Vauxhall Astra
With its panoramic screen, our new Vauxhall Astra gives a superb driver's view. We'll have to decide whether it's a great idea or just a gimmick...
With folding hard-top coupé-cabrios now the norm, and traditional sunroofs and soft-tops seemingly consigned to history, it's delightful when a manufacturer dreams up a truly innovative idea for the roof. And the new Astra Sport Hatch with the Panoramic windscreen shows the spirit of invention is alive and kicking.
The standard three-door Vauxhall has already proved a hit and, extending from the bonnet to the B-pillars, the optional screen is an effective enhancement. Giving excellent vision both to the front and overhead, it delivers a memorable driving experience and attracts plenty of attention.
With the blind rolled away, the glass panel's full benefits are clear: it creates an airy, spacious atmosphere while keeping occupants warm and snug. Disconcertingly, it also places you firmly in the spotlight - not good on bad hair days!
But after clocking up 3,000 miles since joining our fleet, the novelty of a panoramic roof has worn off a bit. And we've also discovered some inherent flaws. For a start, the lack of a crossbeam leaves the blind itself as the only place to attach the fold-out visors.
If you need them, you must first pull forward the shade. This isn't good news when the sun suddenly breaks through the clouds to shine directly in your eyes. Your only option is to drive 'blind' while fumbling for the controls.
And, despite the screen's heat-absorbing glass, on sweltering days the cabin can become uncomfortable. Again, using the blind is the only real solution - which somewhat defeats the object. Finally, out of necessity the interior lamp is mounted quite far back, which leaves the Astra's cabin rather murky even when it's being illuminated.
But what about the rest of the car? It doesn't disappoint. The Panacotta paint flip-flops between silver and gold, depending on the light, making our Design-spec model a handsome beast. And with its Silver Alpha cloth and leather-look Moroccana trim, the cabin is pretty modern, too.
Delivering 150bhp, the 1.9-litre CDTI engine is the most powerful diesel in its class. Mated to a six-speed gearbox, it gives the car a smooth, nippy feel, particularly in Sport mode. This makes the throttle sharper and the steering more responsive, but it doesn't alter the engine mapping. As a result, fuel economy remains unchanged, averaging about 41.6mpg.
The Vauxhall is due to stay with us right through the summer, so expect regular updates - in panoramic vision, of course!
