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Vauxhall Astra Tech Line car review – all the kit and quality with business-friendly costs

Even without the new 1.6 diesel that’s on its way to the Astra, this is an excellent hatch
688_New_Vauxhall Astra Tech Line GT Action
For 'Tech Line' read business car friendly. Vauxhall Tech Line models are well-equipped for work, and always with an eye on P11D values and emissions too

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23 February 2014

Vauxhall Astra Tech Line front
he GT bit means that this version gets 18″ alloys and lowered suspension – so be careful of the deep front spoiler over speed humps and angled driveways

What’s hot?

  • The Vauxhall Astra Tech -Line is built at Ellesmere Port, so your small fleet can buy British…
  • …And what they’ll get is a really well built car with excellent standards of fit and finish and a nicely glossy paint job.
  • There’s 300Nm available from the 1.7 turbo diesel, giving the Astra plenty of low down acceleration and fantastic in-gear flexibility.
  • Lowered suspension and good-looking 18 inch alloys complete the picture.
    Vauxhall_Astra_TechLine_review
    Bluetooth, a good sat nav, aircon and digital radio all come as standard
  • With CO2 emissions of 114g/km, company car drivers can have all the show and go without the sports car style company car tax penalty.
  • Suspension is firm: compliant but never crashy.
  • Steering is suitably meaty and accurate from the leather covered three-spoke sports multifunction wheel.
  • Great level of specification includes Bluetooth, Navi 650 sat nav on a seven-inch colour monitor, sports style front bumper, body-colour front upper grille, side sills and rear lower skirt, digital DAB radio, aircon, sports seats, electric front windows, USB and aux-in connectivity.
  • There’s also standard anti-skid ESP.
  • Neat shopping bag hook in boot – you’ll find plenty more useful storage areas around the well thought through cabin, too.

 

What’s not?

  • The 1.7 turbo diesel is old school – while it is pleasingly growly under acceleration it is too noisy.
  • There’s a new 1.6 diesel engine that’s already been introduced to the Zafira Tourer and new Meriva and now coming to the Astra which is much more refined and promises better power/economy.
  • You have to watch the front apron over speed bumps – the lowered suspension makes it highly vulnerable, so a slow and careful approach is required.
  • Front A-pillar stretches a long way forward and can obscure vision. 

 

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Matt Morton

Matt Morton

Matt Morton is an automotive content writer for Business Car Manager

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