After more than 10,000 miles in by Astra Sports Tourer, the time has come for its toughest test yet – assessing the way it drives.

There are many cars of this size and type that claim to be fun on the move, but some fail to deliver. To compete in this market, the Vauxhall Astra needs to be comfortable and entertaining.

• Ordering
• First impressions
• Design
• Practicality
• Ride and handling

The Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf have long been the class leaders when it comes to ride and handling. They blend comfort with a sporty demeanour to appeal to all.

But despite being a lover of cars that make a trip to the shops as rewarding as a lap of the Nurburgring, inevitably the practicalities of the daily grind take hold – is there space for a drink, how many miles to the gallon can it cover, is reliable…

Several good runs along some of my favourite roads have put the fun back into driving recently, so it proved a good time to reflect on hot the Astra drives.

I opted for the SRI model primarily because I’m a sucker for sporty, go-faster paraphernalia, but what I hadn’t expected was the character of the car to be so different from other less focussed models in the range.

There’s plenty of grip under cornering partly thanks to the standard-fit Continental tyres and partly due to the lowered and stiffened suspension fitted.

The latter limits body roll through the bends and offers a surprising amount of body control which lets the car corner harder and faster.

The trade-off is a firm ride which is upset by broken tarmac on the standard-fit 17-inch alloys. I had considered choosing a set of 18 inch wheels from the options list, but I’m sure that would have compromised the ride further. If you like the look of the larger wheels, try before you buy.

Despite the firm ride, it is quiet in the cabin on all but the nastiest road surfaces, making it relaxing to drive over long distances.

The steering lacks the feel of the class best, with a lightness ad vagueness that doesn’t give a clear picture as to what the front wheels are doing, but there’s a predictability about the way the car corners.

I didn’t specify the optional Flexride adaptive suspension which allows the driver to adjust the firmness of the suspension, but having tried it in other Astras, it doesn’t really improve the experience – the setup is well judged as it is.

What the Astra lacks in flair, it makes up for in all-round usability, and with 95 per cent of my driving done to and from the office, that’s all I can ask for.

Key facts:
Model: Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 2.0CDTi SRi
Price: £23,740 (£26,215 incl. options fitted)
Options fitted: DAB radio (£160), mobile phone system with Bluetooth (£220), CD500 (satnav, CD, MP3, USB, aux-in) (£855) front and rear parking sensors (£395), fixing points for vertical-load restraining net (£55), vertical-load restraining net (£155), Sight and Light Pack (£230), dual zone electric climate control incorporating air-conditioning (£305), luggage liner (£100)
Mileage: 13,370 miles