Autocar - First for car news and reviews

This week's Autocar magazine pits the new Vauxhall Astra against its chief rivals, the Ford Focus, the VW Golf, Kia Cee'd and Mazda 3.

Using a price point of around £20,000, the five small family cars are pitted against each other on a route that heads out of London on the M3 and M27 motorways, before taking in a twisting, scenic route on the Hampshire/Dorset border.

You can enjoy the best of the pictures by following the link below.

Read the full article

Noooo! You have told us the final conclusion - what a spolier!

 

An interesting verdict I look forward to reading the full test to learn the justification for it.

Autocar:

Using a price point of around £20,000

 

 

For a bog standard hatchback!? What is the world coming to?

 

Old Toad:

Old Toad wrote the following post at Nov 18, 2009 5:34 AM:

 

An interesting verdict I look forward to reading the full test to learn the justification for it.

Interesting verdict? I knew that would be the result of Autocar's group test before a single wheel had turned!

 No, no - autocar - why are you so Ford-biased? How is it possible that 5 years old car (Focus) is better than completly new one (Astra)? Does it mean that Opel/Vauxhall engineers are idiots and cannot simply copy Focus' suspension during that 5 years (I guess that Focus won due to its suspension, because its engines are outdated) ?

I suspect the Ford got the verdict because of it's 'class leading handling' a factor very popular with motoring journalists but of little consequence to most car buyers.  I daresay the Golf got 2nd due to it's 'class leading quality' probably a bit more useful to most people to be fair.  I expect the Astra has been positioned somewhere between the two.  A better drive than the Golf and better quality than the Focus.  It also looks better than both which I feel may just be a winning combination for many people.

Lifer:

I suspect the Ford got the verdict because of it's 'class leading handling' a factor very popular with motoring journalists but of little consequence to most car buyers.  I daresay the Golf got 2nd due to it's 'class leading quality' probably a bit more useful to most people to be fair.  I expect the Astra has been positioned somewhere between the two.  A better drive than the Golf and better quality than the Focus.  It also looks better than both which I feel may just be a winning combination for many people.

Lifer, go to the top of the class. A+. Autocar D-.

Whilst for many real people, the one with class leading equipment and warranty and a better rated dealer would perhaps win, but I guess it came last because it didn't have enough poise on the Nürburgring!

The Focus engines, especially the pertrol ones are poor. The interior is cheap looking, it is not class leading in the group. The Golf is just bland, but its VW, so that won't be allowed to be beeten by a GM car. The Astra was never going to win because it is a Vauxhall, Autocar would never allow it, just like they wouldn't let the Insignia win anything I can't believe they called it a £20,00 break point! I'd try the Astra

Plenty of people have tried the Astra now and the consensus seems to be that it just doesn't move the game on enough. It cannot be given top spot by default just for being a new product out there. That is the Autoexpress way of running road tests (usually before they have even driven a car!)

Regarding the Astra shape - I think it looks fabulous in dark colours with good alloys, but terrible in silver. Really does nothing for it in my opinion.

Sorry but I agree with Zeddy, £20k for a mid-range small family hatchback is far too steep, is it me or have the manufacturers sneaked in these prices constantly over the past recent years.

Never pay that, used for me