A COUPE-LIKE rear and a blend of crisp and smooth lines combine to give Vauxhall's all-new Astra the edge on looks over its biggest rival.
The sixth generation Astra family hatchback is undoubtedly a better looking and sexier profile than the Ford Focus.
The design brief from Vauxhall was for 'sporty and elegant' and the Ellesmere Port-built car more than lives up to those expectations.
One can only hope the new Astra will still maintain its visual impact when Ford launches its new Focus in a year's time.
For the moment, though, the good-looking Astra can bask in a mist of golden praise despite the uncertainty that has surrounded parent company, General Motors.
The new Vauxhall Astra has much more street cred and road presence than its predecessor, which was far too conservative.
The newcomer, which goes on sale next month, borrows a number of stylistics from its larger sibling, the Insignia, which has won praise for its handsome shape. But while Vauxhall has been keen to embrace the family likeness, the small family hatch remains distinctively Astra-like.
The Astra Mk VI sits on a bigger platform and has a longer wheelbase which provides extra cabin space. The interior instantly felt more spacious and belies the neat contours.
The seats are well-sprung and well-shaped, the cockpit a coup in contemporary design and there's good head and legroom all round.
The test car's 1.7 diesel engine felt brisk, particularly in mid- range, though the 123bhp unit (there's also a 110bhp unit) demonstrated decent pull at low revs too.
The 1.7 CDTi is fairly vocal, but less so than a number of diesel engines entering the lower medium sector recently.
The noise wasn't excessive and seemed less intrusive cruising on the motorway.
The hatch handles positively and grip, even on rutted, S-routes, was highly impressive, while the ride, though firm, was smooth and comfortable.
The Astra always felt well-balanced and composed and even on switchback, moorland roads it felt well-planted and demonstrated superb grip.
The six-speed gearbox was smooth and slick - and in this SE model - has the bonus of an electronic handbrake. Top speed is 122mph, the 0-60mph sprint 10.7 seconds, while official average economy is an amazing 60.1mpg.
The steering is the least inspiring aspect, lacking feedback, and the hefty A-pillars seem too broad. But there's little else to quibble about this little hatch with great style and poise.
The wraparound cabin style is sporty and modern and the cockpit is beautifully laid out, with lashings of aluminium-look trim providing a premium feel.
- Val Jessop
THE badge on the back window of the new Astra says it all. 'Made in Britain' is a label the workers at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port factory should be proud of.
The car is an absolute cracker and it should fly out of the showrooms when it goes on sale in December.
With a British designer and the made-on-these-shores tag, Vauxhall is confident its latest family compact will be the car which finally topples the Focus from its place at the top of the UK's best sellers list.
After driving the newcomer for a week over some demanding roads, it's easy to see why Vauxhall is optimistic , for this Astra has to be the best driving machine the company has produced.
Underpinning the bodywork is an all-new chassis with a longer wheelbase, benefiting both passenger comfort and packaging. Wider tracks front and rear feature, as does a new rear axle design which not only improves stability and agility, but takes the Astra's ride comfort into a different league.
The design of the five door launch car is elegant and makes use of many of the design features found in the larger Insignia.
Enhancing its dynamic potential is the option of Vauxhall's FlexRide system, which offers drivers three damper settings - standard, sport and tour - while adapting to changes in driving style and cornering speed.
The engines include five petrols and three diesels. The test car was powered by the 125bhp diesel in mid-range SE trim.
Vauxhall has worked hard to make this Astra more entertaining for keen drivers - and has largely succeeded. It scoots through corners with the same incisive grip as its main Ford and VW rivals, with a little more refinement thrown in. It's let down by steering that could turn the car a little more sharply away from the straight ahead, and by a slight shortage of feel.
Comfort is one of the car's most improved aspects. Its low-speed ride over bumpier roads is exceptional and very quiet. The cabin is also roomier in the front and rear, but the rear seat could be more supportive. The Vauxhall is reasonably quiet at speed too, if not quite reaching the levels of the Golf.
This is a well-assembled car, with interior materials and plastics of much higher quality than those of Vauxhalls past. There's a good array of on-board storage, including cubbies for phones, iPods and drinks. The boot is big, too, and some models get a folding false floor.
The sat nav controls are not the most intuitive. The stereo musters very decent quality and is easily manipulated from the wheel. iPod/MP3 compatibility is also standard on all but the fleet market-oriented S trim level.
Europe's leading safety assessment body, Euro NCAP, has awarded the Astra five stars for safety.
- Alistair Coull
FAST FACTS
Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi
Price: £20,560
Mechanical: 125bhp, 1686cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 122mph
0-62mph: 10.7 seconds
Combined mpg: 60.1
Insurance group: 5
CO2 emissions: 124g/km
BIK rating: 15%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles