New platform, more contemporary looks, but is this enough for the Astra to topple the Ford Focus as class-leader? We headed out for a drive to find out.
Price: 1.4 Turbo SRi;18,845 (Without options) £20,860 as tested On sale: Now 0-60mph: 9.0 seconds; top speed 128mph Average fuel: 47.9 mpg Standard equipment: air-conditioning, a leather trimmed, steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels, remote central locking, driver, passenger, side airbags, power windows and CD player.
Green car test: Volvo XC60 2.4 DRIVe
Can an SUV be green? Simon Hacker says opinions are changing – and cars like this eco Volvo XC60 might be crucial to that.
Road test: Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LT
It looks like a Vauxhall Insignia, but is actually a similar size to the Astra. Is the Cruze king of the value cars? We find out.
Future Classics
10 cars to invest in now, while you still can.
Road test: Fiat 500C 1.2 Pop
Will the convertible version of the chic Fiat 500 eat into MINIs dominance of the premium small car market further? We find out...