Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.4 16v Turbo 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Astra is a very composed car on the road, and the forgiving suspension does mean that the majority of the bumps in the road are absorbed, while the sportier settings mean that the body is stable when cornering. There is also ample grip in the car, but the steering does feel a little slow to respond to the movements of the steering wheel. There is plenty of adjustment in the supportive seats and in terms of adjusting the steering wheel but thick pillars and a small rear window does mean that many people will find visibility to be quite poor.

The 1.4 litre engine has the additional support of the turbo, meaning that its acceleration from 0-62mph is a competitive 9.0 seconds. The top speed of 126mph is also very good, but considering the sporty tag many people will have been expecting a little bit more. When it comes to driving at speed the Astra is generally quite good, but there can be some wind noise heard in the cabin.

The sportier version of the Vauxhall Astra has a few additional touches to the standard car, and one of the biggest of these is the addition of 17-inch alloy wheels. It also has front fog lights fitted as standard, making the Astra a very attractive car to look at, with the front end particularly improved by the large wheels and the more aggressive suspension settings. Inside the sports seats do add to the sporty image of the car, but the centre console does have a lot of buttons, many of which can be difficult to identify and use while driving.

There is a reasonable amount of equipment that is included as standard with the car, and the CD stereo with an MP3 input is a good touch. Air conditioning is also included, along with heated electric mirrors and electric windows for the front seats, but many of the most desirable options are still to be found on the optional extras list.

The Vauxhall Astra is a practical family car that can generally accommodate four adults, although taller passengers may find the rear seats slightly lacking in headroom. The boot is a good size and the rear seats can be folded forward when people need to move larger or bulkier items. Vauxhall has a reasonably good reliability record, but this is also supported by the great warranty offer.

The Astra is also a very safe car, and has a good range of airbags to look after occupants in the front and the back of the car, and also has the usual driving aids to help keep the car out of any accidents in the first place. These have all helped the Astra to a five star rating in the Euro NCAP safety test.

Although the list price for this version of the Astra may seem quite high at £20,090, it is worth noting that many dealers will be able to offer discounts and negotiate on the price.

The running costs aren’t too bad, with the 1.4 litre turbocharged engine able to deliver an average 47.9mpg. Because of the sportier engine the insurance costs are a little higher than some of the other Astras, and the resale values of the Astra range as a whole is quite poor. One plus point is that the Astra comes with an excellent 100,000 mile warranty which isn’t limited by time, and also has one year’s roadside breakdown assistance.