Few cars have been as eagerly awaited as the latest Vauxhall Astra.
It has been a mainstay of the Vauxhall line-up for decades and has
provided significant employment in the UK with assembly taking place at
Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Every Astra sold in the UK is not only good
for Vauxhall, but also for the British economy. But patriotism
provides little profit in the car world and buyers demand value for
money and look for good design and comfort features, all underlined by
affordability. The new, sixth generation Astra builds on the dynamic
delight of the former series but delivers it in a much smoother
chassis, under a roomier body and with better equipment across the
range and a feeling of greater quality in the build. The new Astra
runs to 70 models with seven petrol and six diesel power units, ten
trim levels and prices from £ 16,339 to £23,006 . I tested the 1.7
litre 125bhp Elite trimmed model with manual box at £22,408. The
powertrain is very good in the Astra, giving it a lively nature, good
driveability, excellent pulling power and quiet, composed cruising
ability on main roads.
When you need to use the box, the clutch
pedal is light if a little long in travel, the gearchange is precise
and easy and the ratios mean you have plenty of punch in mid-range but
can slip along motorways with little noise or sign of strain. I
liked the feedback and weight of the power steering with its good
turning circle in town and precision at higher speed and the very well
balanced brakes underfoot and a handbrake which held on a steep test
slope.
Secondary controls are closely grouped around the column and
wheel, some not so easy to see at first but they come with familiarity
and operate with a reassuring firmness. The instruments are quite
comprehensive and clear if not particularly well calibrated. Heating and ventilation is straightforward, works well, operates effectively and is backed up by powered windows.
Provision
for oddments is good throughout the car but particularly so infront and
the boot takes from 350 litres to 1216 litres with the back seats
dropping down progressively to maximise luggage space. It you use it
with the back seats in place, access is good and once inside the room
for occupants is reasonable with good adjustment of the front seats and
sensible shaping to holding people in place.
They are also firm but
comfortable, and more so than the previous series. The Astra’s
suspension has been carefully tuned for UK roads and it shows. It
covers the ground without shaking occupants, jarring on particularly
bad bits or wallowing unduly over undulating sections or rolling around
tight turns. The car exhibited a fairly flat cornering attitude and
inbuilt tendency to run wide on the sharpest corners but it also
responded well to throttle, steering and brakes at all times.
Visibility is very good all round through the windows, the headlights are bright and the wipers leave few dirty sections. The
performance is good through the gears up to the motorway limit and it
easily copes with higher speed while the economy is very satisfying as
well. Every aspect of the new Astra has been well thought out. It is
a step up from the previous generation and would be an ideal model for
any Vectra owner who wants to down-size. And I think many drivers will be thinking about how the Astra could meet their needs.
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