The Vauxhall Astra is one of the most popular Vauxhall cars and the latest version is a new favourite. While the Vauxhall Astra has often been listed in the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars, alongside cars like the Ford Focus, the latest version of the Astra has several benefits that you may already have heard of. Just to name a few, it could have lost up to 200kg (depending on the version). It's also more spacious inside and smaller outside and said to be more fuel efficient than the previous model. And to really hammer home how good it is, it’s been named the 2016 European Car of the Year. Engine-wise, the Whisper Diesel engines are said to be of a high standard and quieter than competitors, and the petrol engines have also had good things said about them. If we look more into the design, size and style of the car, we can see that the boot is very spacious. The interior of the car has plenty of extra storage for bits and bobs and it’s roomy enough people-wise too. In fact, the Astra is considered to have a very good amount of room for its size. In the past Astras allowed buyers a choice of suspension, letting buyers choose between standard or sports. This new Astra only has one; to change the drive, you’ll need to opt for different wheels and tyres. It’s offers good technology with automatic emergency braking, the OnStar navigation system which won the Auto Express Technology Award in 2015 and IntelliLux LED Matrix headlights which dip by themselves. And who doesn’t want the option of a massaging driver’s seat? Just be careful of the parking sensors! They can be a bit over-powering and seem to be easy to set off whenever the car isn’t moving. The dashboard isn’t thought to be to the standard of competitor, Volkswagen Golf, however it will still suit the needs of many individuals with a classy look and a touchscreen. It is easy to drive and fairly affordable, depending on what you look for in a car; the price of the Astra is very close to a Ford Focus. There seems to be some dispute over the Vauxhall Astra; Car of the Year say it “has been entirely redefined to match or surpass its main competitors in functionality, performance, efficiency and appeal” but The Telegraph is slightly less complimentary… According to them “The new Astra handles well enough, but if it's fun you're after than a Ford Focus, Mazda 3, or VW Golf are all better bets.” Auto Express says that “the new Astra is a true competitor for the best in this class [hatchbacks].” So who has an Astra? Let us know what you think about it. Need new or used van/car parts at awesome prices? Get quotes from breakers across the UK.
