Recent research suggested that women find Vauxhall Astra drivers the most attractive, and the latest generation Astra is gathering a lot of attention from the automotive press. The big question is whether the new Astra will be good enough to unseat its main rivals, the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.
A technological triumph
What stands out right away is how well the new Astra has been put together, demonstrating premium sector fit and finish. Vauxhall has amped up the modern technology so there is plenty of impressive safety equipment and security gear to keep the car and its passengers safe.
Higher spec models come with Vauxhall’s OnStar system, which performs satellite navigation, connectivity and concierge functions. Customers can also use AppleCarPlay or Android Auto. Trim levels are delineated by satellite navigation system, so you get SRi Nav or Elite Nav, for example. Vauxhall’s sat nav programme is excellent, with smart, informative graphics and a user-friendly menu system.
From the outside, the new Astra is slightly smaller than the previous model yet is more spacious inside. It’s one of the most comfortable cars in its class. It is also quite attractive and manages to be modern without being flashy. On the road, the amount of development that has gone into the process is obvious again, with a refined, smooth ride. The Astra was built in the UK and has been tuned to cope with British roads, which is clear from the way it shakes off our pothole problem. With such a grand purchase, when it comes to getting your vehicle checked every year you will want an expert like an MOTs Gloucester company to do it. There are certain things you need to have done to keep your car legally on the roads so before you get into trouble check out sites like 123carandcommercial.com.
European Car of the Year
If you are considering buying a new family hatchback this year, the Astra has a lot going for it. It recently won the European Car of the Year award for 2016. The new Astra starts at £15,295 in hatchback format, and a Sports Tourer estate has also reached the market, priced from £16,585.
Buyers can choose from five petrol and three diesel engines. The 1.6 CDTi is expected to be a popular choice, particularly among fleet buyers thanks to CO2 emissions of 82g/km and fuel economy of 91.2mpg. A three-year warranty is standard.