The Vauxhall Astra hatchback safety record is good. It scored the maximum five star rating in official Euro NCAP tests and gained the highest score – at the time – for its active head restraints which protect against whiplash. All models come with ESP electronic stability control, six airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and three, three-point seatbelts in the back.

There are also Isofix child seat mounting points and adaptive brake lights that pulse five times a second if the ABS is engaged above 20mph.

Vauxhall Astra hatchback practicality is not great. With 370 litres of boot space, the Astra can’t quite carry as much as the Ford Focus but it is larger than the Peugeot 308 and Volkswagen Golf. As you’d expect, all models have rear seats which can split 60/40 and fold down to allow you to carry larger items. The boot area itself is around a metre wide and is easy to load awkward items into, although there’s quite a pronounced load lip.

SRi models and above come with a clever Flex-Floor luggage compartment – basically a false boot which creates a hidden storage area underneath and means removing heavy items isn’t as back breaking. It’s an optional extra on S and Exclusiv models. In the front there’s good storage with three cup holders in the central console and door pockets capable of holding large drinks bottles.

There’s also a useful cubby in front of the gear lever where the auxiliary input for MP3 players/iPods is located along with a 12v socket.