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Model tested: Vauxhall Astra estate 1.9 CDTI SRI
Price: £18,725
Insurance group:
Tested: June 2006
Road tester: Adrian Higgins

 

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 79%

 

The Vauxhall Astra estate is one of the grand old men of the British road. Fashion may come and go but the good old Astra estate just keeps going.

 

Only it’s not so old any more, after being revamped in 2004, and depending which model you choose, it can be very far from boring. Find out why we reckon it’s a choice which combines good driving and good sense by reading on – or simply hit the links below to read the section you’re interested in.

 

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 80%

 

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

 

1. Looks

 

We’re tempted to say it looks like a Vauxhall Astra Estate. Even the UK’s biggest car-phobes could name this old warhorse from a silhouette shot – or could they? Looking like a cross between a Volvo V50 and the old estate, the practical Astra has a contemporary look after being made over in 2004 to look like its hatchback counterpart.

7/10

 

 

2. Looks inside

 

It’s all stripped down minimalism and very liveable inside. The big silver central console – which can be topped by an optional sat-nav - dominates and sets the tone for the silver and dark grey scheme. This is one of the least cluttered driver’s areas we’ve seen and all the better for it.

8/10

 

 

3. Practicality

 

Looks matter but practicality is the key reason for stumping up for an Astra Estate. Unsurprisingly Vauxhall doesn’t carry the V-shaped opening over from the regular model as boot access is more of a priority. Keep the seats in place and you’ll have to cope with 470 litres of space, make use of all available space and you’re looking at a much healthier 1550 litres.

9/10

 

 

4. Ride and Handling

 

Very impressive. The ride is very easy to live with, this reviewer used it for a motorway run to drop off and then pick up his wife at the airport and the Astra won glowing reviews for the comfort of the journey. It’s no slouch when it comes to handling either – the Astra is very responsive and corners excellently. Activating the Sports Switch makes the steering even more responsive.                                                                             

9/10

 

5. Performance

 

There are five petrol and four diesel engines to choose from, ranging from the entry level 1.4-litre cylinder model which offers a top speed of 111mph and a 0-60mph time of 13.2 seconds. The model we drove came with a little more oomph. Boasting a top speed of 129mph, the 1.9-litre CDTI model can hit 60mph after just 8.6 seconds. It’s got plenty of muscle at the lower end of the rev counter and a flick of the Sport Switch only adds to that performance with a sharper throttle.

8/10

 

 

6. Running Costs

 

The Astra is an economical car. You’ll get 47.9 miles per gallon on average. Take it out of the town and this becomes an impressive 56.5 miles. A one-year unlimited mileage warranty is included, as are the second and third years, up to the first 60,000 miles. Customers also get Vauxhall road assistance for the first year and then roadside breakdown cover for a further two years. The model we drove is insurance group 12E largely due to its sporty SR badge and the annual tax bill comes to £135. The car is likely to retain little more than a third of its value after three years.

8/10

 

 

7. Reliability

 

Vauxhall has a fair reputation for reliability. Given the Astra dates back to 1979, and this version of the Astra Estate was unveiled in 2004 there has been plenty of time to iron out problems.

8/10

 

 

8. Safety

 

The Astra hatch achieved the highest rating of five stars for driver and passenger safety and our estate test car comes with an impressive set of safety features including front, curtain and side airbags, Electronic Stability Program, traction control and ABS with brake assist. The model also features Adaptive Forward Lighting which links the headlamps to the steering to “look” around corners.

8/10

 

 

9. Equipment

 

The Estate has five different trim specifications: Life, Club, Design, SXi and Sri. A CD player comes as standard with steering wheel-mounted controls from Club upwards. Alloys and air conditioning are also standard from Club trim upwards.  Sat-nav is available as an extra on all models.

7/10

 

 

10. X-Factor

 

The Astra estate is one of the most immediately recognisable cars on the road but will it turn the neighbours’ heads? In a word, no. However, if you can live with the fact that the Joneses are more likely to glaze over than go green you can congratulate yourself in the knowledge you’ve got a sensible, economical car which just happens to be a lot of fun to drive.

8/10

 

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