Public Servant Lifestyle

Vauxhall Astra Elegance 1.8 16v Hatch 5-door

Vauxhall call the new Astra Elegance 1.8 16v Hatch 5-door 'Luxurious and fully-loaded' - but what will lifestyle's test driver Philippa Davis think?

"Sit back readers, and repeat after me, ‘ smooth...smooth...smooth’. That’s how I’d best describe the terrific feeling of being behind the wheel of this splendid piece of modern machinery.

"Cornering, especially, is totally effortless, and a word of praise for the Elegance’s almost inaudible engine. At traffic lights, you feel like you could hear a pin drop at 50 paces!

Equipment & Interior

"Electronic climate control; Cruise control; Steering wheel mounted audio controls - these are all worthy additions to the driving experience - yet there’s something, to me, that just doesn’t feel quite right.

"I don’t know whether it’s my natural preference for a sleeker, simpler driving ‘abode’, but Vauxhall’s technical and interior design whizkids seem to have thrown the kitchen sink into their desire to give us even more gadgets to play with. But each to his own, I suppose. One man’s cup of tea is another’s cappucino."

Value For Money?

"Quality costs, and, with an on-the-road price tag touching £15,000, the Elegance proves the point. For my money, though, and despite its all-round qualities, I would have awarded the Elegance only a three-out-of-five rating - but for one, very welcome, additional benefit.

"Improved security and safety measures, much liked by The Association of British Insurers, places the Elegance in a very low insurance rating category, with obvious ongoing benefits for the car owner. Sometimes, it’s the things you can’t see or feel, that make all the difference."

Key Features

Electronic climate control

Driver’s and front passenger’s airbags

Front seat side impact airbags

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Traction control, with two-way intervention

Active front seat head restraints

Front seatbelt force limiters

Wood-effect gear knob and centre console

Steering column adjustable for reach and rake

Cruise control

Remote control central deadlocking

Remote control ultrasonic security alarm

CCR 600 stereo radio/cassette player, with four-disc CD autochanger

Steering wheel mounted audio controls

Alloy wheels (steel spare) with locking bolts

Electronically-adjustable/heated door mirrors

Front fog lights

Optional Extras

Leather pack - seat facings and head restraints / electrically heated sports front seats / front passenger’s seat height adjusters (£1,000)

Electronic Stability Programme (£400)

Full-size curtain airbags (£150)

Driver information centre, with trip computer (£250)

Vertical load-restraining net (£100)

Four-speed automatic transmission (£995)

Manually-operated rear suspension levelling (£200)

Electrically-operated slide/tilt glass sunroof, with interior blind (£500)

Xenon headlights with dynamic beam levelling and high-pressure washers (£600)

Body-colour rear spoiler (£306)

Sports silencer, with split oval design chrome-plated tailpipes (£326)

Two-coat metallic paint (£275)

Two-coat pearlescent paint (£275)

Stereo radio/compact disc player, carphone, CD-ROM driven satellite navigation system and monochromatic display (£1000)

Factory-fit telephone pre-wiring (£50)

More information available in Education & Training, Test Drive