Vauxhall Astra Elite 1.6 16v 5dr Car Review - March 2012

This version of the Astra drives well once you get up to speed, and the ride quality is very good with the suspension taking all of the bumps and lumps out of the road without passing them on into the cabin. There is plenty of grip when cornering and it is very reliable in terms of handling, but there is a fair amount of body roll and the steering does seem a little slow to respond. The driving seat and steering wheel can be easily adjusted to suit any driver, but poor visibility is a big problem, meaning that many drivers will be looking around pillars and craning their necks to see.

Although the 1.6 litre 16v engine isn’t the smallest in the range, it still accelerates very lazily, going from 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds. The top speed of 118mph is plenty for driving at speed on the A roads and the motorways, while there is also a lot of wind noise that is clearly audible in the cabin when driving fast.

There is no doubt that the Astra is a great car to look at, with the angles on the lights, grille and air intake all combining nicely for a front end that looks as though it is moving quickly. The roof slopes towards the hatchback door, with the curve of the boot door complemented by a spoiler over the rear window that does complete the look quite nicely. Inside the car the Astra is classy and the cabin does have touches of brushed metal that really do look good, but there are a lot of buttons on the centre console which can be difficult to navigate when driving.

The level of equipment included with the Elite level of trim is very good, with the leather seats and alloy wheels both helping this version of the Astra to feel and look good. The heated seats do make a big difference on icy mornings, and the power folding mirrors and climate control are also very welcome features.

The Vauxhall Astra is a spacious practical family car that offers a good level of space in the front and the back, but the fifth passenger may find that the centre console does mean they will be putting one foot beneath each of the front seats. The boot offers a good level of space, and the split folding seats can also be useful when transporting bulkier items.

The Astra is also a very safe car, having been awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP tests, and arrives with the usual array of airbags to protect every occupant in the car. It also has plenty of driving aids to keep the car stable and on the road even in challenging driving conditions. Vauxhall has quite a good reliability record, so the Astra should be reliable.

This will be one of the main sticking points for people who are thinking of buying an Astra, with the high level of trim bringing the list price for this version up to £21,125.

The fuel efficiency of the 1.6 litre engine is quite good, with the car able to deliver an average 44.8mpg. The low insurance group means that the monthly premiums shouldn’t be too expensive, but one area in which the Astra really suffers is the depreciation when it comes to selling the car. The Astra comes with 100,000 mile warranty, and also has a one year roadside breakdown recovery policy.