Vauxhall Astra 2005 review

Vauxhall has set itself a tough target by designing the three-door Astra as a sporty coup�. Buyers will expect the Sport Hatch to offer excitement that the five-door lacks, but most will be disappointed. Its styling shows more flair than any rivals, but we'll have to wait for the flagship VXR for performance to match its looks.

Practicality is king in the hatchback market, which is exactly why five-door models rule the roost in the sales charts. The overwhelming majority of family cars sold feature five doors, so it's no surprise the three-door is often perceived as a cheap alternative, a compromise of low price and reduced flexibility.

But Vauxhall has taken a brave new approach to the market with its latest Astra, scrapping the traditional three-door concept and introducing a car it has christened the Sport Hatch.

We grabbed one of the first models out of the factory to see if fewer doors finally make more sense in a market driven by versatility. On first sight, it's clear that the designers have been given a lot of freedom to slim the five-door Astra's shape into a sleeker form. Only the bonnet and front wings are shared with its sibling, so the rest of the body is unique to the Sport Hatch.

In profile, the sharply tapered roof-line and angular rear windows are striking, but we couldn't help feeling that a little less chrome at the rear would give a cleaner finish.

Surprisingly, the dramatic styling isn't continued inside the cabin, and drivers sit behind a standard Astra dashboard. But the key question is - does the Sport Hatch offer a standard Astra driving experience?

On the road, the first thing that driver and passengers will notice is the three-door's firm ride, which is a result of the stiffened suspension.

The 18-inch alloys that are part of the styling pack added to our test car didn't help, but the Sport Hatch definitely picks up more bumps and undulations than the five-door.

The benefit of this harder set-up is more polished handling. While there is still some body roll, the Vauxhall has plenty of grip, and it is capable of covering ground quickly and safely on a challenging road. The only downside is the steering, which lacks the reassuring feedback of racier rivals.

Out test car was fitted with Vauxhall's most powerful oil-burner - the 148bhp 1.9-litre CDTI. Offering an incredible blend of 48.7mpg combined fuel economy and a 0-60mph sprint time of 8.3 seconds, it's ideal for buyers who want affordable performance.

Until the 240bhp VXR variant arrives in August, the fastest petrol model will offer 168bhp. The Sport Hatch version of the 197bhp SRi 200 tested in issue 842 won't be sold in the UK - something that seems absolutely absurd to us. Perhaps it has something to do with that engine's emissions.

So has Vauxhall really come up with something different? The good news is that buyers will actually have to compromise very little in terms of practicality. Luggage space is identical to that of the five-door, and rear seat passengers are well catered for, too. Designers claim that the sweeping roofline has had little effect on space in the back, and only taller people will find that the sloping side windows cut into their headroom.

At £18,145, this model, as with every Sport Hatch in the range, carries an identical price to the equivalent five-door, placing it between three-door versions of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf in terms of cost.

However, while only Citroen's C4 Coup� offers a similarly stylish approach to three-door design, the Astra's other rivals easily match its driving experience.

Buyers lose little of the five-door's practicality and gain a sleeker body, but they shouldn't expect big thrills from the driving seat.