For years topless driving meant a fun drive but minimum boot and a visit to the barbers or hairdressers when you arrived.

Then came the coupe convertible with its promise of practicality and lid-off thrills in one easy package. Find out what we thought of the newly-launched Vauxhall Astra TwinTop now or click the sections you want to focus on.

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

1. Looks
Vauxhall had to have some faith in the TwinTop’s looks to film it apparently surfing the crest of a wave in their eye-catching advert. It wouldn’t really have looked right with an ugly car would it? We liked the Astra’s looks, pitched just on the eyebrow-raised side of subtle. That all changes when the Transformer-warrior-robot-in-disguise lid comes off though. Then you get them looking. And unlike some of its rivals the TwinTop still looks good with the roof stowed, rather than taking on the appearance of a coupe with a rucksack on. Sixteen inch alloys and front fog lights come as standard, while our Design model featured seventeen-inch alloys.
Verdict: 8/10

2. Looks inside
Astra drivers will feel immediately at home with the familiar central console with space for integrated sat-nav and other media. The Design version we drove featured the saddle brown leather trim which feels comfortable and contrasts nicely with the dashboard’s satin stone finish. Sitting inside the TwinTop gives the feeling of getting a lot of car for your money.
Verdict 9/10

3. Practicality
Want your cake and eat it? The TwinTop lets you, to an extent. Roof up in coupe mode there’s a very respectable 440 litres to accommodate your needs. Of course the roof’s got to go somewhere and that decreases the capacity to 205 litres. And it’s the devil to get anything out once you’ve got the roof in the boot. Or it would be if Vauxhall hadn’t thought of their easy load function which raises the folded roof by 25cm, allowing easier access. Talking of the roof, a sustained press on a single button raisers and lowers the roof in 26 seconds, even while you’re driving at speeds of up to 18mph. Spacewise there is room for two back seat passengers, though they might be hankering after a swap around on longer journeys. Vauxhall don’t seem to go a bundle on cup holders though you can wedge your 330ml can into the door cubbies.
Verdict 8/10

4. Ride and Handling
We might not be talking MX-5 land here but there is still a lot of fun to be had in the TwinTop. The Design model we drove featured ESP Plus and has a Sport switch to instil a little more fire in its belly. The ride was smooth enough, though lid down on the M4 we couldn’t hear the finer points and punchlines of our Peter Kay CD at full volume. Maybe that’s just a sacrifice one has to make for (reasonably) cheap convertible fun. car’s comfortable ride comes at the expense of poorer handling.  
Verdict 7/10

5. Performance
Buyers can choose between three petrol engines, including a 2-litre turbo model, and the 1.9CDTi Turbo diesel model. We drove the 1.8-litre petrol model which hits 60mph after 10.7 seconds before progressing to 130 mph. Having to cart along the metal roof requires some effort but activating the Sports button counteracts this with sharper throttle response and quicker steering.
Verdict 7/10

6. Running Costs
Our 1.8-litre petrol model has an average fuel consumption of 36.7 mpg which rises to 46.3 mpg if you go for the diesel and down to 29.7 mpg for the 2-litre petrol turbo version. Your insurance will also vary greatly according to the model you choose with the 1.6-litre petrol model classed as 7E and the two-litre turbo Design specification model classed as 16E. The model we drove is classed as 10E and attracts a £190 a year annual tax bill. This is a new model so depreciation costs are yet to be tested, though as with all convertibles there are seasonal variations to consider too.
Verdict 7/10

7. Reliability
Most worries regarding the coupe convertible breed concern the mechanism which permits the trouble-free switch from open top to hard top driving. Time will tell how reliable this is, however, it appears robust while the interior will be familiar to Astra drivers and should not present problems.
Verdict 7/10

8. Safety
Airbags and rollover protection will come to your aid in the event of a crash or the unlikely event of going belly up. The car also does its bit to keep you safe once you’ve parked up by keeping the front and rear lights on for 30 seconds after you’ve locked the doors. Obviously the coupe convertible has security benefits over the soft top.
Verdict 8/10

9. Equipment
Buyers choose between Standard, Sport and Design models. There are plenty of goodies for entry-level buyers who get air-conditioning, electric windows and anti-lock braking systems. Go for the Design model and extras include Sport Switch (which basically gives the Twin Top more oomph and more responsive steering), automatic lights and windscreen wipers and a windbreak which sits above the rear seats to reduce wind noise.
Verdict 7/10

10. X-Factor
No prizes for guessing it’s the roof. Looks good (make that looks great when it’s being operated), storage space is good and we really can’t grumble much about the price. Nice work Vauxhall.
Verdict 9/10

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