Vauxhall Astra Exclusiv 1.7 CDTi 16v (110ps) ecoFLEX Start/Stop 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The four cylinder engine produces 109 bhp and 192 lb-ft of torque low down in the rev range. This is a decent amount of power for a car of this size and means 0-60mph takes 11.8 seconds and the top speed is 113mph. Steering, on the whole, is sharp and there is not much roll or loss of control when taking corners. The good power output of this car is more than capable of coping with both city driving and long motorway journeys.

Standard equipment for this Astra includes power steering, central locking, stability control, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and a stereo system with CD player and MP3 connectivity.

For those who want all modern luxuries, more money will need to be spent and there is an extensive options list available. Bluetooth connectivity is priced at £220 whilst a built-in sat nav will set buyers back £855. An alarm costs £250 whilst rear parking sensors and climate control cost £395 and £305 respectively. The appearance can also be enhanced and whilst leather seats are not an option the car can come in a metallic paint finish for £495 and alloy wheels can be added for £360.

The Astra is a very good looking car and is arguably more stylish than any other car in its class.

There is loads of room within the cabin and the impressive boot space of 351 litres with the seats up and 1,216 litres with the seats folded down is a major bonus.

The model scored well in the NCAP crash tests, achieving five out of five for overall safety. These results are partly due to the wide range of safety features which are included as standard on this model. This includes driver, passenger and front side airbags.

Alongside these features, the car is also protected from theft thanks to a standard fitted immobiliser but unfortunately there is no alarm option.

Priced at £20,100 the initial price of this Astra can be considered very steep - especially when you consider how much it would cost to add all the missing luxuries to the interior trim.

However, fuel economy is very good indeed at 76.3 mpg on the combined cycle. Carbon emissions are also exceptionally low at just 99g/km - making this model exempt from road tax costs under tax band A. Insurance premiums are also likely to be more than manageable, falling under insurance group 15.

When this is combined together it becomes apparent that this model offers good value for money and makes it a great option for buyers providign they are prepared to own the car long enough to counterbalance the initial purchase price.