, the current generation Vauxhall Astra is still bang on the money.
The Astra is available as a sport hatch, five door, twin top and estate variant and whichever model you opt for, you'll be rewarded with honest performance, down to earth running costs and a host of user-friendly driving aids.
The experience
The latest Astras are better looking than ever, with tidied up front and rear lights and a slick front bumper. The stylish theme is continued on the inside, and there's a choice of glossy black or matte chrome interior finishes.
On the road, the Vauxhall Astra could be the car to make you fall in love with driving again. It was the first car in its class to include electronic shock absorbers to adapt to the road surface and the result is a creamily smooth drive over any terrain. Vauxhall has coined the term Interactive Driving System specifically for the Astra, which harmonises all the electronic functions in such a way as to produce a brilliantly responsive drive that fills you with confidence on corners and during challenging manoeuvres.
The performance
The list of engine options is extensive and buyers can pick and choose to suit their priorities. Petrol power is offered in the form of an 85bhp 1.4, a 125bhp 1.8 litre and two 1.6 litre units offering 114 and a supercharged 176bhp. Four diesels complete the line up, ranging from a 90bhp 1.3 up to a 150bhp 1.9 litre powerplant.
The technology
Base trims include electric front windows, remote central locking and light touch power steering while air conditioning, alloy wheels and electric mirrors join the list at Club trim. Soup up your Vauxhall Astra to the sporty Sxi model and you'll get lowered sports suspension and funky styling features thrown in.
Models within this range: AGILA, ANTARA, ASTRA, CORSA, INSIGNIA, MERIVA, VXR8, ZAFIRA.