Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £15,405 to £22,000
Room, ride, handling and decent engines, making it good to drive and ride in. It's cheap to run, and provides good crash protection.
Dull interiors are a major flaw, it lacks individuality and looks boring besides more modern, striking rivals. A little pricey, considering some stingy standard specs.
Sensible, yet enjoyable to drive. If only it looked less dull, inside and out.
There are no great difficulties here - power steering is standard, and all the controls are light. But it can be difficult to change gear smoothly - some owners have had bad problems with obstructive gear changes - and the thick rear pillars restrict visibility somewhat, especially in the five-door hatchback.
Previous Astras would have scored two stars in this category, but this generation is in a different class. Keen drivers will enjoy its responsiveness, and all drivers will appreciate its secure cornering and wieldiness. In many cases, it's better than the Focus, with a 'solid' feel that's very reassuring on rough roads. Grip and balance are good, and it's an easy car to push on in, if not the most refined or sophisticated device. The upcoming all-new model promises to be better still...
The Astra's petrol engines offer above average performance, whatever one you choose; the 1.8 is particularly lusty, though the 1.4 struggles a bit, especially with the five-door and estate bodies. Other units are smooth and quiet too, the best all-rounder probably being the 1.6 16-valve; it's quiet, economical, free-revving and smooth. Diesels, on the other hand, are less impressive; although they're reasonably quick, they can't offer the refinement of the best. The 1.7 DTi and 2.0 DTi are relatively old-tech; a new CDTi diesel (80bhp), with the latest common-rail fuel injection system, is on the way and should be much better.
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