2009 Vauxhall Astra road test
The new Astra comes with six engines – four petrol and two turbodiesel. For the petrols, there’s a choice between non-turbo and turbocharged 1.4- and 1.6-litre units, which is all part of Vauxhall’s plan to offer smaller, more efficient engines. The starter 1.4 has 86bhp and takes 13.8 seconds to get from 0-60mph. A better bet is its turbo’d sister 1.4, which makes 138bhp and covers 0-60mph in 9.0 seconds. This is expected to be one of the key big selling engines and it’s a sound choice for its smooth refinement and mid-rev flexibility, helped by a six-speed manual gearbox as standard that has a light, precise shift. The two 1.6s offer 113bhp in non-turbo and a punchy 178bhp with the turbo. The latter is the quickest of the lot, managing 0-60mph in 7.9 seconds. The 1.7 turbodiesel is the other big seller of the range and has 109bhp, or can also be ordered in 123bhp form. For the 2.0-litre turbodiesel, 158bhp is the power output and it takes 8.5 seconds to get from 0-60mph. All engines bar the 1.6 Turbo can be ordered with an automatic gearbox.
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There was never much wrong with the handling of the previous Astra, so the new car had a solid base to build on. However, Vauxhall has taken things much further and developed the Astra into one of the most stable, sure-footed cars in the small family hatch sector. It might miss some of the outright agility of a Ford Focus, but it has the measure of the Ford when it comes to grip and balance through any type of twist or turn. The Vauxhall also enjoys steering that is both accurate and precisely weighted, helped by a new assistance system that only comes into play when needed rather than always working. This has the advantage of offering more feel and saving energy. Some Astra models come with Vauxhall’s FlexRide system as standard and it can be ordered as an extra on the rest. It works by altering the shock absorbers to the driver’s choice, which ranges from comfort through normal to sport settings. This system also sharpens up the throttle response in the sports mode. As for comfort, the new Astra has this nailed from the outset. It rides all sorts of imperfections with ease and is especially impressive around town where small indentations and lumps are calmly soothed. The Vauxhall is also one of the most refined cars in its class, bearing easy comparison with the Volkswagen Golf.
Read the full 2009 Vauxhall Astra road test
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