With its SRi specification, denoted by small tacky badges on our Astra estate’s front flanks, you get a bundle of ‘sporty’ equipment, but incongruously the rear windows are of the manual variety.

As a result, an inattentive passenger did not apply enough effort to closing the left nearside pane, which explains steamy windows on several mornings courtesy of a damp interior.

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.7 CDTi SRi
Mileage 3200
Claimed combined
consumption
62.8mpg
Our average
consumption
46.6mpg
Forecast CPM 54.7p
Actual CPM 55.8p
Why we’re
running it
To see if the latest
Astra wagon can shake off
its predecessors’ stigma of
being a utilitarian workhorse.
Positive Cabin offers civilised
working conditions
Negative Economy remains
stubbornly average