If you're in the market for a compact estate car, Vauxhall may well have your number. Whether you knew it or not, that number is 1,570. That's the amount of cubic litres of space in the back of the latest Astra estate with the rear seats folded down and it's a big number. Bigger than you might expect of an Astra estate but then this car does have a trick or two up its sleeve.

When the Astra hatch was announced, Vauxhall made great play of the fact that they could design a sleek, sexy looking car without too much emphasis on overall practicality, due in no small part to the fact that they could rely on their more practical cars like the Zafira for the more family-friendly duties. Therefore when they announced an estate version of the hatch, many jumped to the conclusion that it would be something of a half measure. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, we should have seen this one coming. When Vauxhall announced the Vectra estate, they used the stretched chassis of the Signum as a basis, this giving excellent load lugging abilities and ample passenger room. They've adopted a similar tack with the Astra estate, using a stretched version of the Astra hatch chassis with another nine centimetres stitched into the car's wheelbase and longer rear overhangs to give a fairly spacious luggage compartment. Although rivals from Ford, Peugeot and Renault may be able to offer more in the way of total volume, the Vauxhall counters by dint of its sheer practicality.

"Vauxhall have thought long and hard about the way people who buy these sorts of cars really use them"

For a start, the load bay has straight side walls and storage areas below the floor and in either side, maximising the amount of genuinely useable space available. A stainless steel rim protects the conveniently low boot sill from scratches. The rear bench seat splits 60/40 although there is an option of a nattier 40/20/40 split system. Vauxhall's FlexOrganiser is also offered as an option. This system organises the rear loading space into separate compartments and now features horizontal side rails in anodised aluminium. We tried in vain but could not find a FluxCapacitor anywhere on Vauxhall's long options list for the Astra Estate.

An automatic levelling system, a trailer stability program and Hill Start Assist, on the other hand, can be specified. Flat roof rails, which will also be familiar to Signum customers, are fitted as standard. Choose between black and silver. The estate's styling is integrated and sleek, the longer wheelbase giving it real presence. The rear light clusters are distinctive, with an angular three-dimensional look that clearly differentiates the rump of the Estate version.

Load lugger or otherwise, Vauxhall haven't compromised the Astra estate's driving dynamics and it's fitted with the same advanced suspension system as the hatch. It's the first car in its class to feature Continuous Damping Control (CDC), electronically controlled shock absorbers that continuously adapt to the road surface and the driver's style. It's all part of what Vauxhall dub the Astra's 'Interactive Driving System' (IDS) that can integrate all of the electronic functions in a way that's a good deal cleverer that you might think.

For example, the ESP stability control system beefs up the damper forces first before applying the brakes to the front wheels during extreme cornering manoeuvres making for a more sensitive and less intrusive intervention. Upspec models also feature a 'Sport' button so that the suspension settings, accelerator and steering response can easily be adapted to the mood of a driver. It's something we've become used to on premium sports cars but not on a family hatchback. Despite all of these high tech touches, the Astra still uses a relatively simple beam axle at the back instead of the sophisticated multi-link layouts used by Volkswagen and Ford. Whilst GM executives contend that this system provides good handling while transmitting less noise into the cabin, the more powerful Astra variants do show up some flaws in this logic.

The engine line up consists of the usual wide selection of powerplants, some new, some familiar and some heavily revised. Recent changes include the addition of a new 1.6-litre petrol turbo unit, developing 178bhp. This same engine is offered in TWINPORT guise without the turbo, developing 114bhp. These changes apart, the line-up kicks off with an 85bhp 1.4-litre petrol unit, with the familiar 125bhp 1.8-litre engine sitting above the new TWINPORT powerplant. There's a 200bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit for those after some serious speed.

Three diesel engines are available in 1.7-litre 100 and 1.9-litre 120bhp forms plus a beefy 150bhp 1.9-litre powerplant that has been developed by Fiat. As would be expected, all three meet the Euro IV emissions regulations which means that business users won't have to pay the onerous three per cent 'benefit in kind' surcharge that drivers of non-compliant cars get tapped up for.

Vauxhall could have performed a quick and easy conversion to turn the Astra hatch into an estate. They could have conjured up all sorts of pretentious 'lifestyle' excuses as to why it had no real carrying capacity. Instead they went about the job properly, lengthening the chassis and thinking long and hard about the way people who buy these sorts of cars really use them. If you're looking for a not so compact estate car, your Vauxhall dealer could well be your first and last port of call.

TOP 5 ASTRA DEALS

The results below show the top ASTRA deals on buyacar

	Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi 16V Design [100] 5dr Estate
	ETR	Mthly £238	Saving £4,547	Price £13,378
	Vauxhall Astra 1.8i VVT Design 5dr Auto Estate
	ETR	Mthly £251	Saving £4,618	Price £13,592
	Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi 16V SXi [100] 5dr Estate
	ETR	Mthly £234	Saving £4,443	Price £13,127
	Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi 16V Club [100] 5dr Estate
	ETR	Mthly £229	Saving £4,296	Price £12,774
	Vauxhall Astra 1.9 CDTi 8V SRi [120] 5dr Estate
	ETR	Mthly £247	Saving £4,803	Price £14,022

typical 10.71% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000