Vauxhall Astra

If Kia has used one car as a template for its new Pro_cee’d, it’s the Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch. The short overhangs, dynamic proportions and low, purposeful stance ensure the Astra stands out, with only the bonnet and front wings common to the five-door model.

The Sport Hatch is 32mm lower than its more practical counterpart, which helps the coupé-style appearance, while the muscular shoulders above the rear wheelarches give it a purposeful stance. There are plenty of neat details, too, such as the central crease that runs over the bonnet from
the front grille and reappears on the tailgate.

But the biggest talking point is the Panoramic glass roof. Only the Citroen C4 Picasso comes close to offering the same experience, and even then, the French car’s windscreen doesn’t extend back nearly as far. The 1.8 metre-square glass panel finishes in line with the front headrests and, unlike a convertible, there’s no need for a cross member linking the tops of the A-pillars.

As a result, the view is totally unimpeded; the first time you drive around a town, it’s very dramatic, although it takes some getting used to. The swish roof also means the cockpit is very light and airy. If it gets too bright, there’s a sliding sunblind with two fold-out visors. This can be moved to where the roofline finishes in a standard Astra, or adjusted in a number of positions between. Also, Vauxhall has lowered the seating position, enhancing the racy feel.

Otherwise, the cabin remains unchanged from that of the five-door, and it’s fairly conventional and uninspiring when compared with the C30. Build quality is good, but it’s poor ergonomically. The air-con controls are low and fiddly to use, plus stowage is in short supply. That’s a shame, as the sports seats on this SRi model offer the best side support, and are comfortable, too. The Astra is also the least practical, due to a small luggage area and high boot lip, making loading and unloading tricky.

We have no complaints about the 1.6-litre petrol engine. Borrowed from the Corsa VXR, but detuned to 178bhp (the same output as the diesel C30), it’s a really eager unit, which turns the Astra into a genuine junior hot hatch. It was quickest in our tests, covering 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds, while shorter ratios meant in-gear performance was a close match for the Volvo, even though the Vauxhall has 170Nm less torque, at 230Nm.

The surging engine, slick gearbox and tight handling make the Astra great fun on country lanes. Grip levels are good, too, so it’s a pity that the nicely weighted steering feels so remote. Even that doesn’t prevent it from being the most entertaining to drive, though, with sharp turn-in and a well balanced chassis. It’s easily the sportiest and most involving of the three.

The trade-off is that the ride is the least forgiving; there’s kickback through the steering over rough surfaces, and neither rival is as tiring on long trips. We also think the Astra is expensive. At £18,300, it’s only around £1,000 cheaper than the high-performance VXR version, and equipment isn’t especially generous.

Air-con is standard, but you’ll have to pay extra for climate control, as well as luxuries such as leather seats and cruise control. It’s not as well specified as the Korean model – although it’s worth bearing in mind that you can have a Panoramic Astra from as little as £15,315, as the £850 option is available on any three-door.

Details

Price: £18,300
Chart position: 2
WHY: The sporty SRi looks sharp and gets the 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine from the hot Corsa VXR.

Economy

The Astra was always going to struggle against the economy of the two diesels. Still, a return of 33.6mpg is certainly no disgrace, especially considering the turbo engine’s claimed figure is only 36.7mpg. And petrol is the cheaper fuel.

Residuals

Our sporty 1.6T SRi is one of the strongest performers in the Astra line-up, and trails the high-performance VXR by only a few per cent. A figure of 42.9 per cent is not far behind the Volvo. It will be worth £7,851 in three years’ time.

Servicing

The 500-strong Vauxhall network is one of the largest in the UK, but it hasn’t performed well in our survey, coming 23rd in 2007. Still, there’s no arguing with the low price – only £395 for three services on the Astra is excellent value.

Tax

With its turbocharged engine, the Astra emits more CO2 than the Volvo, at 185g/km. Yet as it runs on petrol, it doesn’t incur the diesels’ three per cent penalty. It’s still not cheap to run, though – lower-band owners will have to shell out £966.