Great looking, well screwed together and with used prices looking increasingly attractive, the Astra Sporthatch is a tempting purchase. Shop around and look for a car that's not only unmolested but which also has the right options and is finished in a saleable colour.

There's an old maxim that says if something looks right, it often is right. While that doesn't always follow when it comes to cars, it undoubtedly applies when it comes to the Vauxhall Astra Sporthatch. A notoriously badge-conscious colleague was recently looking for a low mileage used car and had narrowed down his choice to an Audi A3, a MINI Cooper and a Vauxhall Astra Sporthatch. Five years ago, Vauxhall would never have made his long let along his shortlist but with a shape like this, Vauxhall opened its doors to a whole swathe of new customers. Tracking down a used example needn't involve too much legwork either. Just fire up the broadband and get looking. A decent amount of stock is now starting to filter onto the used market.

VAUXHALL ASTRA HISTORY

While the handsome five-door versions of the Vauxhall Astra went on sale in Summer 2004, it wasn't until the March in following year that the Sporthatch three-door variants were launched. By this time, the general public had firmly got to grips with the fundamental qualities of the Astra, with its hitherto unforeseen build quality in this sector, strong range of engines and smart detailing. Vauxhall kept interest levels piqued with leaked photographs of the hot VXR Sporthatch hammering around the Nurburgring and although disguised, it was clear that the car wasn't too far off the GTC concept car shown at the 2003 Geneva Show. Naturally a few of the details were toned down for production. The lights were a little more conventional and the concept car's frameless doors were deemed too costly for series production. Built alongside the five-door cars at General Motors' Antwerp plant in Belgium, the three-door is some 39mm longer and 15mm lower, the designers getting plenty of scope to create that elegant profile. The ripsnorting 240bhp Astra VXR arrived in Autumn 2005 and a special edition Astra GTC model based on the 1.8-litre SRi Sport Hatch was launched in June 2006, offering Vauxhall's innovative panoramic roof - a windscreen that stretches right back over the front seat occupants' heads.

WHAT DO I GET FOR MY MONEY?

Vauxhall were granted a huge degree of liberty in their styling of the MK5 Astra series by the success of the rest of their more versatile product lines. The availability of practical Meriva and Zafira models freed the Astra designers up to produce shapes with sleeker styling than Family Hatchback motorists would normally expect. As a result, the five-door Astra is a very neat piece of penmanship but the equivalently priced three-door Sporthatch model knocks it into next week. Many of the design cues remain, as the two cars are, after all, built on the same platform. The broad hips, the high window line and the family-look front end are largely carried over, with the three-door merely accentuating these details. In keeping with the car's name, only the sporty SXi, SRi, Design and VXR trim levels were offered in Sporthatch guise, all fitted as standard with lowered sports suspension and alloy wheels. There was also a 'Panoramic Windscreen' option which for around £850 extra, gave buyers a huge section of glass stretching from the top of the bonnet over the passengers' heads. This brought a whole new dimension to driving for those who specified it, especially on scenic roads. The raked roofline looks as if it'll have taller rear seat passengers entering the number of their chiropractor into the speed-dial but Vauxhall always claimed that rear seat space was well up to par for two adults. They just didn't specify what size. The rear seat is a conventional three-abreast bench with a practical 60:40 split system offered as standard (though an alternative 40:20:40 layout was available as an option). Luggage room is slightly hampered by that rakish roofline but given the cavernous amount of space in the back of this Astra, it's hard to see carrying capacity being a reason to grumble.

WHAT PRICE AM I LOOKING AT?

Expect to pay around £9,800 for a three door 1.6-litre SXi on a 2005 54 plate with the 1.8-litre version retailing at around £11,000 on a similar plate. A later 2005 05 plate 1.7CDTi 120 will fetch around £13,500. The 2.0T SRi model is especially sought after and these kick off at around £13,750 on the 05 plate with the VXR model starting at just under £16,000 - a lot of bang for your buck.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR?

The Astra has yet to suffer any significant faults. Build quality is leagues ahead of its predecessors, as is the technical excellence of the new engines. Check the sporty SRi and VXR models for the usual tyre wear problems. Aside from obvious body damage, just ensure that the car has been well looked after, insist on a service history and buy with confidence. The electronic control system that marshals the satellite navigation and stereo system isn't the most intuitive to use, but you will get used to it with perseverance. The same can be said of the indicators, which will possibly frustrate you immensely at first.

HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

The Astra was 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 car like this. Despite all of these high tech touches, this Astra still uses a relatively simple torsion beam axle at the back instead of the sophisticated multi-link layouts used by Volkswagen and Ford. GM executives contend that this system provides good handling while transmitting less noise into the cabin. The VXR model is searingly rapid in a straight line with 60mph disappearing in 6.2 seconds on the way to 152mph but the 2.0T SRi is no slouch and the 200bhp power output is handled a little more comfortably by the Astra's chassis. The best all rounder in the range remains the 150bhp diesel variant.

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

PARTS INFORMATION

(approx based on a 2005 1.6 SXi) A new clutch assembly is £145, whilst front brake pads can be found for around £20. Rears are nearer £35, whilst a radiator for an air-conditioned car will; cost around £130. Alternators are slightly pricier, nudging the £300 mark, so make sure your prospective purchase is generating a healthy current to its battery.