Vauxhall Astra 1.6T (2009) CAR review

Vauxhall’s current Astra grew up as a middling car in the middle of Vauxhall’s range. The conservative styling and drab interior didn’t help, and dynamically the fifth-gen Astra lacked the dynamic poise of its peers because of its beam rear axle.

Now there’s a sixth-generation Astra – still lacking an independent rear suspension set-up – but with an Insignia-inspired interior and exterior. We’ve got our hands on an early prototype of the new car, in 1.6 turbo guise, to see if it can maintain the promising form set by the Insignia.

Does the new Vauxhall Astra look as good as the Insignia?

Vauxhall’s new hatchback has certainly taken cues from the Insignia, but they have been reinterpreted to create a shape still clearly Astra: the side blade motif is switched from just behind the front wheel arch to just ahead of the rear wheels, and the dominant front grille is now the lower intake, rather than the Insignia’s upper.

With a 100mm longer nose, and 71mm extra between the axles, the new car is noticeably stretched, allowing the glass to appear much sleeker and less upright than the current model. The more rounded rump of the new car continues the streamlined look, complemented by rear light clusters that are much less angular than before.

The outside sounds good. What’s the inside intelligence?

There’s much to enjoy inside the new Astra. The interior benefits from a real hike in quality, with many items including the steering wheel and switchgear coming straight from the Insignia. If parts sharing for the sake of economy means exec-spec in a hatchback then we’re all for it.

The upmarket feel is enhanced by a white glow from within the centre console and door trims, which matches the halos surrounding the dials. Thanks to the more substantial dimensions of the car, there is also much more space inside, especially in the back.

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