Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £14,865 to £21,490
Sharp styling, attractive, well finished interior, excellent ride, tidy handling, convenience.
Average rear seat comfort, troubled sat nav ergonomics, base diesel refinement, poor residuals.
A much improved Astra that seriously challenges the class best.
This is the sixth Astra generation in 30 years, and this edition gets closer than any before it - with the possible exception of the Mk1 - to challenging for the title of best in class.
To hit these heights, GM Europe has worked hard to overcome the drawbacks of the old model. In comes fresh, contemporary styling, a completely new and bigger interior that's vastly more inviting than the old and an improved engine range that produces 13% less CO2.
Keen drivers will be pleased to hear that the suspension has been revised and features a new, patented rear axle in the quest to improve handling and ride. There will also be a Sports Hatch version, with a VXR, to follow the Sports Tourer estate.
There are eight engines in the range: the 1.4-litre petrols comprise 87bhp, 100bhp and 140bhp power outputs with the last of these featuring a turbocharger. The 1.6-litre line-up includes 115bhp and 180bhp outputs and the second of these also turbocharged - both blown motors are examples of downsized engines.
The diesels start feature a 1.7-litre with 110bhp and 125bhp outputs, and a 2.0 CDTi of 160bhp. All these engines meet Euro V emissions standards, and automatic transmissions are available on the 140bhp 1.4 Turbo and 115bhp 1.6.
Prices range from £15,675-£23,695, but if you are on a tight budget both Hyundai and Kia offer perfectly decent small family hatchbacks for much less - the new Cee'd, for example, starts at less than £12k.
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