Vauxhall Astra Tech Line 1.7 CDTi 130PS ecoFLEX stop/start business car test review
Car review: DAVID WILKINS
What is it?
Vauxhall has sharpened up its offering for business drivers in the company car market with new Tech Line versions of its big-selling Astra and Insignia models. The company is touting the models’ high spec levels, which are combined with keener P11D pricing than comparable cars with Vauxhall’s SE trim level, producing useful company car tax savings. Several tax-friendly low-CO2 engine options are available as well.
Vauxhall Astra Tech Line prices start at £16,470 on the road for a 1.4-litre petrol five-door hatch and extend to £23,400 for a 2.0-litre diesel automatic Sports Tourer estate.
What’s hot?
- Vauxhall is offering a huge range of petrol and diesel engine options with the Tech Line spec, including low-CO2 ecoFLEX versions with stop/start technology
- Tech Line Astras are also available with a choice of hatchback and estate body styles, and automatic and manual transmissions
- The Tech Line models offer a long list of standard equipment, including high-value items such as alloy wheels, satellite navigation with a seven-inch screen, Bluetooth, a DAB radio with seven speakers, curtain airbags and cruise control
- Our test car’s 1.7-litre diesel engine was quite strong and refined, and offers very good CO2 and fuel consumption figures – 99g/km and 76.3mpg on the combined cycle; this model also qualifies for the 100% first year capital allowance if your SME business buys its company cars
- Company car tax is rated at 13% for the 2012/13 tax year, which means a company car driver with a taxable rate of 20% will pay just £43 a month to drive this Astra Tech Line model
- Although several newer models have joined the C-segment since the Astra was launched, the Vauxhall remains competitive in terms of important areas such as space, performance and handling
What’s not?
- Despite the long list of high-value standard equipment items, the Tech Line’s tastefully designed interior doesn’t feel especially luxurious and there are a few surprising omissions – our test car didn’t have a leather-rimmed steering wheel, for example, a feature found on many cheaper, less well-equipped cars
- Although Vauxhall is claiming low P11D values for the Tech Line models, the £19,865 on-the-road price of our 1.7-litre CDTi diesel test car puts it up against some pretty stiff competition, including entry-level versions of newer premium rivals such as the Volvo V40 and the latest third-generation Mercedes A-Class
- At the same time, the Astra Tech Line faces a strong challenge from the all-new versions of the Hyundai i30 and Kia cee’d, polished cars that betray their budget brand origins only through their keen pricing – and the Astra also faces an in-house GM threat from its sister car, the Chevrolet Cruze, which, thanks to decent diesel engines and new hatchback and estate versions, is now becoming a serious contender rather than a mere also-ran
