The Astra Sports Tourer’s cabin provides a civilised place for drivers.

The controls and instruments are largely intuitive – apart from initial confusion over pressing the outside ring of the central stack dial to select various functions – and the satnav has been refreshingly logical to operate, as is the DAB radio/CD player. The high-quality digital reception enjoys almost uninterrupted area coverage, too.

Heating and ventilation controls are effective, even if a bout of overnight steamy windows takes frustratingly long to clear. Equally, cruise control is not seamless while the driver’s seat-height adjuster is sticky to use.

But the net result is an integrated and joined up design, with feel-good touches like reddish ambient instrument cluster, central console and floor-level lighting at night. Pity an annoying buzz has developed within that ergonomically sound fascia.

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.7 CDTi SRi
Mileage 2914
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