Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.7 CDTi 16v (130ps) ecoFLEX Start/Stop 5dr Pre-Model Car Review - March 2012

The 1.7-litre four cylinder diesel engine delivers a maximum power output of 128 bhp to give the car a decent amount of power for a family car and the handling is responsive and firm.

Steering, on the whole, is sharp and there is not much roll or understeer through the bends. The good power output of this car is more than capable of coping with both city driving and motorway cruising.

The Astra looks great - it's a big improvement over the previous model and means that the awful Astras of the 80s and 90s now feel like distant memories. There are plenty of distinctive features for buyers to enjoy and the level of standard kit is good.

Just like the Expression, this Astra comes with power steering, central locking, stability control, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and a stereo system with CD player andMP3 connectivity.

However, an alarm also becomes a standard feature, as do alloy wheels. Other options remain chargeable with climate control still costing £305 whilst a metallic paint finish, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity and built-in sat nav all still cost £495, £395, £220 and £855 respectively. A leather interior becomes one option which was not available in the Exclusive model and costs £1,050.

Room within the car is more than ample for passengers and driver and there is plenty of head and leg room within the rear seats. There are plenty of storage spaces within the car and the boot boasts a more than practical capacity of 351 litres with the seats up and 1,216 litres with the seats folded down.

The model scored well in the NCAP crash tests, achieving five stars for overall safety thanks to a good level of safety kit including 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. To reassure customers over the reliability of their model the car also comes with a warranty for 100,000 miles with a service recommended every 20,000 miles.

Priced at £22,765 the initial price of this Astra could be considered a little steep, especially considering the glaring omissions from the list of standard equipment.

Fuel economy is brilliant, reaching 76.3 mpg on the combined cycle. Carbon emissions are also exceptionally low at just 99 g/km – making this model exempt from road tax costs under tax band A.

Unfortunately the range of tech is still not as extensive as it could be and bringing it up to scratch would see bills mount even higher. Those who don’t mind sacrificing a few luxuries would therefore be better off selecting the Astra Expression 1.7 CDTi which has a slightly lower power output but the same financial savings and a purchase price which is £2,665 cheaper.