Vauxhall Astra
Our current class favourite has a smaller engine, but it packs a punch
MODEL TESTED: Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTI Biturbo SRI Nav PRICE: £23,815 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 158bhp
THE Vauxhall Astra was reinvented for this seventh generation, and it edged ahead of its rivals to take the compact family hatch honours in our 2016 New Car Awards ceremony in the process. It’s beaten the best in popular diesel form and in 1.0-litre turbo guise (Issue 1,445), but can it maintain its advantage against more powerful diesel rivals? To find out we test it with the firm’s 1.6 CDTI Biturbo in £23,815 SRI Nav trim.
DESIGN & ENGINEERING
VAUXHALL has made a big deal of its latest Astra’s Watts-link rear suspension design, with the packaging helping space in the rear and the set-up also delivering a refined ride and plenty of stability. However, this torsion beam layout is less sophisticated than the multi-link arrangement used on the VW. It uses independent struts up front, which is standard fare for the class.
Elsewhere, Vauxhall developed a new platform for the latest Astra, and employed some clever techniques to cut down on mass, so a weight saving of up to 200kg over its predecessor is an impressive stat. However, its MQB rivals here have undergone similar diets, so the 1,303kg Astra is the lightest of our trio by only a small margin.
Developments on the inside and for the infotainment system mean the Astra’s cabin and tech are on a par with the ability of its new platform. Material quality is almost a match for the Golf and marginally ahead of the Leon, while there’s an acceptable level of kit included. Sat-nav, cruise control and Bluetooth are all standard.
DRIVING
THE Astra’s 1.6 CDTI diesel is the smallest unit here, but it uses a pair of turbochargers, so the four-cylinder unit punches well above its weight. With 158bhp and 350Nm, the Vauxhall has a comfortable power and torque advantage over its rivals here.
As a result, the Astra was the fastest on track, accelerating from 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds, which was four-tenths up on the Leon. The Vauxhall rammed home its advantage during our in-gear tests, where it was comfortably the fastest over all increments.
This energetic straight-line display is backed up by impressive poise through a series of corners. The steering is direct and well weighted, there’s bags of front-end grip and the car feels like it pivots around your hips, helping to create a strong feeling of agility.
This urges you to push a little harder, as the Astra can easily take the extra speed. It also remains comfortable and composed, encouraging you to carry more momentum through bends. And despite its less sophisticated rear suspension, excellent damping means it feels secure and well tied down.
Factor in the composed ride, and the Astra is the most dynamically accomplished car here. It floats effectively over the road surface, offering enough compliance to tune out the majority of nasty bumps.
It’s not quite as refined as the Golf, though, and that’s largely down to the engine. While it’s a strong performer, the Biturbo unit sounds gruff at low revs and is intrusive when worked hard – although its strong torque means you don’t have to do this often. PRACTICALITY WITH 370 litres of boot space, the Astra is smaller than both of its rivals here, the design of the rear suspension means the load area is well shaped, with no awkward intrusions, so you can maximise what’s on offer. There’s more than enough room for day-to-day duties, as well as carrying a family’s luggage on a longer trip. There’s also a ribbed boot floor that helps to stop items from rolling around.
Rear passengers sit slightly higher up to give a good view ahead, and despite the Astra’s tapering roofline, headroom in the back is respectable. There are no complaints about legroom, either, because it’s on a par with the competition here. However, the rising waistline means the view out of the side windows isn’t as good as in the VW.
The imposing centre console means the Astra feels a little more snug up front, but it’s certainly not cramped, while the driver gets a Golf-rivalling array of seat and wheel adjustment. There’s a good level of storage available too, although the cabin lacks a central tray like its competitors here.
OWNERSHIP
VAUXHALL finished our 2016 Driver Power survey in 25th place, which was one place lower than VW and seven places behind SEAT. Its dealers fared little better in the same poll, recording a 22nd place finish – although this was at least ahead of both rivals.
However, a five-star Euro NCAP crash test safety rating means the Astra offers a good level of protection, with autonomous braking and forward collision alert fitted as standard, as well as traffic sign recognition with lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist. Also included on SRI Nav models is the brand’s Onstar concierge service, which will automatically contact emergency services in the event of an accident.
RUNNING COSTS
THE Astra has an advantage over the Leon for economy, company car tax and depreciation, but it won’t be quite as cost-effective for maintenance. Three years’ servicing on the Vauxhall comes to £583, while SEAT ’s three-year package is cheaper at £498. VW ’s two-year plan is £288 – although variable intervals mean you could go 20,000 miles between check-ups.
However, the Astra’s insurance costs are more competitive, with a quote of £705 for our sample driver. This compares with £776 for the SEAT and £761 for the VW.