Vauxhall Astra Auto Driven (news technology)

Specifications

• Models tested: Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi 16v 110PS Exclusiv 6sp manual, Vauxhall Astra 1.4 16v VVT Turbo SE 6sp manual
• Price as tested: £18,015, £19,490
• Range Price: £15,675 - £23,695
• Insurance group as tested: 20
• CO2 emissions as tested:124g/km, 139g/km
• CO2 emissions range: 129-167g/km
• EuroNCAP result: N/A
• Date tested:November 2009, Sutton Coldfield, UK
• Road tester: Stuart Milne

Building a family hatchback is the hardest job in motoring. Manufacturers need to appeal to learner drivers, young drivers, families, business drivers and still need to make it affordable, comfortable and good to drive.
And it seems the challenge has been too much for previous Astras. They’ve been fast, well built and good to drive in varying degrees, but it seems with the latest car, all these factors have finally come together.
That has much to do with the involvement of British chassis engineers at Millbrook in Bedfordshire. Many cars might boast of being honed on the Nurburgring, but for most of us, its totally irrelevant.
And worse still, it can ruin the ride/handling balance that’s so important to British buyers.
Vauxhall have let their boffins loose on the Astra to tune the suspension and steering for British tastes, and for British roads. It might look like an Opel Astra with a Vauxhall badge, but its not.
It shows the quality of the work the Millbrook boys and girls have done when you start getting a bit technical. The secret to the handling prowess of the Ford Focus is its fancy Control Blade rear suspension. In the Astra, you get a Watts Linkage setup, the principle of which dates back several hundred years.

As involving as a Ford Focus

But old technology doesn’t mean bad technology. Within a mile of driving the Astra, its clear the Vauxhall offers a drive every bit as involving as the Focus.
It feels sure-footed on the road, with minimal bodyroll and plenty of grip, even on wet roads around our West Midlands test route. And the ride is very good too; soaking up bumps and preventing shocks and vibration in the cabin.
The Millbrook effect is evident when it comes to the steering. The electric power steering system has been worked over to feel more like a hydraulic setup, which traditionally offers better feel. Its still a little light, but is very direct, particularly between nine and three o’clock which is where most steering inputs occur.
Three diesel engine options are offered; a 1.7 which comes in 108bhp and 123bhp outputs, and a 2-litre which produces 158bhp. We tested the low-power 1.7, which isn’t the quietest or smoothest diesel on the market, but does return an average of 60.1mpg and emits 124g/km of CO2.
Those figures are identical to the 123bhp unit, although it betters the 108bhp’ 0-62mph time of 11.8 seconds, by almost a second. Top speeds for the 108 and 123 are 113 and 122mph respectively.
The 2-litre diesel is the second most powerful engine in the line-up with 158bhp and a thumping 258lb/ft of pulling power, making it good for a 8.5 second 0-62mph dash, with 50-70mph taking just 6.4 seconds and on to a 134mph maximum. Running costs are low with emissions of 129g/km (speccing an auto ‘box raises emissions to 154g/km) and an average of 57.6mpg.
Vauxhall is embracing the concept of downsizing and offers a variety of 1.4 and 1.6-litre engines. The 1.4 comes in 86 and 99bhp versions or 138bhp in the Turbo version we tested. That engine is an impressive performer given its size, but its doesn’t feel its official nine second 0-62mph time.
The 1.6 is available in two outputs: 113bhp and a hot 178bhp version which is the most powerful production engine for its size. It’ll power the Astra to 62mph in 8.4 seconds and on to 138mph.

Improved cabin design

A great deal of work has been done on the design and quality of the cabin, an area in which the last model was showing signs of aging. Its among the best looking interiors in its class, and is ergonomically excellent.
Some of the trim in the entry-level S and Exclusiv models feel a little low-rent - particularly around the centre console - but this is replaced by more tactile plastics in the higher-spec SE we tested.
The boot is among the biggest in its class, and there’s enough storage space in reach of the driver. There’s a real feeling of space up front and a decent amount of room in the back, while visibility is very good.
Equipment levels are good, with the whole range getting an MP3-compatible stereo, electrically-adjustable and heated mirrors and remote central locking. The Exclusiv adds chrome bits and some ambient lighting, cruise control and steering wheel-mounted controls. The SRi gets 17-inch alloys, electric park brake, front fogs and bespoke body styling. A range of SRi Line styling equipment will be available after launch.
The SE gets unique alloys and interior fabrics, automatic headlights and mirrors electric rear windows, while the Elite range-topper adds heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control and folding mirrors.
For many years the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf have ruled the class, with the Astra perennially taking the third spot. Not any more - the new Vauxhall Astra is among the very best in its class.