Vauxhall Astra review: what the car critics say

The ever-popular Vauxhall Astra has tended to be regarded as an affordable, safe, sensible and slightly anodyne hatchback, said The Sunday Times. That’s changed with a new model, pitched to rival the Ford Focus, Seat Leon, Peugeot 308 and VW Golf. There’s something for everyone with a mix of petrol and diesel engines, a plug-in hybrid and, from next year, a pure-electric version. Later this year there will be an estate on offer too.

The eighth-generation Astra is certainly more handsome than its forebears and it feels more sophisticated, said Autocar. But it is not particularly memorable. On the road it is quiet and smooth; steering is medium-light but consistent. The handling isn’t particularly keen and it’s not agile, but it’s more accurate than the previous version, and the plug-in hybrid is slick at switching between power sources.

Vauxhall is offering just three trim levels: Design, GS Line and Ultimate, and all of them come with a 10in infotainment touchscreen, which is simple and functional, What Car? said. There’s a generous amount of head and legroom for those sitting up front, but it’s not so spacious in the back. However, the 422-litre boot beats most of its rivals and even the plug-in hybrid’s boot is pretty competitive, at 352 litres. UK price: from £17,700.