THERE are two things you need to know about the Vauxhall Astra SRi.
Firstly, it is a magnificent drive - no surprise given the turbo tag and superb styling.
Secondly it can cope with the luggage, including duvets, required by a family of four on a long trip to the seaside.
This was a surprise for the cynical unbelievers - my friends - who thought the car would struggle to cope with a small suitcase and predicted a trailer would be needed for the rest.
Yes, the three door version of the car has a smaller boot than the five door model - but it's still a surprisingly decent space.
And once everything had been shoe-horned into the Astra, the car wasted no time in whisking us off for a weekend in the sun - okay, it was cloudy with the occasional shower.
However the bonus of a sports car drive from a family hatchback was worth the trip alone.
The SRi copes equally well be it long motorway stints or tight twisty lanes - helped by a lower and stiffer suspension set-up than that used on a standard Astra.
This coupled with excellent steering responses make the car a more sporty drive than the five-door.
But the ride isn't totally sacrificed on the altar of performance as computerised damping helps iron out most of the humps and bumps that pass for roads in this country.
The Astra benefits from shedding its former frumpy image with a classy style that gives the car a real presence on the road.
Dynamically designed from the strong V-shape of the front end to the sweeping crease line that runs from the wide radiator grille on down to the rear, this is one Astra that's good to look at from any angle.
From the side, the wedge shape profile of the car gives the impression that the SRi means business. This isn't dispelled on the road as the car is cheetah-quick away from the lights.
And it's relatively frugal with fuel given that the two-litre petrol engine produces 170bhp taking the car from 0-62mph in a shade under eight seconds on its way to a top speed of 136mph.
Push this power unit and its normal burble develops to hit notes a philharmonic orchestra would be proud of.
The car is excellently equipped with alloy wheels, air conditioning and a CD player.
It is also fitted with traction and stability control systems that can work incredibly hard so the driver doesn't have to. Six airbags are fitted as standard.
The interior is surprisingly bright and airy given Vauxhall's normal preference for the grey side of functional.
It feels solidly built with a central 'infotainment' system that operates everything from the ventilation to music system.
However visibility out of the rear window leaves a lot to be desired making it a bit of a chore to park for a relatively small car.
The Astra has a well-deserved reputation for reliability and the build quality is good. The doors shut with a conclusive clunk while the materials used on the interior are top notch.
FAST FACTS
Vauxhall Astra 2.0 Turbo SRi 3dr
Price: £18,000
Mechanical: 170bhp, 1,998cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 136mph
0-62mph: 7.9 secs
Combined mpg: 31.4
Insurance group: 16
CO2 emissions: 216g/km
BiK rating: 30%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 6yrs anti-rust