Vauxhall Astra - Pictures

As the three-piece roof folds into a smaller space than the Ford’s two-part top, Vauxhall’s stylists have managed to make the Astra TwinTop look more cohesive, even if it doesn’t have the overall visual appeal of the

Unfortunately the cabin is a letdown. It has one-touch windows all-round, but the interior is the same as the Astra hatch’s. The one-touch column stalks are awkward and the pedals aren’t well weighted.

The TwinTop is unique here as the roof can be operated while driving. Keep below 18mph, and in less than 28 seconds the lid will fold away out of sight. Go faster, and the top stops plus an alarm sounds.

Press a button on the boot sill, and the roof lifts to improve access. The trouble is, the gap only grows from 13cm to 26cm and the mechanism is so complex that it takes a lengthy 12 seconds to complete.

The Astra’s rear hoops look good with the roof down, and we like the chrome trim. They provide extra rollover protection, but they’re bulky and block rear visibility – both rivals are easier to see out of.