Vauxhall Astra

As anyone with children will know, regardless of your occupation you always have a secondary job: as a taxi driver. And thanks to my sports-mad 11-year-old daughter, our long-term Astra is certainly being kept busy.
Besides dropping Natasha at school on the way to work, most of my journeys involve transporting her to and from karate, netball, gymnastics, drama, dance and any social engagements she can fit in between. So far the hatchback hasn't let me down.
On the downside, the 1.9 CDTI engine rather appropriately sounds like a taxi at idle, and the 18-inch alloys, while very attractive, convey every bump in the road. Given that the Vauxhall looks so good, with its aggressive styling and bright red paintwork, I've worked hard to keep it in pristine condition - but the wheels are a pain to clean.
Still, I'm impressed with the solid build quality of the interior, although there's a lack of practical storage spaces. The only place for my daughter to put her drinks bottle, where it won't end up rolling around the cabin, is in the glovebox, which means too often it gets left behind! Other drivers have encountered difficulties operating the radio, but I haven't found this to be a problem.
The Astra is also a little cramped in the back for three. On a day trip to Brighton with my partner's two boys as well as Natasha in the back, the middle seat proved uncomfortable. That said, the leather seats and interior are showing no signs of wear and tear, despite the car's intensive use.
The sat-nav has also been a hit, directing me along a back route to avoid heavy weekend traffic. Another plus is the Sport button, which makes a real difference to the driving experience by altering throttle response and sharpening the steering.
Overall, I'm enjoying my time with the Astra - although we are still having intermittent problems with the alarm. I intend to book it into Vauxhall West End in London, and am told that getting this fixed under warranty will be a half-day job.
The dealer has already replaced the passenger side wing mirror glass, which was inadvertently cracked by deputy features editor Mat Watson, who tried to reposition it after the unit was hit by another car. The service was excellent - two garages had already said it would be a week before I could book the car in, but Vauxhall West End checked the part was in stock when I was on the phone. It then did the work the next day at a cost of £47.65. Dawn Tennant
Second Opinion
The engine in our long-term Astra is strong and offers decent economy, but I find the interior layout awkward, especially the heater controls. I agree with Dawn that the 18-inch wheels ruin the ride, and on motorways there's too much tyre roar. Oliver Marriage, road test editor