1.4i Exclusiv (100bhp)

Real quality feel - well built but sluggish and thirsty.

I bought my Astra as a successor to my 58-plate Corsa because I wanted a bit more refinement and space and in those respects I am very satisfied. I tried an Alfa Mito (a lot more money after my Vauxhall discount) and I was much more impressed by the Astra. I got a huge discount too through the Vauxhall Partner Scheme and paid a tad over £11K for a car that listed at over £16K so this will mitigate the huge depreciation that Astras suffer from. I have a great relationship with my Dealer who loves to haggle and who looks after me pretty well and this has definitely contributed to my overall satisfaction with the ownership experience.

I do about 1000 miles a month, mainly on a mixture of dual-carriageways and other A and B-roads. Ride is excellent and the interior (which was what actually sold me the car) gives the feeling of great quality. It is well-built and feels tough. It is easy to drive if a bit unexciting, with great brakes and steering I find pretty decent if a bit light. The gearbox is good too. Seats are comfortable even after a long day behind the wheel. The cruise control is a great feature and the audio is decent - once you get the hang of all of those buttons!

On the downside, I agree with other reviewers that the electronic handbrake takes some getting used to - I had a little "issue" a few days after getting the car but I have the hang if it now and don't have a problem with it though I do consider it an unnecessary gimmick.

My biggest beef, however is the fuel consumption. I have to drive like a Granny to get decent fuel economy. I monitor this closely using a dedicated website and this shows that I have averaged 45 mpg over 20,000 miles. The best has been 52 (on a very long cruise) and the worst 39 (in the hills of Cornwall on holiday!). Acceleration even when pressing-on is quite poor - which I put down to the relatively small engine and substantial weight of the car (which of course goes a long way to explain the comfort and refinement I wanted in the first place!). I am no boy-racer but I would describe performance as "adequate".

Would I buy another? Maybe - but I'd want more power and economy. Looking at the real MPG tables on this and other websites I'm not sure Vauxhall has an engine that will deliver that right now. There are said to be new power plants in development so I guess I'll wait and see what they deliver.

Finally, I'd say that overall I like the car a lot. It does everything I want of it except use fuel economically and it is very well fitted to my use of it as a work tool. However, having said all of that, given the choice of driving the new Astra or my 16-year-old poverty-spec Mazda MX-5 (also reviewed on this website!) it's the MX every time. Despite its lack of kit and refinement - it is just so much more FUN - and does nearly 40 mpg even when I thrash it!

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