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Astra Hatchback
The Astra has an excellent driving position thanks to ratchet seat-height adjustment and a two-way moveable steering wheel. Visibility is very good in the five-door, but dreadful to the rear in the three-door Sport Hatch. The centre console has too many small, fiddly controls for the stereo and heating.
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Running Costs
Entry-level versions are competitively priced but miss out on key equipment. More powerful diesels and higher-spec models look rather pricey, but come with lots of kit. Running costs are reasonable. Big discounts are available, but you will need them to offset the below-average residual values.
Astra Coupe
The only real difference between the Twintop and the hatch is the impact on rearwards visibility with the roof up. Otherwise, you get the same multi-adjustable driving position and the same cluttered dash.
Running Costs
The Twintop is affordable, and has a slight advantage over top-selling rivals. Insurance groups are no worse than those of the Astra hatch, and though the Twintop's extra weight extracts a slight fuel penalty, it's nothing serious.
Astra
The Astra has an excellent driving position thanks to ratchet seat-height adjustment and a two-way adjustable steering wheel. Visibility is very good but the centre console is fiddly, with too many small, hard-to-read controls for the stereo and heating.
Running Costs
Entry-level versions are competitively priced but miss out on key equipment. The more powerful diesels and higher-spec models look rather pricey but come with a good standard of kit. Running costs are affordable across the board and all the diesels comply with Euro IV standards. Big discounts are available but you need them to offset below-average residual values.