Vauxhall Astra vs. Old Astra

The new Astra arrived just in the nick of time for Vauxhall. As American parent firm General Motors toyed with the idea of selling its European arm late last year, the family car was unveiled amid a fanfare of publicity.

Whether this played a part in convincing US bosses to keep hold of Vauxhall and Opel is impossible to tell, but it has put the Brits back on the front foot.

A regular in the UK sales charts for decades, the Astra is the company’s second most popular model, behind the Corsa. Getting the new version right was vital, and with such a loyal customer base, it had to be far better than the outgoing car. Although the old model racked up more than 67,000 sales last year – enough to put it in fourth place in the charts – we didn’t have to look far for a substitute.

The newcomer is a significant improvement. And while you’ll still be able to find showroom-fresh examples of the outgoing car at tempting prices (see panel, opposite), we’d go for its successor every time. On the outside, the sixth-generation Astra appears much more modern, with sleek lines and fashionable swept-back headlamps. The 1.4-litre Active was the best-selling variant of the old car, and at £17,260 its new equivalent is cheaper, as well as better to drive and look at.

The £16,355 1.4-litre Exclusiv has a power advantage, and is nearly as quick off the line, but it offers extra torque and is far more efficient. Economy is over 5mpg up on the old model, while CO2 emissions of 129g/km make it cheaper for company car drivers, too. In addition, it comes better equipped.

The new Astra line-up provides plenty of variety, so if you’re looking for something with more power or kit, you won’t be disappointed. There are five trim levels (S, Exclusiv, SRi, SE and Elite), and all have six airbags, air-conditioning, ESP, heated door mirrors and a stereo auxiliary input. The Exclusiv adds cruise control and ambient cabin lighting, while the sporty SRi includes an electric parking brake, 17-inch alloys and uprated sports suspension.

No fewer than four petrol and three diesel engines are on offer. The new 1.4-litre Turbo is arguably the pick of the range. It has 138bhp, and powers the hatch from 0-60mph in nine seconds exactly. It’s economical, too, returning a combined figure
of 47.9mpg. Other highlights include the 177bhp 1.6-litre Turbo, although Vauxhall’s diesels aren’t especially competitive in the class.

Currently there’s no sporty hot hatch, because the three-door version of the outgoing Astra will remain on sale for a while yet. That means the high-performance VXR variant is still available. But the all-new Vauxhall is best enjoyed in lower spec, and our favourite is the 1.4-litre Turbo. With its excellent comfort and classy cabin, the latest Astra looks set to become a firm fixture in the sales charts in 2010.

Old Astra- the UK's 4th best seller
With a variety of bodystyles still in stock at dealers, model remains at top of the charts

You can still find the previous-generation Astra in dealers – while five-doors are becoming scarce, supply of estates and three-doors is still plentiful. The old cars are left to soldier on because the latest Sport Tourer load carrier won’t arrive until later this year, and the racy Sport Hatch is even further away.

Although the previous three-door looks very different to its more practical brother, both cars are showing their age. They’re off the pace dynamically, too, but low-rate finance and Scrappage deals help – if you do buy one, just make sure you get a big discount.