THE CAR IN FACTS

YOU can’t ignore Astra. It has been around since 1979 over eight generations and has sold more than three million in the UK. And despite a flurry of cutpriced rivals, it should remain on the shortlist for anyone considering a mid-sized, midmarket five-door family car.

Astra is no longer a cheap option, but then again it is no longer a simple car. Prices start at £19,090 and the test model costs £24,160 but modern Astra is a sophisticated, well-styled vehicle.

It remains important to Vauxhall, a brand which has had tumultuous times in recent years having been offloaded by General Motors to the French PSA group which owns Peugeot, Citroen and DS, but so far the switch has been good.

We have had a new Corsa – plus an electric version called Corsa-e – but Astra remains key to the company maintaining credibility. If Astra continues to deliver, then Vauxhall is in safe hands.

So tested here is an Astra with a 1.5 litre diesel engine. Amazingly, it is a three cylinder unit which you might imagine sounds like a tractor. Rest easy, it doesn’t. It might not quite have the silky smoothness of a refined petrol engine but it sounds and feels reasonably good. The economy is astonishing – 78.5mpg on a run – and emissions are excellent at 92g/km.

Inside, the Astra feels a million miles away from the early Astras and definitely had premium pretensions which make it stand out from cheaper rivals. This is Astra Elite, one of the better equipped models.

It has a high specification with features such as satellite navigation, a superb 8in touchscreen display, climate control, leather upholstery and two USB connections for rear-seat passengers. Less impressive is the electronic push-button handbrake which some people love, but I’m a traditionalist on such matters.

It also comes with heated front seats and steering wheel and a driving assistance pack which comprises forward collision alert with automatic city emergency braking, following distance indicator and lane departure warning.

Astras are, as ever, practical cars with decent sized boots. This model holds 370 litres rising up to 1,210 with the seats down.

It is a high-tech car with a new digital front camera, which is both smaller and more powerful than before. It now not only recognises vehicles, but also pedestrians, greatly improving safety. It can also recognise traffic signs and show them as symbols on the display.

The digital rear view camera, available on selected models, is also more powerful, and works with the new Multimedia Navi Pro ‘infotainment’ system.

The view of the traffic behind the vehicle on the monitor is more distinct and precise, while the contrasts are more visible in the dark.

It is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without the need for the customer paying expensive subscriptions.

The top-of-the-line Multimedia Navi Pro – already featured in the Vauxhall Insignia flagship – has a colour touchscreen and can also be operated by voice control.

Connected navigation services with real-time traffic

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● information and onlin updates make the jo more relaxed, while th gation display itself ap with redesigned symb fresher, more modern The same applies to the ment cluster, which fea new digital speedomet

New Astra also intro a heated windscreen ing driving in the winte and more comfortable almost invisible, wires windscreen ensure th tra drivers always have view of the road on frost

Another interestin ture makes this car incr aerodynamic.

The upper and low tions of the radiator gr tomatically open and further improving the airflow.

The Astra’s chassis h dergone a number of im ments, too. New dam provide greater bump c even on poor surfaces the steering has rece new calibration, resul improved handling at speeds.

Astra looks good and equipped. If you’re in th ket for a credible hatc this should be on your