Inside & Out:
It's a real looker this Astra VXR, far more visually engaging than previous generations, and this is one Vauxhall that looks like the quality product its price tag would like you to believe it is. Sure the Arden Blue paint, optional 20-inch alloy wheels and Aero Pack help, but it's the sleek and flowing shape of the GTC that it's based on that impresses most. For turning heads, even a bright yellow Renaultsport Mégane 265 would struggle to steal the limelight from the sporty Vauxhall.
The same can't be said of the cabin, as it's very much standard Astra fare in here. It looks sleek, but material quality is poor, while both the sheer number of buttons and layout proved anything but intuitive - even after a week of pressing them. A quick glance at the instrumentation further sours the mood, as the cheap red backlit display sits uncomfortably between the speedometer and rev-counter, both of which are over-designed with various sets of markings and numerals. In fact the only thing of positive note in the cabin is the sports seats, which prove supportive, if slightly too firm for some.
Ride & Handling:
Firm. There's no other word for it, this is a very stiff car - comparable to a Cup chassis Renaultsport Mégane in the default mode of its FlexRide adaptive damping. A single press of the VXR button, once you've found it, makes it even harder edged, but we wouldn't recommend it - we managed all of five minutes with it engaged throughout the whole week.
Pressing that button doesn't noticeably improve this car's handling or grip limits, on the road at least. There are plenty of both, and in the dry you really have to behave like a complete hooligan to get the car to join in with your mood. The Drexler limited slip differential certainly helps, taming understeer under power and pulling the nose closer to any chosen apex. Our particular car was hampered by worn front tyres, torque steer and tramlining especially evident under acceleration, but from previous experience those in better fettle behave more faithfully.
The brakes prove equally confidence inspiring, and on the roads provide all the stopping power you'd ever need. Just as impressive is the driving position, the Recaro seats offering plenty of adjustment. However, it doesn't matter where you place yourself, the A-pillars on the VXR (and the GTC it's based on) are some of the largest we've encountered. The net result is you find yourself trying to peer round them at roundabouts and corners, the blind spot never truly cured no matter how much neck is stretched.
Engine & Transmission:
There's something of a power race going on with hot hatchbacks at the moment, and Vauxhall has never been shy with piling on the numbers - the latest VXR is no different. With 280hp from the factory, and more tellingly 400Nm of torque at 2,500rpm, it's not short on any get up and go, especially in the mid-range. Overtaking becomes something of a natural thought process rather than a weighed-up question and motorway slip roads can be dispensed with easily using the higher gears only.
Be brutal with the right and left pedals and you'll pass 62mph in only six seconds and top speed is limited to 155mph. The performance on offer is without doubt convincing, we just wish the unit made more of a song and dance about it all, the exhaust note lacking compared to some rivals. And unlike the Renaultsport Mégane there's no reason to push past 5,000rpm as the turbocharged Astra quickly seems to run out of puff at the top of its rev-range.
Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:
Considering the list of standard equipment, you could convincingly leave your VXR without any options and still be happy. Every one that slips out of the factory comes with cruise control, VXR/Recaro seats, DAB radio, Bluetooth, iPod control, daytime running lights, adaptive damping and 19-inch alloy wheels. For £26,995 that's competitive.
But then Vauxhall says that 85 per cent of those sold in the UK have the optional Aero Pack (£995), which upgrades the alloys to 20-inch and adds a larger rear spoiler and subtle body kit. Insurance is comparable to its rivals', but residuals have never been the hot Vauxhall's strongpoint. At least the 34.9mpg economy and 189g/km CO
2 emissions mean running costs will be reasonable.