Vauxhall Astra Estate- On the Road Review

Performance - 4 out of 5

There are four petrol and four turbodiesel engines on offer. The petrol engines all rev keenly and the zingy 1.6 is the pick of the bunch. The turbocharged 168bhp 2.0-litre supplies hot-hatch pace. The 79bhp and 99bhp 1.7-litre diesels provide a broad spread of power but don’t have the serious punch of the 118bhp and 148bhp 1.9-litre units.

Ride & handling- 4 out of 5

The Astra is one of the most enjoyable cars in this class to drive. The steering is responsive and provides crisp direction changes, while the Astra feels nimble through bends and grips well. The ride is supple over most surfaces but the sportier versions have a firmer set-up, which isn’t quite as forgiving.

Refinement - 4 out of 5

This is one of the Astra’s strengths. On all surfaces road noise is impressively subdued, while wind noise is also kept to a low level. The petrol engines rev smoothly and don’t become harsh when pressed. You can tell you are in a diesel because they are more gruff, but they settle to a muted hum at motorway speeds.

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