Review of the new Vauxhall Astra 1.4 VVT Turbo

Small turbocharged engines are cropping up with increased regularity in our mid-sized cars and the Vauxhall Astra 1.4 VVT Turbo neatly explains why. It achieves a smooth 138bhp with combined economy of close to 50mpg which is enough to make you question the need for diesel. The Astra itself sets a high standard for comfort and refinement and is at its best with this engine.

The turbocharger was once viewed as a slightly crude means of upping an engine's power and was used, in the main, to give extra pep to fast hatchbacks and furious saloons. Today, our friend the turbo has been reborn. It does basically the same thing but in these more environmentally-enlightened times, it's being additionally employed to help small engines power large cars without the expected drop-off in performance. Vauxhall's Astra still utilises the turbo for purposes of going fast in its sporty guises but its 1.4-litre VVT Turbo models set out to make the fuel gauge as pleasant reading as the speedometer.

This is the sixth generation of the Vauxhall Astra. As a family hatchback, it competes in sector of the market where big volumes and big profits are the norm for the leading contenders so it's fair to say that this is an extremely important car for Vauxhall. In order to compete with and, ideally, beat the likes of Ford's Focus, Renault's Megane, Honda's Civic and Volkswagen's Golf, Vauxhall made every effort to improve on the fifth generation model while retaining that car's core qualities. With the Astra having proved consistently popular with UK car buyers down the years, there was no need to rock the boat too vigorously but the manufacturer claims significant advances in almost every area and is holding up the 1.4 VVT Turbo engine as a highlight.

The 1.4-litre family hatchback has never been a particular focal point of automotive desire. A decent 1.4-litre petrol engine will typically give you around 100bhp and that isn't a lot for shifting a fully-laden family car up a hill. Vauxhall offers a normally-aspirated 1.4-litre VVT engine at the base of its Astra range and this will be adequate in most situations but the 138bhp 1.4-litre VVT Turbo opens up a world of extra possibilities. A 9.0s 0-60mph time compares very favourably with the 13.1s it takes the 98bhp 1.4, while the 200Nm maximum torque means overtaking manoeuvres and challenging gradients can be dispatched with far more ease.

"With its progressive power delivery and lively responses, the 1.4 VVT Turbo sits well in the Astra ."

Modern turbochargers are a whole lot more advanced than the blunt instruments that were being bolted onto to engines a few years back. The Astra 1.4 VVT Turbo has a water-cooled unit capable of spinning up to 200,000rpm integrated into its exhaust manifold. It's designed to bring faster throttle response and a smoother power delivery in stark contrast to worst turbocharged cars of yesteryear which responded to throttle inputs with an extended pause followed by a mule-like kick of power that overwhelmed the tyres. In the Astra, it's tough to detect a turbo at work as the acceleration pours on seamlessly. The experience would be like that of a 2.0-litre petrol car were it not for the 1.4 Turbo's superior flexibility and torque in the middle of the rev-range.

The Astra handles with composure and while it can't quite match the agility and feedback of the Ford Focus, its more relaxed, comfort-orientated approach will be preferable for many buyers. The ride quality is the highlight, with the car staying unruffled even over big undulations and rough surfaces. There's plenty of grip and a very limited degree of body roll in the corners, so only the rather lifeless steering really counts against it.

The bodywork's amalgamation of creases and curves works well without offering anything too dramatic to catch the eye. There's still much to appreciate in the detailing, however, from the bold sill line that lifts over the rear wheelarches to the ruby red taillight clusters with their double chevron design. The Astra's cabin will be more of a revelation for those familiar with the previous generation car. The themes are shared with the Insignia saloon and the build quality seems robust. The centre console is a mishmash of different buttons that isn't immediately easy to grasp but the control interface is still a big improvement over the old Astra.

It's no surprise that at 4420mm, the Astra is 170mm longer than its predecessor because most hatchbacks have been expanding with each new generation for some time now. 71mm of that extra length has gone into the wheelbase in a bid to improve rear passenger accommodation and the results are good with plenty of space for a couple of six-footers in the back, so long as the front seats aren't right back on their runners. There's even an abundance of headroom back there, despite the car's plunging roofline. In the boot, a 370-litre capacity reveals itself which isn't enormous for the class but higher spec models get a neat FlexFloor underfloor compartment that improves matters.

It's possible to get the 1.4 VVT Turbo engine in Exclusiv, SRi, SE or Elite trim. Exclusive will be a popular choice, with all the basics like ESP stability control, air-conditioning, a CD stereo and six airbags included at a reasonable price. SRi is Vauxhall's mainstream sporty trim level and includes 17" alloy wheels with lowered sports suspension while the SE and Elite models take a more luxurious line.

Astra pricing isn't quite as affordable as it has been in the past compared to rivals with Vauxhall rightly assuming that it now has a product that can stand toe to toe with the sector's best in terms of quality. The 1.4-litre VVT Turbo engine is available with manual or automatic gearboxes and with the advanced FlexRide adaptive damping system that adjusts the car's damper settings according to the driver's preference. Priced around £700 less than the 108bhp 1.7-litre diesel, this small turbocharged engine seems destined to be a popular choice.

Car buyers citing low running costs as their number one priority have traditionally been ushered towards the diesel models in any given range but engines like the Astra's 1.4 VVT Turbo are changing all that. The eyes of high mileage drivers will continue to light up at the prospect of the 60mpg that the Astra's 1.7-litre oil-burners achieve on the combined cycle but the 1.4 Turbo can eek out nearly 48mpg and has other strings to its bow.

The Astra's 1.7-litre diesels aren't the best in the sector and the blown 1.4 trumps them for refinement and smoothness without giving too much away in terms of mid range torque. Emissions are measured at 139g/km if you go for the manual car but be warned that the automatic gearbox sees them rise to 164g/km and has a similarly detrimental effect on economy.

If turbocharged petrol cars are no longer the preserve of boy racers and performance nuts, the humble turbo has been reinvented as a means of helping small engines power large cars efficiently and with respectable performance. Vauxhall's Astra 1.4 VVT Turbo is a prime example, a thoroughly competent family hatch with a usable turn of pace and strong economy. It's a great alternative to the more expensive diesels and could well be the pick of the latest Astra range.

With its progressive power delivery and lively responses, the 1.4 VVT Turbo sits well in the Astra. The latest version of Vauxhall's family hatch majors on comfort and quality, so having this refined little engine humming away in the background makes sense. Happily, it can still entertain too with lively performance through the mid-range helping the Astra's accomplished chassis to shine. Economy can't match that of a diesel option but it isn't far away and the price will make it the preferred option for many.

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