Public Servant Lifestyle

Steve Mallinson takes the Dualfuel for a road test, with the assistance of his better half, and a work colleague.

"'In practical terms, driving a Dualfuel car is hardly any different to driving a conventional one,' says the Vauxhall news release, supplied with my test car. 'Right,' thinks I, 'we'll see about that!'

"To prove, or disprove the claim, I switched over to LPG before passing the keys over to my better half, without saying anything about how it was powered. Sneaky, I know, but it did have the advantage of gaining an honest opinion, without it being coloured by expectation or preconception. I then, with a work colleague, repeated the process, and waited for feedback from both of them.

"Result? Both loved the car, my wife Mandy saying it delivered just what she has always had from the Vauxhalls she has owned/driven; a comfortable driving position (not always easy, if you are under 5ft, like her) with good all-round visibility, and ample, easily accessed luggage/ shopping space, in the rear.

"Ron, my colleague (a big bloke, at 6ft, and 15st) also commented favourably on the seating and visibility, and additionally noted that it felt quicker off the mark than his wife's Astra 1.4 . Had either of them noticed anything unusual, or different, about the engine's performance, I asked? You've guessed it, without being told it was LPG powered, they hadn't noticed any difference, save to say that both felt the car was quieter than Astra models they had previously driven!"

Handling

"Driving the car, in both petrol and LPG modes, I have to say that Vauxhall's claim is fully justified. However, if there's no noticeable difference in the drive, why bother with Dualfuel?

"LPG (that's liquefied petroleum gas - for the uninitiated) is about half the cost of UK-bought petrol, and, as a vehicle will typically use only about 20% more LPG, than petrol, on a litre-for-litre basis, significant savings can be easily achieved. LPG is also a cleaner fuel, resulting in reduced C02 emissions (151g/km, for LPG, as against 171g/km, for the 1.6 petrol engine) and as an additional bonus, less 'gum' in the engine, from contaminates, such as sulphur and aromatic compounds, leading to potentially longer engine life.

"Initial purchase price of a Dualfuel car is higher than its petrol-engined counterpart, however the long term running costs are substantially lower, and indicators are good that residual value may well be improved, compared to the equivalent petrol-engined value.

"The petrol element of this Dualfuel car is, I believe, designed to be the belt that goes with the braces of the cautious. Until relatively recently, LPG filling points were not numerous, therefore petrol power was deemed to be an essential adjunct.

"With approaching 1,000 filling stations now offering LPG (and that number increasing, at the rate one per day) this requirement may well soon disappear, although having the switchable LPG/petrol option does greatly increase the car's overall range.

Value For Money

"Compares well with others in its class, providing good levels of handling, response and creature comforts. At £14,680, for the test car, you'll need to do the sums, to determine whether it represents good value for you, but you don't need to be doing incredibly high mileage to realise real financial benefit."

'In a Nutshell'

"I like the car, I like what it can do for my pocket, and I like what it does for the environment."

Key Features

More information available in Eco Motoring, Test Drive